From: RICHARD FAWCETT (RF223@cam.ac.uk)
Date: Tue Nov 17 1998 - 23:22:04 MST
My memory was just jogged by the recent reference to a _new_ or perhaps
infrequently used term, computronium. I remember reading a 1950s short
story that as far as I know coined a term, electroponics.
The definition attached was simply the construction of things atom by atom
in the nanotech way. Personally I think its an apt term that would do good
to filter into common parlance.
Just as hydroponics means growing in a medium of water, electroponics
means to grow things in a a medium of electrons. Currently when people
talk of nanotech they talk a couple of generally different things.
1. Actual nanometer scale systems (computers, assemblers)
2. Macro or real world scale things that assemblers will produce
but won't necessarily be much different from what we have today,
(cheap materials, endless food supply, diamond bridges, etc.)
I think there's a useful split to be made between the new devices
in category 1 and the products (category 2) that those who own
the devices/IP for category 1 will make/sell.
You can do lots of stuff with nanotech. Wouldn't seperating out a subset
of electroponics aid understanding where the future is heading?
It would also make nanotech sound safer if people knew that its most
likely that its only category 2 things (things manufactured with
electroponics) were available in the public domain and the assemblers
(electroponics equipment) were safely locked away.
Your thoughts please!
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