Last month I went to visit my little brother and his family. My nephew, who just turned one, was keeping me amazed as he played with my computer. There’s this really horrible song he likes, something about a Gummy Bear, and he managed to figure out how to pause the song, restart it, and to fast-forward and rewind so he could watch his favorite parts over and over again. As I watched my nephew realize what buttons did what he wanted on my computer, I thought about what life would be like for him when he is my age (I’ll be turning thirty in a few months).
I try to pay attention to technology, even when I don’t understand it. 3-D printing is one of those things I don’t completely understand, but that will change the world. When I first heard about 3-D printing, I assumed it was a printer that printed a 3-D image. I was so wrong. As most of us now know, 3-D printers can print just about anything! You can print a gun with a 3-D printer, or you can print a replacement part for a space station. They’re currently working on printing organs and electronics. For the sake of brevity, let’s say it takes 15 years for almost anything to be able to be printed. As the technology becomes more efficient, 3-D printers will become more affordable. How long until there is a 3-D printer in most homes?
In the not-so-distant future, I believe most homes in America will have a 3-D printer, just as most homes in America now have a computer. Let’s consider how that will change economics of the future, shall we?
It’s 2043, and my nephew is now 30 years old. He needs to get a new phone. He checks out the Internet and finds the phone that he wants (hopefully it’s not an iPhone). He checks online for the design for the phone he wants, downloads it, and prints out his new phone (as long as he has the proper materials for printing). There’s very little waiting, very little cost, and he doesn’t even have to leave the house.
He’s planning on going out with his friends and needs awesome shoes to go with that shirt his amazing aunt gave him. He browses online, finds a style and color he likes, downloads the design, and prints them out.
A light bulb burnt out in his bathroom. He prints a new one. His faucet is leaking, so he prints a new one. He got a flat tire, so he prints a new one. He needs a new alarm clock, and prints it.
Do you see where this is heading?
I see this as inevitable. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be able to print out 95% of what we need. So what will this do to jobs in the future?
There would be no need for a factory where employees put together iPhones, because we can print iPhones. In fact, there will be very little need for any kind of factory. Manufacturing jobs will no longer be available, or will only be available to a few people. Retail stores will change. People may still choose to go to stores, but a majority of stores will most likely be virtual, or just online. Why have overhead for a physical store, employees, electric, and everything else that goes with it, when you can just have a website? No more riots on Black Friday as people try to get that toy for their kids, instead they buy the design and print it.
I could continue to give examples or how 3-D printing will change the world (especially once we can print organs!) but instead, I’ll leave you with this. Think about the advancements in technology you have seen in your lifetime. When I was a child, a smart phone would have seemed like magic to me. It’s going to be the same way for small children now. In a few decades they’ll take printing a smart phone for granted, and be embracing even more amazing technology. One of these days, we may even have a flying car (fingers crossed)!
