The Promise of 3D and 4D Printing

How is it like to download a coffee table? Or at least a digital model of a coffee table that you could customize and then you just print it out.

Mind it, it is not a picture of a coffee table but an actual, physical three-dimensional object that lives in your living room. Well, it is all possible. It is the world of 3D printing and it is going to change everything. It will redefine the way we think about innovation, design, manufacturing and distribution.

Simply put, 3D printing is the process of making 3 dimensional, solid objects from a digital file. 3D printers bridge the gap between the digital and physical worlds. It uses very thin layers of plastic, which are as thin as a sheet of copy paper, to build an object from the bottom up. Unlike other forms of manufacturing where the excess is carved, cut or melted away, leaving a ton of waste. It creates a new item by adding only what is needed.

And 3D printing isn’t limited to plastics. Already, you can print stuff to glass,metal, food and even organs.

We are heading towards  limitless customization. The promise of 3D printing is huge. We can print any object we can imagine, and have it in our hand in just matter of hours. And in immediate future, it could mean that with today’s desktop machine we can print our favourite sunglasses, phone case and our coffee mugs. Your printer can also print the jewelry line you always want to make, but couldn't afford to produce. You can print your car. Build your house in 24 hours with big size 3D printers. It is not only convenient but  also is cheaper.

So with 3D printers we can think about all the possible applications. But all of these great products have one thing in common-rigidity. That means they are going to keep that shape once we print them, unless we heat the object under a flame or cut it through a hacksaw. But with the advent of called 4D printing everything could change!

That’s right, its one D better! 4D printers can create programmable matter, which will allow us to create object that could reshape them or self assemble over time.

Skylar Tibbits, the man who really came up with this idea of 4D printing, has created programmable sheet material. A successful demonstration at MIT lab already showed that a sheet of plastic, when submerged in water, can clench up into the sheet of a cube. And a cube is just the beginning!

Think about it on the really big scale. What about skyscrapers and bridges. If we could make them out of smart materials like smart beans and smart bricks, they could heal themselves after weather damage or prepare for something massive like an earthquake.

That’s a long way of course, but it is always fun to play with possibilities. This whole new subject should give us a pause and also excite us at the same time. We are at the cusp of something very new and amazing.

The best part is that if you lose your brain thinking about it , you can always print another one.Welcome to the amazing world of 3D and 4D printing. Are you ready for the invention of this magnitude? I have already planned to print a new dress and and a toy for my little one.

Below are three resources you may like to explore

- My article on 4D Printing that was published on InformationWeek in Sep,14

  4D Printing by simplyamit

- How the world will change with 3D and 4D Printing? [slides on Slideshare]

The Promise of 3D and 4D Printing from Amit Kumar Das

- Skylar Tibbits TED talk on 4D printing     

           

Internet of Things (IoT) - The next Mega Trend

How many objects do you have which are connected to the internet?

About a decade ago you probably would have said 1 or may be 2. But today we have computers, personal computers, tablets, smart phone, video games, media player, smart TV, wearable devices and smart refrigerators.

Now extend this trend outward, what do we get? Gartner, a research firm estimates that by 2020, there will be 25 billion objects connected to the internet. We are talking about the world blanketed with billions of sensors. These sensors are taking addresses from real physical objects in the world and uploading them to the internet. We are creating an environment where everything is getting connected. Internet of Things is no more a buzzword, it is the next mega trend.

IoT’s roots can be traced back to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), from work in the field of networked radio frequency identification (RFID) and emerging sensing technologies. Kevin Ashton coined the term Internet of Things for the first time in 1999. IoT represents the next evolution of the Internet, taking a huge leap in its ability to gather, analyze and distribute data that we can turn into information, knowledge, and, ultimately, wisdom.

Now the question is how many objects could be connected to the internet. So consider this –the latest version of internet connection protocol IPV6 can create more addresses than there are atoms on the surface of the earth. So, it is almost limitless.

Let’s stroll into the living room of future.

The room identifies you and taps into the cloud based profile of preferences like climate control, lighting, music and décor. Had a long day at work?? The room knows that you had a busy day full of meetings, the wearable device that you are wearing and the biosensors detect your blood pressure and heart rate. So, it turns off the rock music you usually listen to and switch on to more soothing classical music. The environment is so sophisticated that you may be able to predict what you want. So when you walk to the refrigerator, it will not only tell you what is in there but will also tell you what you can make with stuff you already have inside the fridge. It will also suggest the best meal you can have based on your mood, activity level and may be even your weight loss plan.

IoT Applications

Now, let us also see some real life examples where Internet of Things is already a reality. IoT is already among us with the Nike Fuelband, FitBit, Google Glass and finally the Apple Watch which was a pivotal moment in the internet of things (IoT) revolution.  The smartwatch incorporates fitness tracking and health-oriented capabilities as well as integration with iOS and other Apple products and services.

Mimo, another company can track your little ones. Through the Mimo app you can hear your little one’s coos and cries, know if your little is awake or asleep; it can check your baby’s body position and be notified if he or she rolls over. Available on both Android and iOS, the Mimo app lets you stay in-tune with your baby, from anywhere in the world.

The possibilities of IoT are immense. There could be many applications of Internet of Things 

•      If there is traffic congestion, then we can monitor vehicles and pedestrian levels to optimize driving and walking routes
•      Through distributed control in specific places of tremors we can have early detection of earthquakes. This can save lots of human lives
•      We can build a smart supply chain that can provide identity, location, and other tracking information from the manufacturer to the retailer

In summary, IoT is transforming every industry be it healthcare, energy, agriculture, education or retail. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a VISION. It is being built today. Modern strategist Michael Porter says that eventually, the IoT will deliver products that decide. This is going to give a real opportunity for a surge of growth—a surge of productivity, a surge of innovation. 

Today, the Internet of Things might look like the Internet of the 1990s but the potential for future is unimaginable.
Though this is a vast concept but this video tries to simplify things for us!!

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How Technology is transforming Sephora?

Sephora is a beauty retailer and belongs to the LVMH group. It was founded in Paris, France in 1970 and focuses on prestigious and emerging brands across the categories make-up, fragrance, skincare, haircare and nails.

While, the beauty specialist retailers have grown at a CAGR of 6% since 2009, Sephora has outgrown the market with double digit growth. Technology plays a big part in that growth. Technologies inside the store enable Sephora to provide customers with very individual recommendations and unbiased feedback that can hardly be found in department stores or branded beauty outlets. Technology allows Sephora to capture different shopping profiles and allows to capture a large share of demand. The technologies in store and omnichannel integration transformed the previously rather offline focused beauty industry to an online platform.

Digital technologies are used to create an integrated multi-channel experience to capture most shopping preferences and thus sales. Additional to the stores, Sephora operates a mobile app and several websites. Technologies inside the stores enable customers to find products on touch screen booths via tests, such as the fragrance IQ or by scanning barcodes. The screens allow customers to read reviews, see pictures of other consumers using it, inform about ingredients, educate about uses or offer matching other products. Customers can directly sent these recommendations to their email, save them to their Beauty Insider account or print it at the booth to discuss with cast members. The same tests can be found online and offer customers the opportunity to purchase matching products through the online store

Courage is the spirit of Youth

Folks,

I created my first poster on Canva. Here you go!!