The age of 3D printers is definitely coming and linked up with open source design and hardware people (willing to do so) will not only reclaim the power over parts of our everyday life, but also come up with solutions for very specific problems. Be it the artistic vision of that funky trumpet at the end of the video or as mundane as special bolt for a special window (I problem I’m just facing).
Having said all this, I’m extremely sceptical about the ecological and sanitary consequences of this developement. I doubt that our planet and bodies can stand yet another flood of cheap plastic products. And in the wake of peak oil, it will be more and more expensive to produce plastic. Admitting that I’d like to mess around with a 3D-printer, I’d rather see the precious oil saved and people sharing skills to make all these litte things from materials such as wood or stone.
