Printing Houses?! - Welcome to the World of 3D Printing

Printing is essentially the process of reproducing text or images using ink. The first evidence of printing materials dates back to 220 AD in China.

These days, it's not only ink that is being used to print. Now we are beginning to see the start of printing on a whole new level, replacing ink with plastic, rubber, metal, cement and other materials. Welcome to the world of 3D printing, where virtually anything is printable.

Click on the image below to read about the house(!!) in Holland that is being 'printed' as we speak!

To Print, Or Not To Print...

The cost of printing is something that can make a big difference to the outgoings of any business and organisation, not to mention the damaging effects it has on tree numbers and wildlife.

The question is, with all the technology that is available in this day and age, do we actually need to use paper? Surely everything can go digital. If not to save the trees and wildlife, to save money!

BBC reports that 'a school in Bolton is pushing the boundaries of education by putting away pens and paper and giving all pupils and teachers their own iPad [...] it helps students and has cut costs, including reducing the school's £80,000 photocopying bill to just £15,000 a year.'

What are your thoughts? What are the advantages of going paperless? Could new tax incentives be introduced to encourage businesses follow this school's example?