News

IEEE Spectrum 2026

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Authors: Britt H. Young, Vanessa Bates Ramirez, Samuel K. Moore, Perri Thaler
DOI: 10.1109/mspec.2026.11345568
Cited by: 0

Abstract

Around 10 years ago, fantastical media coverage of 3D printing dramatically increased expectations for the technology. A particular darling of the press was the use of 3D printing for prosthetic limbs. In 2015, for example, the New York Times celebrated Enable, a nonprofit that paired hobbyist 3D-printer owners with children who have limb differences. The hobbyists would provide the children with prosthetic hands that cost just US${\$}$20 to${\$}$50 to make.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Robotics Anatomy and Medical Technology

Publication details

Journal / source
IEEE Spectrum
Volume
63
Issue
1
Pages
5–13
Publication date
1 January 2026