3D Printing: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The Good

3D printing has become very popular in the world over engineering. A 3D printer prints objects layer by layer with lazer precision. They print objects made out of plastic. What might seem like a small technological advancement could actually change the world of retail. If a 3D printer were avalable in every household people could easily download their favorite products template and then print it out. Every thing from salt shakers to, some day, cars.

Audi used a 3D Printer i.e. Object Printer to print the RSQ prototype

The Bad

If everyone has a 3D printer than the essentially have a mini factory in the house. The only reason we buy products from big companies in because the have the equipment to make them. Now that it is potentially possible to just print your own products right at home the only thing those companies have left is their patents. However most of the people who are truly excited about 3D printers invision an open source market where people can simply upload their inventions. Then anyone can download them and print them out. So instead of "the middle man" being cut out it will actually be " the man" being cut out. It will just be people helping people which might sound great but could alos cripple the economy.

The Ugly

THe leaders of the printable gun topic are more activists then marksmen. They feel that printable guns are the flagship programs that will help consumers break free from a cycle of what they call tyranny. If everyone has a 3D printer than they will be able to print products and guns whenever they want regardless of the laws of the country. With the gun control topic ragging around the U.S. these printable guns become very controversial. 

Cell Phones and Privacy

Prepaid phone are very convenient for people who do not have enough money for the cell phone plans that the larger population has. Single mothers and struggling students us prepaid phones as emrgency back ups. For these reasons I do not think that prepaid phones should be banned. What the government and the cell phone companies need to do is create prepaid phones that can be tracked. Terrorists will always find another way of communicating but giving them an obvious advantage is dangerous. With cell phones information can travel faster than a bullet, and information is dangerous. Leaving such useful forms of communications created by American companies in the hands of terrorist is a dangerous mistake.

Location Tracking

If the idea of putting tracking devises into our children is an honest proposal than the world at large needs to seriously re consider parenting. As humans we never dtop growing and learning. Being a parent and not knowing where your children are is an experience that can be very humbling and a great deal can be learnt. And being a child and having the notion of freedom is also a very important part of life. Over protection of a child leads to anti-social behavior later on. Taking risks help humans learn and grow. Instead of congress spending money on tracking chip they should spend it on public courses for confused parents who need help raising their children. Like many other new technologies the cons out weigh the pros. If the tracking devises got into the hands of the wrong people it would be easy for a sexual preditor or cereal killer to find a child. The government can't be trusted with these technologies because no one should be trusted with these technologies. The elderly could simply have chips in their shoes. Tracking a humane being is inhumane. The goal may be to protect and preserve life but in the end these technologies take away the very characteristics that make us human.

CS Class

I have created this account to publish assignments from my Networking class. We will discuss everything from the ethics of the internet to the more technical sides of the internet.