Have you ever imagine a day that your children do not ask you anymore to go together to a toy-store, as they make the toys of their dreams by themselves? Kids love to draw and design. Why not let them create their own monster or race car? This can be achieved by 3D printing toys at home!
The early days of 3D-printed toys left people amazed by the technology, but less than overjoyed by the design options. In the past, people had highly limited options pertaining to design and materials. Plastic materials were the only options widely available for people to use. This was highly limiting when it came to designs, inspirations, and marketable consumer products. A market did exist for such toys that were basic and inexpensive, however the key demographics were hardly running to their computers to order such products by the masses. One of the significant developments of such limitations was the drive of engineers and rapid prototyping services to create better designs, to develop better machines that used alternative materials, and to provide better services. It was the shortcomings of the past that have led to the exciting times of today and tomorrow.
The toy industry has taken notice that, recently, parents have embraced the idea that their children can have additional learning opportunities in a variety of ways by providing them with life experiences that is both fun and educational.
The present shows a far different picture than the past in rapid prototyping services, as 3D-printing technology development and software designs are transforming the industry on an entirely different level than years’ past. Mobile devices app stores are revolutionizing the way children select toys. Parents no longer have to spend countless hours in crowded stores to select the same toys that all other kids have. In the privacy of their own homes, while out to dinner, or anywhere families are on the go, kids can easily customize the toys of their dreams. They can choose everything from colors to size of popular designs. These custom designs can then be printed and shipped directly to the family’s doorstep.
Even if for now the 3D printing is more accessible to adults, it only follows that kids are the next frontier. A 3D printer with a kid-friendly app that lets children design, print, and build their own toys was already launched by Mattel one year ago. It is a printer that lets kids create everything from bracelets and necklaces to dolls, dinosaurs, and robots. The parts print out individually, so later in the day kids can return to assemble the interlocking ball-and-socket pieces into the objects and characters they dreamed up themselves.
In a certain sense, kids 3D printing their own toys is just an evolution from toys that were popular decades ago.
If the thought of children getting involved with a complex, new, and somewhat unproven practice still sounds too ridiculous, University of Colorado computer science professor Michael Eisenberg makes a great counterpoint by comparing 3D printers to computers.
“In both cases, the advent of home-accessible devices has sparked an interest in the use of the given technology by children. It is worth recalling how strange it seemed to many observers, back in the 1970s, that children might actually use computers,” Eisenberg wrote in an analysis of 3D printing for children. MakerKids, a Toronto center that claims to be the first and largest children’s maker space in the world, offers 3D printing courses for kids ages 7 to 12. Kids learn how to print everything from Minecraft characters to custom wrenches.
3D printing, of course, is not without its downsides. For an average family, the cost of the 3D printers is probably still too high to drop on one kids’ toy. And there are always questions surrounding the practicality, quality, and hype of 3D printing. But as more toys and instruction enter the market at accessible price points, more families may start to see 3D printing as an attractive part of kids’ creative development.
The future of rapid prototyping is exciting and somewhat yet unimaginable. In the very near future, many kids will have easy access to 3D printers whether it be in their own homes or through rapid prototyping services specializing in custom toys. It is also possible that kids will be learning how to use 3D graphics to design their own software to create their own customized toys to be sold to toy manufacturers, rapid prototyping companies, and the general public. Kids who are exposed to rapid prototyping at an early age and develop an interest in the industry through 3D-printed toys will develop a lifelong skill that can help them be more employable in the future. It will also foster the creative and technical sides of their brains to potentially increase their chances at becoming successful innovators and entrepreneurs.
As the rapid prototyping of toys has been opening the eyes of both adults and children alike, parents now have greater control over the toys their children play with, and children have the ability to use their imagination to create the toys they want. And, the future of 3D-printed toys can only help the development and life potential of all children all over the world, as this industry shift is also providing new opportunities to rapid prototyping services and entrepreneurs alike. While the desire for customized toys continues to grow, both children and parents will have more control over the items available for print as opposed to large corporations dictating the toys placed on shelves. Parents will have the opportunity to order custom toys for parties and even create unique designs for each child. The possibilities are becoming endless.
Source: theweek.com, 3dprintingindustry.com