Re: RP Forum, 'The future of RP'

From: EdGrenda@aol.com
Date: Fri Oct 27 2000 - 17:35:29 EEST


In a message dated 00-10-26 21:59:56 EDT, igibson@hkucc.hku.hk writes:

<< So far I have had offers to convene sessions on
 
 - RP and Architecture
 - Rapid Tooling, which looks like it may be split into 2 sub-areas.
 - RP and Architecture
 - RP and the Internet
 - Integrated systems
 
 I think we should also continue the discussion on RP and Art. I also plan
 to continue the discussion on Colour RP. Any other suggestions?
>>

Dear Ian:

Two obvious areas of future importance are direct fabrication, i.e., using RP
as a manufacturing means, and medical applications of RP. The latter should
probably emphasize advanced work in tissue engineering and similar areas.
Lately I've been learning about some approaches and ideas that make me think
that organ generation may not be as far away as we may have thought.

Perhaps another area for discussion is the arrow of technology development.
In the fabulous fifties you had to be a wealthy, technologically advanced
corporation to operate a TV studio. Today you can buy much better capability
for short money at Circuit City and carry it in your briefcase. Just how do
we put excellent RP capabilities within the grasp of essentially every
interested PC user, and when (not if) that happens, what does it imply?
Think Quadra.

Scientific visualization and anthropological applications have been broad,
but not deep. We should try to find out why and discuss where this is
leading. Answering the needs of potential users in these multifarious
applications could possibly open up a number of new market areas for the
technology and force its development. How - and can - this be proselytized?

What is the relationship between RP and virtual prototyping? How will these
two fields develop in parallel and what are the applications of RP that will
eventually be supplanted by virtual prototyping? What are the applications
that can't?

What needs to be done to make RP an answer to the needs of every industrial
designer? Architecture seems easy in comparison.

Of course, if I knew the answers to these questions, I'd never tell. In
fact, I can't believe I'm even asking the questions. That would seem to be a
problem with such discussions, but that's what academia is for. At least,
that's what I read some place.

Best regards,
Ed

Ed Grenda
Castle Island Co.
19 Pondview Road
Arlington, MA 02474 USA
781-646-6280 (voice or fax)
EdGrenda@aol.com (email)
http://home.att.net/~castleisland/
   

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