

Hull's work set the stage for the amazing leaps this technology would take in subsequent years. Back in the mid-1980s, Chuck Hull invented a process known as solid imaging or stereolithography. The technology behind 3D printing has actually been around for several years. Instead of printing a simple text document on a single piece of paper, 3D printers can "print" a real three-dimensional object! Sound like magic? It isn't. All of that changed, though, when 3D printing was invented.Ī 3D printer isn't anything like a regular printer, however.


For years, they've been limited to two dimensions. Today's models are relatively inexpensive and can even print photograph-quality pictures in color. Printers have become so commonplace that you'll find them in many classrooms and homes. Can you imagine writing your essay with a quill and ink? How about using a typewriter that doesn't have spell check? Today, you can use a word processor and simply print out your essay when it's finished. If you're in middle school or high school, though, you already know what we're talking about.Īlthough writing can be a challenging process, if you consider today's conveniences, you might be glad that you're writing in the 21 st century rather than in the pre- computer age or even farther back. Have you reached the age when you have to write long essays and term papers for school? If you're still in elementary school, then those days are probably still ahead of you.
