7 replies to this topic

[Reno]

If a nanoassembler prototype was successfully created who here thinks the governments of the world would work to suppress it? I got into a discussion with my brother the other day about assemblers and that was his conclusion. If such a thing was ever created, rather then suffer an economic collapse, government would just suppress it.

[JLL]

I do. What hasn't the government tried to suppress? I just don't think they can win, but they will try nonetheless.

[Cyberbrain]

If a nanoassembler was ever invented (which I highly doubt given some courses I've taken in material science, even though I'd love to see one, one day) I definitely don't think that any government would try to suppress it for two reasons. One is that such technology would drive the academic, scientific and corporate worlds crazy (everyone would want one) and two, why would they? I think they'll definitely try to regulate it, but I don't think they'll try to bury it.

[JLL]

If a nanoassembler was ever invented (which I highly doubt given some courses I've taken in material science, even though I'd love to see one, one day) I definitely don't think that any government would try to suppress it for two reasons. One is that such technology would drive the academic, scientific and corporate worlds crazy (everyone would want one) and two, why would they? I think they'll definitely try to regulate it, but I don't think they'll try to bury it.

Well yes, by suppressing I meant regulating it. And the answer to all questions concerning "why would the government do X" is that there's money involved.

[valkyrie_ice]

If a nanoassembler was ever invented (which I highly doubt given some courses I've taken in material science, even though I'd love to see one, one day) I definitely don't think that any government would try to suppress it for two reasons. One is that such technology would drive the academic, scientific and corporate worlds crazy (everyone would want one) and two, why would they? I think they'll definitely try to regulate it, but I don't think they'll try to bury it.

Well yes, by suppressing I meant regulating it. And the answer to all questions concerning "why would the government do X" is that there's money involved.

This is how I see it going. Nanoassembler. In order to prevent it from instantly putting businesses out of business, government will insist that only businesses be allowed to have them, along with labs.

Stage two will be black market assemblers. They will be hacked to remove tracking devices and limits.

Stage three, in order to prevent black market units from dominating, government will allow a highly restricted legal assembler with massive limitations. They will practically have to give these away to compete with the blackmarket unrestricted assemblers.

Stage four Black market will develop a restriction remover.

Stage five Government will try to prosecute anyone with a restriction remover, and generally fail. Corporations will howl and scream as they continue to lose revenue to black market. massive lawsuits will be attempted, and fail.

Stage Six Charity and human rights organizations will insist that minimum restrictions be made on assemblers. Food and basic day to day items should be unrestricted.

Stage seven Corporations will begin having to sell designs instead of products. Black market will begin selling collections of designs. More regulations and legal battles failing.

It will likely take five or six years before the assembler is a household item and the food and manufacturing industries will more or less crash and burn. Why? For the exact same reasons the recording industry is failing. The basis of their business has changed and they refuse to adapt.

The development of assemblers will make it to the public regardless of suppression for the same reason music movie and software piracy can't be stopped. Why pay outrageous sums for something you can get for free? There will be a demand, and if the government won't supply the demand, the criminals certainly will.

[JLL]

That's a pretty good summary. What you describe tends to be the way things go in many areas. The government can only prolong, not stop, the inevitable, and that's nothing but a waste of money and time.

[niner]

How many Angels can Dance on the Head of a Pin? I say 86.

[Reno]

How many Angels can Dance on the Head of a Pin? I say 86.

Is that your way of saying its anyone's guess?