RE: [rp-ml] free STL Files and other things we wish for in the new year

Sure G, just like Ken Olson, CEO of Digital Equipment said in 1977, "Who
would want a computer in their home?"

  _____

From: owner-rp-ml@rapid.lpt.fi [mailto:owner-rp-ml@rapid.lpt.fi] On Behalf
Of G. Sachs
Sent: Monday, January 04, 2010 12:12
To: rp-ml@rapid.lpt.fi
Subject: Re: [rp-ml] free STL Files and other things we wish for in the new
year

So what kinds of "great" things would consumers do with their dirt-cheap RP
machines? What they do with their studio grade still and video cameras? What
they do with their Cray-supercomputer class computers (which I would have
killed for in the 70's)? No, I think you may have too much optimism and
faith for how people end up using powerful tools (like TV) and how long
their interest in such things lasts. My guess is that the 'attention span'
for cheap RP machines would be about 1-month (in the 21st century) - then on
to the next 'cheap thrill'. Cheap is not what is really needed to get
increased interest in RP - new visions about what is possible, especially in
terms of creating (real, meaningful and well paying) jobs, may be much more
important. I'm kind of tired of cheap thrills (and conferences), it may be
time for everyone to get back to work and really 'do something' (as Steve
Jobs might say).

G. Sachs

  _____

From: George W. Hart <george@georgehart.com>
To: rp-ml@rapid.lpt.fi
Sent: Mon, January 4, 2010 1:57:09 PM
Subject: Re: [rp-ml] Detroit Bomber STL File

  To extend Marshall's point, I'll opine that it wouldn't necessarily be a
bad thing if some killer app involving human sexuality is what it takes to
get the economies of scale jump started, so that RP machine prices drop into
the consumer appliance price range.

(But let's *not* brainstorm ideas for such apps here on this forum.)

George
http://www.georgehart.com

P.S. My coolest RP sculpture yet: (kid-safe, don't worry)
    http://www.georgehart.com/sculpture/ball-and-chain.html

Marshall Burns wrote:
> Very interesting comment, Greg. Given the history of cave drawing, marble
sculpture, painting on canvas, the printing press, photography, video tape,
the Internet, and every other communication medium known to man and woman,
there is no question that the popular advent of fabbers will come along with
applications in pornography, both legal and illegal. In ten or 15 years,
we'll probably have prosecutors across the country arresting high school
kids for 3D sexting. (Don't trust the timing of my predictions; they've been
dreadfully off before.)
Received on Tue Jan 05 00:09:15 2010