I have a fascination for technology that I indulge with magazines like Popular Science and Popular Mechanics. The November 2013 issue of Popular Mechanics, for example, has two ads for 3D printers you can get at Radio Shack (p.4 & p.16) for printing 3D designs on your home computer.
On page 34 there is an article on ‘biological teleportation.’ Where you might download ‘medicine such as insulin from the Internet directly into a 3D printer in your home.’ They speak in terms of ‘digital biological converters,’ with which one might very rapidly produce vaccine for a flu virus, for example, where it took nine months to get vaccines to some places when the H1N1 flu pandemic happened.
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On page 72 there is a blurb about ‘computer controlled milling,’ almost a form of UNprinting, where material is removed with a three axis machine ‘for creating electronic and mechanical prototypes.’
There is an article in the December/January 2013/14 issue (p. 66) which describes how hobbyists can become manufacturers with such tools.
The January 2014 issue of Popular Science has an article on a ‘Digital Chocolatier,’ essentially a 3D printer that prints out chocolate treats! Wouldn’t that make gift-giving a snap for one’s chocoholic friends! In a later article (p. 60), there is information on printing a house! They recommend installing Google SketchUp (a free 3D modeling program) with a plug-in for wikihouse (plug-in downloadable from that site) to choose a home design with which one can create essentially a punch list for parts for the house that one can ‘print’ out with a CNC mill (a ‘computer numerical control’ mill, which 3D printers and devices like I mentioned, above, all are) or send them to a machine shop. Amazing.
The August 2013 issue of Popular Science has a huge article (p. 44) on ‘bioprinting,’ where all of medicine may soon be revolutionized by printing body parts to ‘solve’ intractable and/or exceptionally expensive medical problems.
I think of the shows and books on Star Trek-inspired technology. There have been many examples, and now it seems we are firmly on the path to creating 'replicators,' like those used in that prescient series.
As fascinating as these developments are, they hold little promise for what I would most like to see, a device that would facilitate the spread of peace on earth, good will toward our fellow human beings and planet co-inhabitants (of ALL species). Respect for our environment, a sense of walking in the shoes of others, an appreciation of the power, value and potential of doing unto others as we might wish to be done unto …
Who is working on developments like those, Popular Science? Popular Mechanics? Perhaps we need a new magazine - Popular Humanity. Only, would it be popular? I think among Democrats, it would be. Would that be enough?
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