# Key Points from Transhumanist IRC Discussion

• Advanced imaging technology development is ongoing at UCSF, featuring robot rooms and a DMD+microscope+photomultiplier-camera setup, demonstrating continued progress in high-precision visualization tools for research.

• HP is developing sophisticated multi-material 3D printing technology capable of printing elastomers with varying hardness (0.18mm layer resolution) and functional objects like working racquetballs, though commercial availability may be 5-10 years away.

• The "holy grail" of 3D printing was identified as the ability to cheaply print conductive materials and circuits in place, with MIT Media Lab reportedly working on printing "micromuscles" that nano-assemble and respond to voltage.

• Hackerspace organizational models were debated, with TechShop's approach of limiting membership to 500 people per location criticized for potentially restricting equipment access despite collecting fees, highlighting tensions between sustainability and accessibility.

• A project involving airships designed to navigate high-altitude wind currents (40-50,000 feet) with 20-40lb payloads was described, intended for providing emergency telecommunications in disaster areas.

• The SKDB project aims to create package management for hardware (similar to apt-get/dpkg for Linux), enabling sharing of solid geometry models rather than just STL files, potentially standardizing hardware design sharing.

• Desktop gene synthesis technology for creating bacteria with specified DNA sequences was discussed, though current microfluidics techniques were deemed insufficiently advanced for this application.