In the "design dialectic," physical 3D output has tantalized users for well over a decade. I believe the main obstacle to its wide use has been price. Without knowing anything (except what the press release says) about the quality of the output, I believe the $30,000 price will allow a significantly greater slice of the designer population to avail themselves of this powerful form of feedback than could afford it before. I don't know if it will move the market over the "tipping point" to broad acceptance, but it's a step in that direction.
3D output is a big step beyond the nicest visualization. Tactile contact with a model provides different information. If I were a designer, I'd want one. And I think my customers would want me to have one.
Dr. Joel Orr Vice-President, Chief Visionary Cyon Research
