BBC: 3D printers -2

In many countries, particularly the developed world, there are facilities for custom-making a prosthetic eye to match the other eye, and that's an artisan process which is very time-consuming and requires real artistry onn the part of the ocularist- the ocularist is the person who fits the prosthetic eye- and so what we have been deveoping is a technique to automate the whole process. 

Even before 3D printers, prosthetic eyes were custom-made, a word similar to 'be spoke' which means specially made according to a particular person's requirements. But the traditional way of making artificial eyes by hand is very time-consuming - it takes a lot of time to do. Nowadays, 3D printing can complete the whole process in just thirty minutes. 

It's great to see technology helping people, and amazing how far new inventions like 3D printers have come since the days of Johannes Gutenberg...speaking of which, Neil, it's time to reveal the answer to my question.

Right. You asked me about the earliest known text to have been printed using wooden blocks, and I guesses it was a cooking recipe...So, was I right?

You were... wrong, I'm afraid, Neil! The oldest known wooden block print was actually a religious text- the Buddha's Diamond Sutra. OK. let's recap the vocabulary from this programme, starting with mucking about, an informal way to say playing with something carelessly, not for a serious reason. 

A prototype is a model of a product that can be tested, improved and used to develop a better product. 

The phrase Hold on a minute! can be used to express surprise or disbelief. 

Prothetics refer to artificial body parts such as arms, legs, feet or eyes, which are used to replace a missing natural part. 

The words bespoke, and custom-made describe something specially made for a particular person. 

And finally, if something is time-consuming, it takes a lot of time to do.