A roof over your head is a basic human need, but 1.2 billion people don't have one. A new, low-cost use of 3D printers may change this. 3D printers join materials together via a computerized device that creates three-dimensional objects. Two companies will start building affordable homes using 3D printing. Tech company ICON can make a one-floor house out of cement in a day for just $10,000. This is a fraction of the time and cost to build a house.
ICON and the non-profit group New Story will build homes in developing countries. They will build 100 in El Salvador next year. New Story's co-founder said this was just a drop in the ocean. She said: "There are over 100 million people living in slum conditions, in what we call survival mode." She added: "The tech is ready now to print very high-quality, safe homes in the places we're building." She also said 3D-printed houses could be built in richer countries.