[Forbes]
Never mind the computer on every desktop, that’s a given. In the near future, teachers and students will want or have a 3D printer on the desk to help them learn core Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) principles. …
The Atlantic Council of the United States (ACUS) also sees a coming renaissance in innovation, design, IP exports, and manufacturing as 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, grows and expands. A recent October 2011 report from ACUS outlines how this emerging technology is transforming everything from medical to education, music to manufacturing. (Download link at end of post.) …
The power in Thingiverse? It is an online community of 6,000 MakerBot printers (officially called Thing-o-Matic). Not all projects are collaborative, but many are and there is increasingly an opportunity to leverage the widespread 3D printers on initiatives such as Project Shellter. …
Read the full story here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/tjmccue/2011/11/01/3d-printing-will-transform-education/