Another Dimension of Digital

3D-printed Futures of Manufacturing, Social Change and Technological Innovation in China and Singapore: The Ghost of a Massless Future?

“…Indeed, 3D printing may be conceptualised as an ‘advanced manufacturing’ technology contributing to the digitisation and automation of manufacturing, as is foreseen in various government policies internationally, including China with its Made in China and Internet+ initiatives (Daly, Lu, & Heemsbergen, 2018). How automated manufacturing is implemented and whether the benefits accruing from automated manufacturing are distributed or not shape opportunities for paid work (see, Huang & Sharif, 2017; Prashar, 2018).…”

“…How automated manufacturing is implemented and whether the benefits accruing from automated manufacturing are distributed or not shape opportunities for paid work (see, Huang & Sharif, 2017; Prashar, 2018). Relatedly, workers’ rights (De Stefano, 2018) may be diminished by requiring less workers or less work hours, while benefit still accrues for the managerial/shareholder class. This can be contrasted with Bastani’s (2018) vision of ‘fully automated luxury communism’ whereby the benefits of automation and a need to work less are distributed across society.…”