The family 3D printer: the beating heart of every future household

When I was little, there was always a “family computer” in the living room; a typical phenomenon from the 1990s; a noisy device with a big, square screen. Everyone in our household used it. We had about ten floppy disks with games. Tetris was my mother's addiction - she sometimes did that a little too fanatically. I entertained myself with Snake. If I wanted to play a game on the Internet, I had to dial in over the phone line. I was allowed to wander around those slow websites for fifteen minutes at most. Those were great times!

We don't know the term family computer anymore now. But in the future I can see the gray beast making its comeback - in a modern form. Let's think about that. What, if... the family computer gives way to a sophisticated, all-encompassing family 3D printer? A device that not only converts your ideas into physical objects but produces anything you might need: from food to medicine?

Out with the pantry

A few clicks on the printer screen and a cup of steaming coffee: that's what a morning in 2050 looks like. The pantry is a thing of the past. A simple cartridge filled with organic powder - composed of algae, insect proteins, and synthetic fats - provides the basis for virtually any dish. The printer combines flavors, textures, and nutritional values into a dish deposited directly on your plate. Fancy white chocolate with nuts? Within two minutes, it's in front of you. The device even takes your health into account. Are you, like me, often deficient in iron? Then it automatically adjusts your meal accordingly. Or, imagine: Liam, an eight-year-old boy with a severe peanut allergy. Every meal, before the arrival of the printer, was a source of stress for his parents, because even a small trace of peanuts can lead to a life-threatening allergic reaction. However, the printer automatically analyzes the risk of allergens and suggests safe alternatives, such as peanut-free sauces or snacks. No more worries!

Medication on demand

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the family printer is its health revolution. Your doctor is integrated into the device. A simple scan of your body - via a smartwatch or contact lens - detects abnormalities in your blood levels or hormonal balance. The printer then assembles a medication, customizes it, and delivers it in a perfectly dosed capsule or injectable liquid. Pharmacies have thus become virtually obsolete. Only a small percentage of drugs are still produced in laboratories, mainly for experimental treatments.

This is a godsend for Jan, a 67-year-old man who suffers from heart failure. He has to take medication daily to keep his blood pressure stable and reduce fluid buildup in his body. This used to be a constant struggle: he had to go to the pharmacy for repeat prescriptions, account for different dosages, and hope his medications were ready on time. Now every morning his smart bracelet scans his heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels. If his values deviate, the printer adjusts the medication immediately.

Fashion, but not fast

The printer has also made a big impact in the fashion world. The machine has standard access to thousands of designs from fashion brands around the world. You pay for the raw materials and the design. For example, Nike, like many other major brands, has set up a special 3D printing line. Fast fashion is a thing of the past. Because people only print clothes they really want and that are perfectly tailored to their tastes and sizes, way fewer clothes end up in landfills. I'm sure I'm not the only one. Sometimes you see a t-shirt online that looks nice on the site, but once it arrives it turns out not to fit properly. So that struggle is a thing of the past. The global textile waste lump is more than halved as a result. Moreover, worn-out t-shirts and jeans no longer disappear into the trash, but are largely converted back into raw materials for your next outfit.

Bickering

In short: in the future, the family 3D printer will be the beating heart of every household, just as the family computer once was. And yes, no doubt it will also generate the necessary discussions. You'll see: just when you want to quickly print a meal before exercising, it turns out your sister is busy printing a new pair of jeans - and, of course, those will take at least another twenty minutes. Technology evolves, but some things - like bickering with siblings - never change!