// modern electronics ... fibre optic comms, CDs, DVDs, GPS, MRI Scanners ... LEDs (etc)
Um, that's sort of my point. These are great examples which people just plain don't count.
When something just works (for the most part) then people get used to it so readily that they don't question how it works. The consumer doesn't see the LED as anything other than a little light, for example.
3D printing on the other hand... well, it's not yet so ubiquitous as to be unremarkable.
People talk about the 3d-printed part of a technical project in a way they don't about established stuff. 3D printed stuff also gets high visibility because it works particularly well for custom and fashion consumer goods. These things are particularly noticable to the layman (and woman).
I'm not against 3D printing. I've had my own designs printed through an online service. It's great.
What I'm objecting to is Marcus's suggestion that it is 'making an impact' when the other technologies mentioned had failed to do so.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
