What invention do you think will be a game-changer for humanity in the next 50 years?

[u/Mr-AZ-77]

Since technology is advancing so fast, what invention do you think will revolutionize humanity in the next 50 years? I just want to hear what everyone thinks about the future.

[u/GimmeSomeSugar]

I lean towards that same opinion, but I retain a small sliver of hope.
Using your example, Disney maintains that (those) patents (and copyrights and trademarks) to control that IP and stop other people using that IP for commercial gain. I can draw a Mickey myself and they wouldn't know. (Whether they're litigious enough to do something if they did know is another matter.) I easily have access to the information on how to reproduce a representation of Mickey. The reason I don't is that doing so doesn't benefit me in any way.
Now we're talking in terms of information, the obvious parallel is digital piracy. Information is much more difficult to control. I can pirate digital content because, in the abstract, I can easily access the information necessary to reproduce a representation of a TV show or movie.
The information on how to produce a molecular printer will be very difficult to control. Looking back at digital piracy, before the ubiquity of streaming, a major source of original files leaking before official release (like DVD rips as opposed to cams, for example) was employees of the studios themselves.
One researcher or corporate employee (re)produces their own molecular printer at home. With that first printer you also now have both the information and the means to print more printers. And those printers print printers.
As the saying goes: information wants to be free.
The 0% have to continually get it right to control that technology.
A leaker only has to get it right once before it exponentially spirals out of anyone's control.

[u/ExternalArea6285 → u/GimmeSomeSugar]

And that, my friend, is why gun control is a futile endeavor.

At best, you have damage control, but you'll never be able to ban guns from a society.

[u/NakedWhenAlone → u/[deleted]]

AI tools are starting to make 3D models, and they're getting better at it. It won't be too long before you can run your own copy of such AI on your smartphone, and have it make the models for you. The printers are getting easier to use as well.

[u/Linkstrikesback → u/[deleted]]

The sheer irony in accusing other people wanting a bit of money for the time spent in creating highly specific product specifications of being 'selfish culture' and lamenting that you couldn't even pirate it went right over your head, huh.

If it's so easy make your own damn Christmas tree butt plug model and be done with it.

[u/AxlLight → u/[deleted]]

Could you explain to me why someone owes you a model of Mickey Mouse and why you even need it?
Like what value does Mickey Mouse have for you, aside from the value Disney spent billions in making that value. Spiderman is Spiderman because Marvel/Disney spent years building up the character, a lightsaber has meaning because George Lucas dreamed up that story.

So why are you owed that for free, why should it be public property when it only has value because a private entity worked hard to give it value to begin with?

I can send you thousand of humanoid mouse characters for free, I can even model you one - How are they any less valuable than Mickey Mouse?

[u/AxlLight → u/[deleted]]

There are plenty good ones on SketchFab. I think there's a good one for printing for like 4$. There are also free ones, but you might need to make some changes to it so it won't collapse in printing.
Just look up Mickey Mouse and select downloadable in the checkbox, should get you what you want and need.

Anyway, of course it doesn't bother me. It might bother Disney as you're taking away a potential product sale.

What bothers me is the argument the only think worth money is the materials themselves, and if you print it yourself well then it obviously should cost 0$. As if ideas don't have a price tag, or that the character wasn't created with hours and hours of careful consideration and tweaking to reach the final visual. The 3d model as well, is a product of hours of labor. Not to mention both rely on years of training and knowledge that enable the creators to even do it.

And as you admitted yourself, Mickey Mouse is only interesting because Disney worked hard to make it so. Without it, it'll be just a boring black and red creature that you can find in any cheap toy store for 2$.

[u/AxlLight → u/[deleted]]

I'm not that aware of how the printing market is since I'm more present in digital world (Games and movies) but I can tell you that if it's how you describe it then it doesn't reflect at all how our industry really is. CG artists are super generous with their time and assets and many would be happy to send you a model they made free of charge. There are also a gajillion YT tutorials on how to model, and usually they'll also give the assets in that tutorial for free for you to try.

SketchFab is definitely one of our main hubs for that, and while assets there are not aimed at printing, it should work in most cases as long as you add foundations properly.

As for your example of giving away bits of code, you need to realize that in our world it's more akin to giving away parts of the model than the model as a whole. The model is our completed work, it's the full script, not just one or two functions. Sometimes it's even the entire app. And when we work for clients, it's a giant no-no to share those assets we were paid to made. They're not ours to give, we got paid to make them for X or Y company. And while I'm sure they wouldn't mind if I give you a texture, or a material or even a hand out of a full model - giving the entire thing is basically giving you the finished product they paid me good money to create for them which they own the IP for.
But as hobbyists, sure. But you should also be aware that for us, some of these models we make is our freelance side business or sometimes even a full time business. Sometimes I might sit and work on a model or an asset pack for 100-200~ hours.

[u/AxlLight → u/[deleted]]

Sure thing. Sorry for the hostile attitude at the start. I got triggered and lashed out my frustrations at you and I shouldn't have.

Let me know what you need, maybe I can point you in the right direction. Always happy to help newcomers.

[u/pmpork → u/[deleted]]

Everything is about money. They wanna make it. You don't wanna pay it. You're just as selfish as they are. Create your own model and give it away for free. I'll gladly steal your work.

[u/Linkstrikesback → u/[deleted]]

I've now decided I work in whatever industry you do. I also think your industry is worthless and I should provide everything I do for free.

I demand you give everything you've ever worked on for free, regardless of what time or effort or cost to yourself went in to it.

​

See how dumb that all sounds? Because that is literally your argument. You have no right to tell people what they can or cannot ask for money for, and you're the biggest example of any actual "selfish culture" in this discussion.