I believe replication of antique parts for restoration is already a niche for 3D printing. Laser scanners have become essential for this.
The food printers are, IMO, a bit bogus. They are food extruders that simply use filled cartridges of paste-like ingredients to deposit blobs of foodstuff in traditional shapes. They can already extrude pizza.
I am waiting to be able to fill something with essential elements/nutrients and then press a button resulting in the creation of food that still looks, tastes and smells like farmed produce or meat. CHON=a steak or a salad, depending on the program.
The money will be in the software programs and the raw materials. I suspect there are companies with R&D programs ongoing to be the first to build a real replicator. However, it may well end up being a garage R&D operation.
We are at a place similar to the fascination with electricity in the 1800s, IMO, or with computers in the 1970s. What would an early photographer think of the iPad camera, for example? I know that I remember the early Brownies and my jaw just drops at what an iPad can do. Interestingly enough, I know older women who can barely send an email who have eagerly purchased an iPad just because they want the camera function.
Whatever happens, it won’t be some sort of linear geometric progression. There will be uneven development and some seemingly obscure discovery may catapult everything forward by a quantum level.
“I am waiting to be able to fill something with essential elements/nutrients and then press a button resulting in the creation of food that still looks, tastes and smells like farmed produce or meat. CHON=a steak or a salad, depending on the program.”
Like a George Jetson setup!
Amazing ventures—fer sure!