Let us first look back to the recent history of printing. The technology has essentially not changed all that much in the past few decades. There is of course one form of printing that has come into its own in the past few years and that is 3D printing. This is a technology that has absolutely huge potential and is already proving its worth in multiple fields. From medical products such as bespoke medicines and organs to industrial and domestic applications, the uses are really widespread and will impact the world in ways we can't even imagine yet.
As 3D printing becomes more widespread, more accessible and more affordable we will began to see the real scope of this technology. Imagine being able to quickly and easily reproduce organs that are perfectly matched to your body, bypassing all sorts of problems and expenses.
Imagine being able to print a complex electronic product in your home in just an hour or two. Just think of all the middle men and infrastructure that will be cut out using this approach. Some argue this is a bad thing and many jobs will be lost as a result. I would argue that other jobs will be created in their place, and even if jobs are lost the environmental implications alone would more than make up for it.
To be able to print the majority of household items and goods right from your home would have absolutely massive ramifications for humanity and the planet, it simply cannot be overlooked and in my opinion should be welcomed, not feared.
Where does all this leave traditional two dimensional printing? It is my opinion that at some point two and three dimensional printing will converge, meaning you will be able to produce printed material such as flyers and leaflets, and 3D objects within the same device. This could be some time off though, especially for larger items. Chances are, for the foreseeable future you will still need the services of a specialised print house such as Tyson Printers.
Traditional laser printers will still evolve, they will get smaller, faster and more efficient. In terms of real technological innovation, there is still plenty of room if you use your imagination. For me, the biggest scope for development here lies in interactive media. Smart materials that are sensitive to input, interactive advertising and so on. We have actually already seen several examples of this so it is certainly on the way, it really is a matter of when, not if we see this technology. It will require an adaptation of existing printers and printing methods but will breathe new life into the industry, and has the potential to make our world a lot more vibrant and engaging.
I will gladly eat my 3D printed hat if none of my predictions come true. Honestly I think most of these are a dead certain, but you never know! You will notice I have avoided putting dates on any of these predictions as quite frankly I am not at the forefront of any of these technologies and cannot possibly comment on how ready they are for the market.
In summary, there's plenty to look forward to both in the near and far future as far as printing is concerned. Low tech traditional printing will always have its place. Increasingly though, we will see the emergence and convergence of new technologies that will change the face of printing forever, likely leaving it almost unrecognisable from the current technology. That might sound like a sombre note to end on but I guess that rather depends on your outlook. People generally don't like change and long for the olden days. Some of us embrace the future though, and it is those that are willing to change who will benefit the most.
What are your thoughts on the future of printing? Agree with me? Disagree? Leave a comment!
