10 replies to this topic

[Shepard]

http://lifeboat.com/....nanotechnology

[Live Forever]

Nice article.

This scares me:

[niner]

Ahh, yes. The giant space rock. You'd never know what hit you.

Seriously, though, this version of nanofactories is just a technologists wet dream. It is never going to happen. The whole field of nanotechnology has moved away from the replicator idea. It's all about coatings and novel materials now.

[bob_d]

I'd not say never. But it's a st least far away.

[Live Forever]

Yeah, the time estimates they use do seem a bit on the soon side. Its always good to be optimistic, though, I suppose. )

[Shepard]

Yeah, the time estimates they use do seem a bit on the soon side. Its always good to be optimistic, though, I suppose. )

I don't know how optimistic it is considering the concern over potential abuse.

[Luna]

Sorry but, have anyone ever read Brian timeline of the future and explainations on the internet? he's a delusional pessimist and full of himself.

Just my thoughts anyways, no real intention to offend anyone.

[mike250]

I think the potential for abuse is there. we don't have to be defensive about it.

[Reno]

Well, there are very bright people who have spent their life's work trying to make nano manufacturing a reality. At this point we are developing the means to design nanostructures and manipulate nanoparticles. Considering Moore's law and the sheer amount of funding and attention nanotech is getting these days it really isn't naive to think a prototype will be created in the next decade.

I think the pros will far outweigh the cons. Nanotech has the potential to end disease and provide an answer to just about every one of humanities current problems. Everything from food shortages to population control could be addressed.

[basho]

Nice article.

This scares me:

Asteroid impacts are the money shot of disaster porn. Seriously, try a Google image search for Asteroid Impact and you'll see what I mean.

[basho]

Seriously, though, this version of nanofactories is just a technologists wet dream.  It is never going to happen.  The whole field of nanotechnology has moved away from the replicator idea.  It's all about coatings and novel materials now.

Nanofactories may be off the near-term radar, but don't discount the concept simply because the current use of nanotech is limited to more mundane uses. There is simply too much economic and military benefit from such technologies for research to stop. And funding will certainly increase over the coming decades as we become more skilled at atomic-level manipulation.