3D Printing is the Future

3D TVs and cameras were a dud. But there is another 3D technology that will more likely be successful and have far-reaching repercussions in the future - 3D printing.

A 3D printer is like your inkjet printer on steroids. Instead of printing an image or text on a paper, a 3D printer will can create a three dimensional object. And instead of an image out of ink on paper, your final product is the molded item that is made of plastic or other materials like metal or vinyl.

Out of paper clips? No problem - print your own paper clips. Need a case for your iPhone? Find an iPhone case, and customize and print one for yourself. 

Mini 3D Printer

The average consumer may not yet embrace this technology as it the printer itself and the raw materials are currently cost-prohibitive for practical use, but the business enterprises will more likely adopt this technology first. It will speed up and help easily customize production.

But as 3D printing becomes more prevalent, it is not far fetched to see this technology in homes as well. Printers will most probably decrease over time, and 3D layouts can possibly become more ubiquitous that anyone can gain access to.

A Look Back at 3D Technology

The last post that I did featured 3D cameras, with the optimism that it would be the next big thing.

Fast forward four years: obviously, it was not.

It did not even enter the consciousness of the average consumer for the home entertainment system, and for good reason.

First off, 3D technology requires specialized equipment - a camera that can shoot 3D images, a television or projector that has the ability to show 3D images, and DVDs and files that can play 3D videos and images. In other words, watching and producing 3D films were expensive.

It's not purely about the cost.

3D tech could have possibly entered mainstream consumer consciousness - there was a time in the early part of this decade when a slew 3D movies were heavily promoted, and television manufacturers tried pushing 3D TVs as the next big thing.

The movie-goers may have gone to see 3D movies, but it did not translate to 3D TV sales.

Why so?

The technology tries to bank on the novelty of watching 3D films.

As many movie-goers attest, watching 3D videos can be literally nauseating. I watched Avatar twice in a row, and at the end of the second run, I just had enough willpower not to throw up. Also, when I chanced upon 3D TVs on display, I was curious for a few moments, but quickly lost interest.

3D technology has been around for a long time (the first commercially released 3D movie was way back in 1922), but once the initial novelty wore off, people stopped watching 3D movies.

So at the present, 3D technology will remain a niche, and will probably continue to do so in the near future.