Exciting

I listened to BBC radio 4 last night on the way to collect Ben from his GF's place.

For the first time in ages I was actually excited by the program. They were talking to bio-mimeticists about applying 'technology' found in nature to solve engineering issues and the creation of Von Neumann machines. A VN machine is a device that is self-replicating: it could constitute life by some definitions.

There was a group working with devices called 'rapid prototyping' machines. These construct 3 dimensional objects by operating like ink jet printers, building up layers of solid material over many passes of the print head. A recent breakthrough was the ability to create items with electrical conductors embedded in the construct, allowing items made to have more than a simple mechanical function. The team were planning to develop the idea to the point where such a rapid prototyping machine could make parts to build another rapid prototyping machine. They planned to publish their design under the GNU to allow any and everyone access to the technology. That way, not only could there be a rapid multiplication, but the design could be improved by the focussing of many diverse minds on the area.

It's the stuff of science fiction. Not AI-directed devices taking over the world, matrix style, but where one day you might hunt across the internet for a design, download it and then have a device create it (or the parts to assemble it). It might also be an alternative to buying ready meals. Just download the desired dish at breakfast time, then come home to find Chicken Tikka Masala with hash browns and ciabatta ready and waiting.

Imagination? Yes please.