世論 What Japan Thinks

goo Research took a look at 3D printer awareness and found that although the technology was well-known, few people had physically interacted with one.

Demographics

Between the 5th and 8th of September 2013 1,083 members of the goo Research online monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 53.7% of the sample were male, 13.7% in their teens, 15.6% in their twenties, 21.4% in their thirties, 17.4% in their forties, 14.8% in their fifties, and 17.2% aged sixty or older.

There has been talk of getting a 3D printer in the office for no particular reason other than perhaps inspiration to knock up something or other. However, just today I heard a colleague mention he has used one, but merely to produce a small box with a cable cut-out to hold an Arduino board.

For your entertainment, here are three collections of epic 3D printer fails.

Research results

Q1: Do you know about 3D printers? (Sample size=1,083)

Yes (to SQ1)	74.9%
No	25.1%

When those 811 who knew about 3D printers were asked if they had used one, 21.2% said they had used a 3D printing service and just 2.7% (22 people) had had direct hands-on experience. From these 22, just 5 people had actually bought one, and 10 had used one at work, school or at an event.

When asked what they had made (or had made for them) the most popular answer was figurines. When all 811 were asked what they would like to get made, figurines and other models were top, with one’s own face or other portraits also being popular.

Q1SQ: Would you like to use a 3D printer? (Sample size=811)

Already used one	2.7%
Definitely	4.1%
Yes	17.5%
Not particularly	75.7%

Combining Q1 and Q1SQ1 we get:

Q1+Q1SQ: Would you like to use a 3D printer? (Sample size=1,083)

Already used one	2.0%
Definitely	3.0%
Yes	13.1%
Not particularly	56.7%
Don’t know what they are	25.1%