Technology in our Lifetimes

[Always Free]

I'd like to see cold fusion, and, gravity conquered!

 

[PixyMisa]

Okay PixyMisa,

It seems you are too good for me.
(Doesn't necessarily mean that you aren't badly wrong though. )

Your take is that nanotechnology is science fantasy rather than science fiction because of the energy requirements. I hope you are right because nanotechnology (and computational singularity) have been used by various authors in "End Times" scenarios.

Nanotechnology is in and of itself quite plausible, but some of the things that have been suggested it can achieve simply won't work. I'll see if I can dig up a good on-line reference.

However, I am not sure about your point about "humans also having near infinite computing power augmented by self-replicating nano-machines". My point was that they will lose control as soon as they try to produce computers/robots that exceed them in intelligence. The only way to do that is to enable them to rewire their own hardware. Then, any instruction hardwired into the robot not to harm humans will not be worth the paper it was not written on.

Which is true, but my point is it doesn't matter if the robots act up, since we'll be tinkering with ourselves at the same time so we'll be every bit as smart as they are

 

[PixyMisa]

I'd like to see cold fusion

I'd settle for hot fusion. (Sustained, safe, reliable electricity generation using fusion of commonly available isotopes.)

and, gravity conquered!

I'm working on violating the Second Law of Thermodynamics. (I should say, violating it on a usefully large scale.) Then the First. Then if I have time, the Zeroth, just for fun.

 

[Always Free]

I'd settle for hot fusion. (Sustained, safe, reliable electricity generation using fusion of commonly available isotopes.)

I'd say in the remaining years of my life time our energy supplies we utilize now will still be available but for those born now, new energy sources will need to be found---unless we all go nuclear. Even those in their teens and twenties should see the end of fossil fuel use. Hopefully it will be because we have found that safe form of fusion energy, not the complete depletion of fossil fuels.

I'm working on violating the Second Law of Thermodynamics. (I should say, violating it on a usefully large scale.) Then the First. Then if I have time, the Zeroth, just for fun. [/B]

Good luck on both of them.

 

[BillyJoe]

Nanotechnology is in and of itself quite plausible, but some of the things that have been suggested it can achieve simply won't work. I'll see if I can dig up a good on-line reference.

As I said, I hope that is true. And I would like a good online reference because, obviously, I 've come across only one side of the story so far.

....my point is it doesn't matter if the robots act up, since we'll be tinkering with ourselves at the same time so we'll be every bit as smart as they are

Ah, now I see.....I told you you were too good for me.

Perhaps then it will be a cold war standoff rather than a middle east walkover.

regards,
BillyJoe.