“Third Thumb” Augmentation Changes the Way we Think of Prosthetics
Present Day
As crazy as it might sound, 3D printed architectural structures aren’t the most sci-fi thing in our present day. But for most people, the idea of 3D printing an entire home is still considered a far-off dream. And even though we’ve witnessed the 3D printing of full-scale buildings in China, the technology was simply too young to truly disrupt the construction industry – until now.
Thanks to 3D printing company Apis Cor and its innovative technologies, the first on-site residential home has been printed in Russia. Partnered with PIK Group construction company, Apis Cor was able to use its mobile 3D printer at its test facility in the town of Stupino. How long did the entire printing process take? Less than a day.
The single-story residential home was specifically chosen as a means of testing out the company’s technology – in particular, its ability to 3D print under flexible conditions without issue. The printer passed in flying colors, not only showing quickness and resiliency, but equally at a relatively inexpensive price range of $10134 – approximately $275 per square meter.
Near Future
Five to ten years from now, we could very well witness entire neighborhoods being 3D printed. As the technology continues to grow and more experimental homes are 3D printed as a result, demand will begin to increase, thus driving down the cost. In ten years time, 3D printed homes could become as mainstream as smartphones are today.
These homes will serve as a prime example for what additive manufacturing has to offer for the future of our civilization. We’ll quickly move away from printing nicknacks the size of our fists and begin reaching for the stars – so to speak. With 3D printed homes will come everything else – furniture, windows, etc. In doing so, copyright laws – and even capitalism itself – will have a hard time trying to keep up.
“Now we can say with confidence that with Apis Cor solution, the construction 3D printing has leaped to a new evolutionary stage. The Apis Cor company and its partners are confident that the house in Stupino was the first step that can convince the world that 3D technology in the construction market is a reality.”
– Apis Cor
FAR FUTURE
Thirty to fifty years from now, entire cities will have been 3D printed. Our skyscrapers will be shaped in extremely intricate designs and will reach out into our atmosphere, piercing our Earthly bounds with space elevators. Nearly everything you see will have been printed in some fashion, including our own organs and limbs. More or less, the human body will largely consist of 3D printed systems.
By this time, how we define our species and our way of living will have been completely transformed from the bottom-up. We’ll have become a truly self-made species, evolving at a pace similar to Moore’s Law. Where this transformation takes our species is uncertain, but if anything’s certain, it’s that we’ll continue building and we’ll continue wandering. Without them, we’d have never made it this far to begin with.
Photo Credit: Apis Cor
About the author
B.J. Murphy is the Editor and Social Media Manager of Serious Wonder. He is a futurist, philosopher, activist, author and poet. B.J. is an Affiliate Scholar for the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET) and an Ambassador for the robotics company Humai.
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