Hi All,
My first post, but this is a subject that's grabbed my attention.
I believe the GURPS hi-tech book had a number of 3D printers etc (was doing
gurps traveller at the time). I think early printers, could only do simple
things like plastic or wood analogues. So only very hi tech level could do
computer boards or similar.
But have recently read a number of Peter Hamilton sci-fi (great north road
etc). His book had complex printers and what he called "raw" which was the
ink so to speak. The printer owner would by copyrights to products etc.
Then pay a portion of the fee to the company who did the design. In one
book there is a guy running a surf shop, he has no stock as such, but
prints to designs from online catalogues as chosen by customers. Though in
the story the owner is blackmailed into making bomb parts in the book.
A way a system could work in traveller, is that should the players ship
have a high tech level 3D printer. They would buy from the ship building
company a catalogue of parts for their ship.
I would expect that ship operation systems would have copyright and process
date software built into them. So every time a ship came into port. The
ship systems would contact the manufacturer, and then the relevant
copyright charges levied ( I think Microsoft tried something along these
lines).
Dumb products would most likely incur no costs (nuts, bolts etc).
Though would expect systems like firearms and ammunition, would have strict
controls etc in place. Also the cost of buying the designs would be
considerable, in most cases would be cheaper to buy off the shelf.
Regards
Ian
My first post, but this is a subject that's grabbed my attention.
I believe the GURPS hi-tech book had a number of 3D printers etc (was doing
gurps traveller at the time). I think early printers, could only do simple
things like plastic or wood analogues. So only very hi tech level could do
computer boards or similar.
But have recently read a number of Peter Hamilton sci-fi (great north road
etc). His book had complex printers and what he called "raw" which was the
ink so to speak. The printer owner would by copyrights to products etc.
Then pay a portion of the fee to the company who did the design. In one
book there is a guy running a surf shop, he has no stock as such, but
prints to designs from online catalogues as chosen by customers. Though in
the story the owner is blackmailed into making bomb parts in the book.
A way a system could work in traveller, is that should the players ship
have a high tech level 3D printer. They would buy from the ship building
company a catalogue of parts for their ship.
I would expect that ship operation systems would have copyright and process
date software built into them. So every time a ship came into port. The
ship systems would contact the manufacturer, and then the relevant
copyright charges levied ( I think Microsoft tried something along these
lines).
Dumb products would most likely incur no costs (nuts, bolts etc).
Though would expect systems like firearms and ammunition, would have strict
controls etc in place. Also the cost of buying the designs would be
considerable, in most cases would be cheaper to buy off the shelf.
Regards
Ian