The Use of 3D Printers Should Be Considered More in This Moment.

Park Hyun-soo
+ Senior, Department of International Business
   As time has gone by, our lives have changed to an incredible world that we once thought inconceivable. From cars to smart phone, the limitation of technology doesn’t seem to have been reached. 3D Printers reproduce things like almost every products around us. Therefore, it has been controversial among many people because it leaves possibility of being misused. I agree with that idea.
   The following points support my opinion. First, the 3D printer is only for a small group of people who are able to handle it because it requires expertise. They will have every right related with 3D printing for the benefits of themselves, and monopolizing on high leveled innovation bring about a new kind of crime. Second, it discourages many scientists and inventors from inventing new products. Patents will lose its role of protecting one’s ideas or items if reproduction is so easy that even law cannot prohibit it.
   Third, the dignity of every life in this world could be violated. If the 3D printer comes into the area of nature, everyone might become a victim of man-made disaster. Imagine “Another I.” This is not a story of SF movie but our future with 3D printers developed. Fourth, over-imitation makes people distrust everything. A “Fake-world” would drive people to doubt first. As a result of such a phenomenon, Crimes like homicide would happen a lot.
   In conclusion, I’m pretty sure that 3D printer is highest innovation ever. As a technology itself, it can bring much convenience to human life. However, it still has a long way to be commercialized. Strong regulations by each country’s government are the only way to make 3D printer be helpful and safe. As of right now, it should be prohibited.

 


We Cannot Overlook the Negative Sides of 3D Printing.

Lee Won-jun
+ Freshman, Department of Sociology

   The 3D printer is one of the most innovative technologies available today and it could completely transform the way we usually make and replace products. So it is no doubt that 3D printing will disrupt nearly every major industry such as mass manufacturing and intellectual property. But at this moment, we need to think about why 3d printing has not caught on yet and what is holding this technology back. It stands to transform technology and society for the better however, we can’t just neglect the potential negative impact. So 3D printing may be a double-edged sword and we must keep in mind that it also has several negative sides along with positive ones.
   First of all, as it can print safety equipment like helmets, wheels, and knee pads, weapons can be printed too. In fact, the first successful 3D printed gun is old news and the problem is metal detectors or X-rays can’t detect a printed gun since it’s made of plastic. For this issue, we can see that we really need special requirement for printed guns.
   Secondly, when operating this machine, it consume about 50 to 100 times more electrical energy than injection molding to make an item of the same weight. Because of this 3D printers are not a right machine to make massive items and industrial-sized 3D printer may not be the answer to lessening our use of coal power.
   Finally, 3D printers can cause harmful effects on your health when it used in the home. Research has found that the emissions from desktop 3D printers are similar to burning a cigarette or cooking on a gas stove. The airborne particles printer produce when heating the plastic and printing small figures can settle in the lungs or the bloodstream and pose health risk, especially for those with asthma.

 

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