Otherways- Fiction Fanatics

I have always been a fan of Star Trek, even from the very first corny episodes of the original series. Let’s face it, the show had a lot to love. One of the few things that ever gave me pause was the holodeck, where the crew could create pretty much anything they could imagine from, well, nothing. It led to some wonderful stories, it just seemed too easy to me. I mean, that isn’t how life works, right?

Well, apparently life is getting a bit closer to working just that way. 3D printers are all the rage, and deservedly so. Prosthetic limbs can be tailored to the individual in need, custom designed, and printed on the spot for a fraction of the cost of traditional, non-custom limbs. Recently I watched a man printing out detailed Yoda statues at a convention, and I have to admit it was pretty amazing. Fast, accurate, cheap, and limited only by imagination and materials, this is definitely something that will change the way we do things.

Forgive me if I thought it would take longer.

Dubai is apparently planning on building the world’s first 3D printed office building.

Yes, I said Office Building.

This prototype is a single story, and expected to be approximately 2000 square feet of usable space. The plan is to use a 20 foot tall printer to build the structure in layers. To make it even more odd, they’re planning on creating all the furniture for the space using the same technique. It isn’t quite up to Star Trek standards yet, as they expect the project to take a few weeks to complete, but it sure seems like a step in that direction.

The technology is provided by a Chinese corporation, Winsun,that has been pioneering applications in the housing industry. They are expecting that this new method will save between 50 and 70 percent on the time of construction, and a whopping 50 to 80 percent on the cost of labor. This is great news for places in need of housing, and could mean a world of difference in response times for natural disasters.

On the other side, despite my affection for all things Trek, you never get something for nothing. There is a cost to this, and there will be an adjustment period. That 50 to 80 percent savings on labor will look very good when building low income housing, hospitals, etc. Unfortunately it also means that those employed in construction will find 50 to 80 percent less work. This isn’t a new thing, carriage and harness makers, horse breeders and trainers, all found themselves largely out of work with the advent of the automobile. At one time clothing factories were huge employers, with looms and sewing machines operated by hand. Obviously, that has now become mostly computer driven.

Overall, it will be a huge improvement, but a few growing pains are to be expected. Hopefully we can plan ahead for those this time, and limit their overall impact.

Cheers,

Michelle