Will museums affect 3D printing ?

[abhisek]

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The Financial Times Business section has published a video detailing how museums are using digital technologies to increase the reach and appreciation of the respective museums’ collections. The Grant Museum of Zoology in London is using 3D printing to scan, 3D-print, and replicate parts of the skeletons of extinct animals. The Grant Museum has one of the world’s most impressive collections of extinct animals. However, in one instance, researchers who borrowed a leg bone of a skeleton from the Grant Museum never returned the bone. Now, the museum is “#3D printing the bits” of incomplete skeletons.
The British Museum, also in London, has maintained a reputation as an innovator for its 250-year history. Today, the British Museum is working with Samsung and has created a virtual reality world demonstrating how the museum’s Bronze Age collation looked and was used in a natural context. The museum is also working on virtual reality programs that will bring ancient sea creatures back to virtual life for the viewers.

[awerby]

It seems you've got the question reversed - it should be: "Will 3D printing affect museums?" And the answer is yes, it already has. 3D printing makes it much easier to share natural objects, artifacts, and models. Some museums, like the Smithsonian, have embarked on a program of scanning things in their collections and sharing them with the world in virtual form. Anyone with a 3D printer can print one out. The technique is also being used in preparing exhibits, and in stocking the museum's gift stores.

[Mjolinor]

I think the biggest thing is that it gives visually impaired people the chance to "see" natural history through touch.

[squadus]

Another cool thing about it is 3D printers can replicate original or rare artifacts. This means people who may never ever hold a T-Rex bone in their hand and people who might never go to the Louvre to see the Venus De Milo statue can potentially still view and inspect a physical copy of the real thing. This is massive for education!

[3DMarkt]

can you post the link from the video? I would like to see it!

[Bobby Lin]

I believe so! Several museums are now incorporating 3d printing technology in preserving our ancient ruins, archaeological relics and artifacts that served as our physical evidence of our History. 3d printing plays a great role in preserving our ancient relics through scanning and replicating them. In connection with this, I've heard the news that the Dubai Museum of Future Foundation is collaborating with UNESCO and UK's Institute for Digital Archaeology to revive UAE's famous landmarks with 3d imaging/scanning and printing technology.