Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Exploring the Future

I think Nanomanufacturing represents one of the most drastic changes for the future. Nanomanufacturing is based on molecular-level construction, which means we can build absolutely anything that we can describe in the form of a molecular-level blueprint (which is obviously a major challenge, but we're exploring the future here).

I saw a Discovery channel TV show the other night that talked about the possibilities. They described the concept of "personal fabrication devices", which could be used to manufacture anything we wanted. They compared this to "printing" a hard-copy represenation of a document -- push the "print" button on the personal fabricator and create whatever you want (e.g. new pair of shoes, new car, new boat).

What about cloning? From a physical perspective, we're just a carbon-based life form built from a collection of molecules (e.g. 60% water, etc). Do you think our memories, personality, etc would be replicated? In other words, do you think a molecular-based "print" of yourself would retain all your memories and personal charactersics? Freaky. Identity theft takes on a whole new meaning. But imagine the potential of our Olympic swim team if we simply replicate Mike Phelps using Mike Phelps blueprints.

I guess that also means we could manufacture any food source (with the molecular blueprint of the food source). That basically means we could take all the pollution in the world -- as raw molecular material -- and transform it into food, water, shelter, luxuries, a Saturday night date, etc.

Our economy would be driven by the purchase and sale of molecular blueprints. Creating these blueprints would probably be the only other job on the planet, since we no longer need retail stores, or manufacturing,... or banks, because we can build our own money from molecular blueprints.


4 comments:

askill said...

t news article that researchers are using genetically modified virus to construct a connection matrix for nano tubes to be used for energy storage. If the technology works the possibility of prostetics with integrated power becomes more real.
The scary part is an accidental misstep in the research process may generate potential harmful viruses, matrices, nano tube material or worse.

asdasd said...

>>In other words, do you think a molecular-based "print" of yourself would retain all your memories and personal charactersics?

No reason that it shouldn't. We're just chemicals after all. Hey that way you could keep a spare soul around if you ever had to sell yours!

Terry R. said...

It's hard to believe we're just a collection of molecules... and then there's the fact that we don't know what we don't know.

Lyr Lobo said...

10-15 years ago, I read more about the risks and ethical implications of nanotechnology than I hear at National Physics Laboratory and Nanotechnology presentations. Greater attention is devoted to announcing the research activities and accomplishments.

Jason, the notion of keeping a copy in reserve is just too funny (and too practical) for words.

Our level of awareness and reflections on our existence makes us feel separate from other molecular compounds.

In some of my classes, we analyze the teleporter accomplishments and identify the systems engineering methods needed to achieve teleportation.

This naturally leads to a discussion of the same issues that we are reviewing in these innovation predictions and wonder whether our ability to develop a technology outweighs social responsibility, ethics and our value systems.

One prevalent theme in science fiction is the scientist's quest for knowledge and scientific discovery and how it far outweighs any thought of civil responsibility and safety.