[Big Think]
If there’s one trend that’s poised to take off and enter the mainstream in 2012, it’s 3D printing. Sometimes referred to as additive manufacturing, 3D printing is the process of taking computer-generated designs and building them up in the real world, layer by layer, using materials such as plastic or powdered metal, via printers the size of a desktop. …
In other words, manufacturing has been transformed into creation.
The movement toward 3G printing takes advantage of wide-scale trends and behaviors already taking place within our society. The growth in popularity of Maker culture, the renewed emphasis on small-batch craftsmanship and the DIY ethos that has infused the digital world all have contributed to the creation of a grassroots, hobbyist movement around 3D printing. By some estimates, the most recent Maker Faire event in New York City attracted over 35,000 participants, leading some to speculate thatwe are witnessing the same kind of broad-based hobbyist movement that gave rise to the PC revolution. Some have even gone one step further, arguing that we may be on the cusp of a new industrial revolution, powered by small communities of DIY enthusiasts and personal 3D printing kits. …
Read the full story here: http://bigthink.com/ideas/41673