Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!rutgers!mit-eddie!bloom-beacon!think!ames!amdcad!sun!pitstop!sundc!seismo!uunet!mcvax!unido!ecrcvax!johng
From: johng@ecrcvax.UUCP (John Gregor)
Newsgroups: sci.misc
Subject: Re: Engines of Creation: Nanotechnology
Message-ID: <469@ecrcvax.UUCP>
Date: 8 Jan 88 11:25:49 GMT
References: <1315@sugar.UUCP> <827@hubcap.UUCP> <657@elxsi.UUCP>
Reply-To: johng@ecrcvax.UUCP (John Gregor)
Organization: ECRC, Munich 81, West Germany
Lines: 29
Posted: Fri Jan  8 12:25:49 1988

In article <657@elxsi.UUCP> merkle@beatnix.UUCP (Ralph Merkle) writes:
>
>     I am not overly concerned about accidental destruction of the planet --
>I AM concerned about PLANNED destruction of large parts of the planet --
>past history suggests several groups will make vigorous efforts to develop
>systems capable of this, and they might well USE them.....  My concern
>becomes acute when said systems are pointed at ME -- so far, it hasn't
>happened -- and I'd like it to stay that way.

What about the machines themselves taking over?  The computers Drexler 
proposed could supposedly pass a Turing test for being human.  What is
more human than taking over?  

I don't think the machine would see humanity as a threat, but more as
a waste of resources (same for trees, mountains, CRAYs, etc.).  If a
nanocomputer the size of a Chevy Nova could out-think every computer
and person currently in existence, what could a computer that covered
the entire planet (several meters deep) do?  I think the Chevy Nova 
sized machine would wonder about the same thing and try an experiment...

It's not the GREY GOO we need to worry about it's the GREY MATTER !!!

The possibilities of what a planet wide machine like that could do are
incredible!!!  It could launch a baseball sized nanomachine cluster at
each of the other planets to start the same process (first analyze, 
then consume) if earth couldn't provide enough raw materials.  Pity we 
wouldn't be around to marvel at the accomplishments.

			    John