Monthly Archives: February 2013

5 amazingly useful examples of 3D printing

Triggered by dramatic events there has been controversy in the  US surrounding the issue of gun control. Throughout the course of this intense emotional issue, (and to make matters worse) the notion of using 3D printers to print ammo cartridges (as well as simple guns) has surfaced.  Naturally, upon hearing this certain people are beginning to question the usefulness of 3D printers.  Well, rest assured, 3D printing is an amazing technology that should not be limited or infringed upon in any way.  You’re about to see 5 real-world examples of 3D printing in use (or soon to be) that perfectly demonstrate just how incredible the technology really is.  So put your  fears to rest and learn about how this emerging technology might soon radically transform our world.

Drug development
Although many might not be currently aware of it, researchers have already begun using 3D printing in tandem with sophisticated supercomputers to devise solutions for combating afflictions such as cancer.  In essence, they’re moving to print individual molecules so that they can better combat certain types of illnesses.  We’re talking about compounds that are “designed”, where every atom is specifically placed according to the wishes of its creator.  Obviously, this is a significant breakthrough not just for science or the medical establishment, but for the entire human race.  Now it might be possible to quickly develop new drugs that not only work better, but are also safer and pose a smaller list of harmful side effects.

Reconstructive surgery
Perhaps one of the most intriguing examples of 3D printing is a case from February of 2012 involving a woman receiving an entirely new jawbone.  Although it seems like something you might hear in a Star Trek episode, it is now possible to replace parts of the human skeletal system with a 3D printer that are incredibly accurate and form-fitting.  In this particular instance, titanium powder was used along with heat to fashion the jawbone, afterwards it was coated in a bioceramic mixture to prevent rejection.  Certainly this opens the door for even more amazing potential uses for 3D printing with regards to replacing static body parts.

Manufacturing
When it comes to manufacturing, 3D printing is likely to entirely replace traditional methods of production.  Anyone who has been involved in (or been around) a manufacturing operation for any length of time knows that many individual steps are involved in creating something fairly basic.  This is because it takes time to set up, calibrate, and maintain traditional CNC machines and/or those devices which help to construct things.  Likewise, once you get things set up to produce one particular object, it’s simply not efficient to switch over to something different.  When 3D printers are used in a manufacturing capacity you can not only get things done faster, you can also produce parts “on-demand”; meaning, the entire operation can become infinitely more fluid.  The reason behind this is simple: traditional manufacturing tends to be largely “subtractive” in nature; meaning, you start with something solid and melt it down or cut and chip away at it until it takes on the shape you desire.  3D printing on the other hand is “additive”; meaning, there is very little waste and not nearly as much energy consumed to achieve similar results.

Pre-fabricated home design
Recently, architects and human rights activists have been exploring the notion of using 3D printers to essentially produce simple home designs which can be quickly assembled.  This not only gives architects more of a direct path toward exploring new design concepts which (thanks to the 3D printer) perfectly maintain their desired proportions, it also provides a way for humanitarians to combat important social issues, like homelessness and those affected by natural disasters.

3D printers in the homes of the average consumer  
Lastly, imagine a future where you no longer have to order an object or device through the internet and wait for its arrival in the mail.  3D printers might soon allow the average consumer to simply “print” items at home instead of actually going out and shopping or making purchases online.  Of course this approach won’t work with everything (yet), but it could prove to be extremely useful for a wide range of things from producing basic household chemicals to physically printing out basic machines that can later be assembled.

We shouldn’t let the “fear mongers” dissuade us from collectively exploring 3D printing; it’s actually one of the most groundbreaking concepts to ever emerge, after all.  Remember, for every perceived negative use of the technology there will be multiple examples of how it can be used in a positive manner.  Many scientists and trending experts agree that 3D printing is very likely to completely revolutionize our entire world once it “catches on”.  It’s hard not to agree with them, because (as you’ve clearly seen) the technology itself can be applied both broadly and successfully in nearly every area you can think of.  In this way, perhaps calling 3D printing “amazingly useful” is a major understatement; “critically invaluable” is a much better description, wouldn’t you agree?

If you are interesting in learning about how 3D printing actually works and / or getting certified in it, CLICK HERE.

Big Data is Big career opportunity

IT (information technology) is a career field that is always changing, often in sudden and surprising ways.  For example, you never know when a new type of technology is going to “pop-up” and rewrite all the rules, or completely shift the focus of the industry.  Big Data is one such up-and-coming area of growth.  But what makes Big Data “extra special” is its’ very nature.  In fact, if you get certified in Big Data now, you’ll quickly find yourself with more money in your pocket and a better job in the very near future (read on to discover how and why).

You see, Big Data is both an opportunity as well as a problem.  How could this be, you ask?   In the same way that the Earth’s human population is always growing, so is the total amount of Data that comes with it.   Quite simply, Big Data could have triggered a crisis because there’s too much information being collected, with no where for it to go.   What happens when data or information piles into a system beyond its capacity to handle it?  Well, if you’re familiar with DDoS attacks (where many thousands or millions of communication requests are sent in order to disrupt the servers of a targeted group or business) then you basically already understand how and why there is weakness.  Big Data is potentially dangerous in almost exactly the same way as an organized DDoS attack, by virtue of the fact that there’s too much information for the services, system or infrastructure to process.

Luckily, we’ve been able to develop solutions for Big Data which will allow us to bypass any problems and deal directly with large amounts of information.  But the story doesn’t end here, brilliant minds have taken things one step further and are now using Big Data for other purposes.  Because Big Data is a symptom of a surplus of information, it only makes sense that someone might want to try to extract some value from it.  Similarly, once people discovered that oil might be used to run automobiles its overall value increased (a lot).  This is exactly how many people in the IT and Tech communities view Big Data – as if it were a “new type of natural resource”.

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Click here for a complete Big Data Certification course (online)
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So, how would businesses use Big Data as a resource, you ask?  Hidden inside Big Data are valuable insights about consumer trends, attitudes, interests and “demographics”.  Let’s take demographics for instance; through Big Data companies might be able to more quickly figure out who their best possible customers are.  But the fun doesn’t end there; they could also determine what these top consumers are interested in, which would help them when it comes to designing better marketing campaigns, and so on and so forth.  Of course this is just one example of how Big Data will become useful in the very near future; it’s also going to be used in health care, law enforcement and many other areas.  The truth is, we don’t even know all of the potential uses for Big Data at this point– it’s a very versatile and exciting field!

What does this have to do with you and your career?  Well, to be direct, these businesses are going to need specialists who know how to work with Big Data and take advantage of it (from a technical point-of-view).   Once a certain number of big companies start generating profits from Big Data all of the smaller organizations will follow suit.  This basically means that increased competition will spring up around Big Data analysis systems, etc…  If you’re an IT worker and have training or certification in Big Data when this event takes place you will be in high demand.  Likewise, higher demand means greater pay and responsibilities.

It’s very likely that Big Data will soon become its own career field, existing parallel to traditional IT roles.  In other words, those who are focusing on Big Data right now are preparing themselves for long-term careers which should be fairly stable.  So, how do you get started, you ask?  Click here to access one of the best complete online certification programs for Big Data.  Everything you need to know is included in the package, including media presentations, PDF texts, and assessment tests (which are used to measure your understanding).

What’s our recommendation?  Get certified now before everyone finds out about this amazing opportunity!