Hi Everyone,
Group 11 you inspired me to look into more detail into the pervasiveness of 3D printing. Found some interesting technology related to 3D printing, more sites that you may like to explore in greater detail in relation to this technology.
1. MakerBot – do it yourself 3D printers that are slowly become more publicly affordable. You can make anything from toys to robots to furniture yourself. I think these types of printers will soon become more readibly available to the general public and more affordable in time.
2. Surgeons strategizing surgeries by creating 3D artificial body parts and cells. Surgeons create a 3D model of a liver to strategize new ways of conducting surgeries more efficiently and beneficially to the patient. In high-school, many educators are already using it as a tool to create 3D organs in biology class but the technology already has significant implications in science. As demonstrated already by one of the case studies Group 11 provided us with the students who created a very affordable prosthetic limb. The implications of 3D printing for research and organ study will significantly change how researchers use animals in research or replacement organs in the future in my opinion. As a science educator, I can see many students being interested in experimenting with 3D technology in this field.
3. ThinkLab in University of Mary Washington – offering students hands-on creative inquiry and learning with high-tech tools, lasers, new 3D technology
http://umwthinklab.com/
4. Emergence of 3D PhotoLabs/Booths popping up everywhere. First one developed and used in Japan in 2013. Gives the public the chance to experience 3D photo technology, images of their own faces. Animators and film-makers would also benefit further from this technology.
Cheers,
Leah