While pundits and futurists talk about how 3D printing technology will affect our lives, others simply start applying it to address real challenges today. Last year we wrote about a small collaboration between a guy in South Africa who lost his fingers and an engineer that wanted to help, that led to a 3D printed hand. Now Mason Wilde, a high school junior, used the same electronic blueprints to print a hand for a very excited neighbor kid with missing fingers, and with great results. He did have to make some minor modifications to the blueprints, but the project demonstrated that 3D printing is here, and not just for making your own designer coffee mugs.

 

Here’s a video report from Kansas City Star: