In terms of how the world views 3D printing and rapid prototyping, it could be argued that the the ability to turn virtual designs into physical objects is one of the technology's crowning achievements.
Many people have already compared the technique to that of a "Star Trek" replicator, with 3D printing seen as the next step in the evolution of manufacturing and a means of reducing the inevitable waste that comes with traditional production processes.A Yahoo-sponsored project in Japan is now taking that futuristic concept and using it to bring tactile objects on request to the visually impaired and blind.
According to CNET, Yahoo Japan has introduced students at the Special Needs Education School for the Visually Impaired to its "Hands on Search" 3D printer, with the children able to create items though voice commands and internet search engines. The kiosk-sized device, which has been designed to resemble a big fluffy cloud, is able to translate a request for, say, a giraffe or a car into a CAD file that is then printed and passed to the student who requested it.
The printer itself only has two buttons, ensuring that it is quick and easy to use within the classroom. By combining the familiar "search" function with voice recognition software, blind or visually impaired children can touch and feel an object that they may have only been told about, giving them a tactile experience as opposed to just imagining what that item is or could be.
The 3D models and data are initially provided by large Japanese companies such as Nissan and Toyota, although if no match is found, the internet search capabilities of the machine whir into action. While this technology is, to date, only available in Japan, the school is collaborating with not only Yahoo but also the Tokyo-based University of Tsukaba who are overseeing the innovative pilot project.