3-D Printing: How the Technology is Shaking Up Product Design

Guests: Joseph Flaherty, Hod Lipson, and Melba Kurman

Need a new ear? What about a gun? These are just two of the many items that can be created from a 3-D printer. The technology, first conceived in the 1980s, is now becoming more affordable and boasts a wealth of possibilities. Food, weapons, body parts, and toys are just a sliver of things that can be made by 3-D printers. While the technology is revolutionizing product design, it has also raised concerns. Law enforcement officials are wary about the creation of hard-to-detect plastic guns while companies are worried about copyright infringement. What does this technology mean for the future of manufacturing? We’ll hear from JOSEPH FLAHERTY, a writer for WIRED and designer for AgaMatrix, who’ll tell us about the latest advancements in 3-D printing technology and its numerous applications. We’ll also hear from HOD LIPSON, professor of engineering and director the Creative Machines Lab at Cornell University, and MELBA KURMAN, writer and technology analyst, about how the technology works, the legal issues it presents, and how 3-D printing is shaking up several industries.