Hod Lipson, an associate professor and the director of the Creative Machines Lab at Cornell University, said that "3-D printing is worming its way into almost every industry, from entertainment, to food, to bio and medical-applications." 2 3D printing is an exciting emerging digital manufacturing technology which has the potential to transform the global manufacturing industry and economy, and deliver prosperity and jobs to countries like New Zealand. This paper looks at the state of the technology, its applications and advantages; current worldwide trends; government, industry, and community initiatives; and the economic opportunities that 3D printing offers.
favourably references the middle class, e.g. white colar groups or the service sector