3D printers are amazing.
They have so much potential to change lives by allowing business to create parts on demand, hospitals can make devices for medical use, and people are even making custom prosthetic limbs.
Even though 3D printers are awesome, they are still hard to come by and historically have been cost prohibitive to purchase. The software to use the printers also have a reputation for being difficult to design in.
Even as the prices drop, I don't think there is a printer in the market for under $400…until now. Mattel is getting into the 3D printer market with "ThingMaker." A $300 device that comes with custom software that will allow children to design and print out their own toys.
Mattel says the printer is designed for children 13 and up, but the software runs on smart phones and designed for ease of use. TechCrunch reviewed the app:
Called ThingMaker Design, the app includes a variety of built-in character templates and easy-to-use tutorials that help novices get started. But it also allows for designing characters from scratch, once kids get the hang of things. The toys can be customized with different colors and textures, and will bend and twist in the app so you can get a feel for how they'll work after they've been printed. The creations can be saved as images to the mobile device's Camera Roll, or uploaded to Google Drive or Dropbox.
The printer also allows for more complex designs by allowing creations with multiple parts that are printed out individually and connected with ball-and-socket joints.
My primary concern about ThingMaker is the ecosystem that will support it. Will Mattel completely lock down the device so that the existing designs 3D makers have shared are incompatible? Will a child be able to use an existing 3D arm design, build it, and give it to another child? I fear that Mattel will have their own propriety methods that will make it easy to print a Barbie, but not something more socially-minded.
I enjoy covering technology topics for kids because I think it's an awesome middle ground between play and education. Having a whole generation of children that can design their own things (not just toys) will lead to a more innovative and self-sufficient society. Even with my reservations, I am supportive of Mattel's efforts.
ThingMaker isn't available for purchase until later this fall, but pre-orders on Amazon kicked off this week.
