Futurology

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The UN is testing a 3D printer it says can build small modular homes, with the smallest single-room units costing just $1,000. (newatlas.com)

submitted 2 months ago by Lugh to c/futurology

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[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 10 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Better than nothing!

This is the UN, remember. They aren't worried about people with options. The question is if this thing is actually easier and cheaper than local labour.

[–] Steve@startrek.website 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Another good point- lets fix poverty by replacing local labor with a 3d printing machine!

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 2 months ago

I'm no luddite, if it makes sense to automate some menial task we should. Let's do the napkin math.

It says it costs 180,000USD. A labourer in rural Columbia might cost 1USD per man-hour. If we assume it replaces two workers, and produces a house generously 3 times as good, that's your investment back in 30,000 hours, or ~3.5 years.

Actually, that's decent. I guess I was expecting it to cost millions. If you make less generous assumptions, you get a less generous result, but they have a shot.