Edge of technology 3D printing and other amazing inventions

Food print-outs
Another application of 3D printing which has obvious implications for Africa is that of printing food. Again, the prospect would seem to belong to the world of science fiction, but the process is already a reality.

NASA has provided funding for a project which has already succeeded in printing chocolate with the aim of feeding astronauts in space and the hungry here on Earth. A printer will be fitted with a number of nutritional building blocks such as protein and carbohydrates and other elements essential to a healthy diet which are then mixed and deposited in layers.

The thought of such a meal may not make your mouth water but astronauts used to  freeze-dried meals will not complain and nor will the millions in this world who go hungry every day. Anjan Contractor, who is developing the technology, says that dehydrated food can last decades without spoiling, which could help alleviate the food shortage that much of Africa is already painfully used to and which the First World may soon have to come to terms with if current projections prove accurate.

The way is open for entire industries, SMEs and talented programmers to harness the new technology for themselves. The 3D food printer NASA is backing is an open source design which means anyone can use it and tweak it for their own purposes. African innovations, designs and products might one day soon be just a Google search away from any corner of the globe.

Just as Gutenberg’s printing press collapsed the cost of publishing and democratised the dissemination of information, and digitalisation made publishers of us all, so 3D printing has the potential to similarly revolutionise the world. Soon, companies’ online shops will have a 3D printing option, allowing customers to print a product instead of asking for it to be delivered.