Self Printing 3D Printer

In Star Trek we were given a machine that we could talk into that would create food. Computer: A peanut butter and jelly sandwich with some milk. And poof - food.

In our life, right now, we have machines that can print out circuit boards, literally pumping melted metals onto the surface of other materials to create electrical channels (think about the big green board inside of your computers and televisions and cars). About 20 years ago Hewlett Packard was doing this stuff. 20 years ago.

Now a days, we are getting better. A machine that can print itself has been designed. From the article:

"RepRap is short for replicating rapid-prototyper. RepRap employs a technique called 'additive fabrication'. The machine works a bit like a printer, but rather than squirting ink onto paper, it puts down thin layers of molten plastic which solidify. These layers are built up to make useful three-dimensional (3D) objects."

Another small, very tiny step. As they mention in this article, why would you need to go out and buy certain things from the store when you can create them in your own home? And people ask, but who will make money and how will we support society? Well, this is where the concept of Intellectual Property becomes very interesting. Instead of being the company to make and sell an iPod you will be the company who makes and sell iPod plans. And then you sell those plans to people who pay for manufacturing, who pay for the materials to create that iPod and who pay for the energy to create. We all become creative geniuses. We all become the manufacturing base of our planet. Individuals empowered.

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Anyone can be struck by lightning,
But not everyone can conduct electricity!