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| Altair 8800, January 1975 |
I recall reading an interview with Bill Gates a while back
where he talked about how chance had played a big part in his success. He was fortunate that the school he attended had a
computer and that his parents were well off enough to buy him an early PC. Granted he had a lot of talent and worked really hard, but he got an early start with computers in large
part by being in the right place at the right time.
I remember those early years of the PC, the late 70's and
early 80's. Those PCs were not what they
are now. They were mostly kits or very clunky boxes of wire & solder. They were also very limited. You couldn't really do much with them, but the
fascination was that they were programmable.
They were a little expensive, about $300 at the time. Most people did not buy a PC until 10 years
later.
Fast forward 40 years.
There is a new technology that reminds me a lot of those early PCs. The technology is called 3D printing. 3D
printers create three dimensional objects by using a “printing” process not too
dissimilar from your desktop inkjet printer, but instead of extruding ink they
extrude materials like plastics, metals, ceramic powders, or even edible
material. They are clunky and expensive
and can't really do much, but they have an avid nerd following.
To my mind this is the kernel of what will be a great new technology
in about 10 years. If you want your son
or daughter to be the next Bill Gates buy them a 3D printer now. Prices start around $300.
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| MakerBot 3D Printer |
