How 3D printers will alter the economy.

[Tinker]

We have this conversation a lot, so I wanted to have a full on discussion of expectations regarding how they would change the economy.

First industry totally decimated: Cheap plastic crap industry. Anything made of molded plastic will instantly be altered. Why buy a GI Joe or a Barbie when you can just print one out?

[Atmosphere]

I don't know if industry will be decimated, but 3D Printing could be to manufacturing what the Internet was to media. You could see thousands of independent tool, model, and toy makers selling their designs to consumers and companies, like a citizen journalist today sets up a blog. Now, most media companies have taken a hit since the Internet made many more options available to the consuming public, but I actually think that content on both sides have gotten better for it. Better for the creative destruction. I think that television today is much, much better on a broader range than what was put up in the nineties. They have to work harder to create content that will take eyeballs away from the internet, and culture is richer for it.

The same may be of manufacturing. Companies will have to put more effort into innovation, and they will also have their pick of individuals who make their mark working independently. I think we'll all be richer for it.

[Tinker]

[YMix]

Big box retailers are going to suffer. They'll no longer be able to stock large quantities of anything that can be printed locally and independent minifacturers are not going to supply them. And I'm no sure selling food is enough to keep the big chains in business.

[Tinker]

[lzzrdgrrl]

I would think cheap plastic crap will hang on for a bit, I mean, if I had a suitable 3D printer I would use it for what I'd consider good plastic crap. The idea that I would 'print', say, a styrofoam cup or a Glad food bin doesn't appeal to me. I would rather buy those in bulk at Costco and use my printer for my Asuka figmas.........

[Tinker]

[lzzrdgrrl]

That's what I thought.......

I was thinking this deal would parallel the trajectory of the printing-publishing industry, where low-edition books would be represented on media like kindle, but coupon flyers and inserts in local weeklies will still be 'published'. Pretty much anything ephemeral.......

[Tinker]

[Nonc Hilaire]