One speaker runs the chemistry department at Glasgow University, where they are already using 3D printing to make some drugs / medicines.
The other speaker was an expert in litigation in areas such as patents and copyright in 3d printing.
The 3rd speaker was a brilliant computer geek.
I knew that it was possible to scan and print a small object such as a spoon. I had no idea that the technology had advanced as far as it has. There seems to be no limits to what it is going to be able to do.
It has already been used in plastic surgery for a woman who was having to have a large part of her jaw removed for cancer. They were able to scan the area before removal and print out a prosthesis which exactly replicated her face.
But back to medicines.
The professor told us that soon everyone will be able to have a small printer like a microwave in the kitchen and be able to print out our own medicines. We will of course need a recipe.
How will this affect the drug companies?
It will make it very difficult for them to patent their drugs.
Another example given was spare parts for our cars. If we need a part we might be able to go on the internet and find a recipe for it and just print it out at home on our 3D scanner. But - it might be a poor recipe and we might not have the best quality ingredients and that could be dangerous in a car.
So - instead
We might go down to somewhere like Halfords. They would have the accurate licensed recipe from the car manufacturer and ingredients. They would then print the part out in their 3D printer. No need for them to stock parts for every car and no delay for you while they order them up from somewhere miles away.
The other worry is guns. Print your own gun!
Fancy a pair of designer sun glasses like your friend has. Well - just copy them in the scanner!
The law has not begun to catch up and it is going to be a minefield that makes file sharing on the internet look like nothing
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