Nanotech..Alternate Scenario

EvMick@aol.com
Sun, 13 Jul 1997 11:56:33 -0400 (EDT)


Drexler's vision of nanotech involves self-replication in a big way. Howeve
Neil Stephenson (i think) in his book "Diamond Age" speaks of "Sources" and
"Matter Compilers"

A source is a place where air and water is sucked in and disassemble into
their component atoms...said atoms being either stored or reassembled into
convient building blocks.

A Matter compiler is a device which takes a program...then uses the stored
atoms to build whatever the program specifies.

It would seem to me that this would sidestep the "Grey Goo" scenario. (Whew!)

To me...this seems more easily obtained...since self-replication appears
HARD...whereas we already have the Matter Compiler Technology....only on a
Macro scale...(assembly lines...etc) so all we gotta do is shrink
it.....severely.

EvMick (wells Nv.)