The existence of a personal fabricator will have profound impact on global human society.
The basis for such a personal fabricator - the atomically precise manufacturing (APM) technology - is beginning to be figured out today.
presentation by Phillip Moriarty (2009-09): SENS4 - Molecular Nanotechnology in the Real World: How Feasible is a Nanofactory? (1/4) - (2/4) - (3/4) - (4/4)
BBC Horizon Nanoutopia (1995) - Note: The term "nanotechnology" turned out to be to unspecific and the assembler concept is now superseded by the nanofactory concept. The complexity of a nanofactory will be akin to modern day computer chips.