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Researchers Moot "Teleportation" Via Destructive 3D Printing
ErnieKey writes Researchers from German-based Hasso Plattner Institute have come up with a process that may make teleportation a reality — at least in some respects. Their 'Scotty' device utilizes destructive scanning, encryption, and 3D printing to destroy the original object so that only the received, new object exists in that form, pretty much 'teleporting' the object from point A to point B. Scotty is based on an off-the-shelf 3D printer modified with a 3-axis milling machine, camera, and microcontroller for encryption, using Raspberry Pi and Arduino technologies." This sounds like an interesting idea, but mostly as an art project illustrating the dangers of DRM. Can you think of an instance where you would actually want the capabilities this machine claims to offer?
Their method of destructive scanning allows for internal detail to be accurately reproduced. They aren't destroying it for the fun of it, they're destroying it to see it's internal structure. The DRM-like behavior is just a side-effect.
First moot retires, and now they want to destructively teleport him?
Any situation where you don't have the details of what is inside the object but you want them.
Take a step away from the "teleportation" aspect and put the sender and receiver right next to each other. One disassembles the item while the other recreates it. At the end of the process you have the replacement item to stick back into where ever you took it from AND a scan of all the layers inside allowing you to produce more should you so desire.
In situations where moving the original object physically to its destination is difficult or cost prohibitive, and there is no further need of the original at the source (maybe it only has utility at the destination). The most obvious case would be from Earth to space, either to a location in orbit, or eventually another planet.
I would think that a trash can next to the scanner would probably do this particular job just as well.
How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?
Yes. Yes, I can. Let's use this as the new transport mechanism for congresspersons. What a problem-solver!
I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
No, the transporter works by first filming with the actor, then without the actor, and combining the shots post-production with added glitter.
I eat only the real part of complex carbohydrates.
My thought was, "what could possibly go wrong?" and then the idea formed, "the recieving maching broke half way through the process."