User talk:Eap5266
Blog Response to "Nursing Homes in Germany Serve 3D Printed Food"
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/nursing-homes-in-germany-serve-3d-printed-food/
Apparently Germany has jumped on the 3D printing bandwagon in a very unique, very big way. The idea of using this new technology to better the lives of the elderly is outstanding. Elderly people have many day to day obstacles to overcome and eating shouldn't be one of them. That being said, baby food like purees are unappetizing and can make the elderly feel even more disabled than they may be. This makes eating a chore or an embarrassment when it should be something that is enjoyed. 3D printing pureed food into recognizable shapes allows patients to enjoy food again, without the risk of harm. Despite the obvious positives, this use of printing is still questionable. For one, it's costly. Many nursing homes have rejected the idea due to cost comparison. Simply put, a blender is cheaper than a 3D printer. You then have to assign a dollar value to the happiness of patients to determine worth. Then there are issues with safety. Would multiple printers be needed for multiple foods? Can cross contamination occur within the printers nozzle? Are standards in this case the same as that in a traditional kitchen? The phrase "secret texturizer" raises a red flag. If this food is being fed to people, don't they have the right to know what they're eating? Overall, the idea is great. It's obviously taken off in Germany since "the concept has been adopted in over 1,000 retirement homes," however it's possible that the technology grew too popular, too fast. I mean, who would trust a company with a name acronym like "PERFORMANCE (PERsonalised FOod using Rapid MAnufacturing for the Nutrition of elderly ConsumErs)'...honestly.
Blog Response to "NASA Funding 3D Food Printer Research"
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Nasa-3d-printing-food-pizza-mars,news-17053.html
Last time, I discussed 3D printing food in nursing homes. This article discusses 3D printing in outer space. Though, technically, it's the same idea, I feel much more positively about NASA taking on this task.
First of all, the cost has a much greater worth. Astronauts may be in space for years without being able to obtain fresh food. There is also limited space on a space shuttle. With this technology, ships would be launched with a printer and a compact supply of powdered foods and liquids needed to last the astronauts their entire trip. This may be more cost effective than the nursing home example. The use of 3D printing in the nursing home was more for enjoyment and on a much larger scale. NASA would use this for space missions and on a much smaller scale. Also, cost wise, NASA is more capable of affording this type of technology than the average nursing home.
Safety seems less of a concern here. The ingredients are stated clearly. Dehydrated food is mixed with water and oil to create appetizing meals. In this field, those in charge wouldn't want to harm the consumers with unsafe additives.
NASA would make great use of 3D printing foods. Maybe, a small scale undertaking under secure regulation is the best way to start looking at this sort of technology in the US. Plus, NASA is an acronym we can all trust.
