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Gaming the Future: The Book!

Category: Nanodot

"New Economy"= early sign of coming Singularity?

from the dismal-scientists-boggled dept.
From a widely-published Boston Globe story: "Greenspan's comments…indicated his strengthening conviction that a stunning surge in the productivity of U.S. workers will persist…ensuring that the longest-running expansion in U.S. history has no end in sight…[his] main point was about the world economy and the profound impact of technology and globalization…Economists said such strong gains in productivity are unusual, if not unprecedented." He compared the current situation to the railroads, which "helped elevate economic growth for a considerable period of time. But the pace of growth eventually slowed when full or near-full exploitation of the newer technologies was achieved." But will we stop seeing such gaps between newer technologies, as they arrive with increasing frequency?

Test your theories of population in solar system

from the Malthus-had-a-point dept.
From Australia comes news of an easy, enjoyable way to play out various scenarios of human population growth. David Coutts has designed a game called 6 Billion which enables players to model exponential growth of human population in our solar system. Users can set their own timescales for scientific progress, population growth, and even sociological change. Sounds like a fun method to get a feel for exponential growth of population, which the designer correctly describes as "scary". Here's some background and history on the game. Read more for David's full post.

Envisioning "Intellectual Property" evolution

from the if-this-continues dept.
from Future Presence newsletter published by The Arlington Institute, these comments on some useful fiction: Melancholy Elephants by Spider Robinson — Extend our computer technology out just a little. Add an ability to quickly search for copyright infringement in a new piece of art you are creating. What if you keep getting back the reply that your new piece music or short story was too close to a copyrighted piece? What if copyrights lasted forever? Could new art become a thing of the past? With our limited senses how many unique combinations of worthwhile art are there? Check out this short story to explore some of these questions.

"Grand Challenges" for Nat'l Nanotech Initiative

from the whew-we'd-better-get-going dept.
Scott Pace of RAND points out this news item from the American Institute of Physics on the Implementation Plan for the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative: The implementation plan establishes "Grand Challenges" in such areas as smart materials, computing and memory storage, drug delivery and diagnostics, water purification and desalinization, energy conversion and storage, microspacecraft, biochemical detection and mitigation, economical and safe transportation, and national security. It lays out a timeline for the next five years and research strategies for accomplishing the objectives…"The National Nanotechnology Initiative: The Initiative and Its Implementation Plan," runs approximately 150 pages with appendices and is now available on the Internet at http://nano.gov

First step toward uploading? Brown U to study brai…

from the we're-starting-up-the-slope dept.

A collaborative team of engineers and neuroscientists at Brown University in Providence, RI, plan to develop nanoelectronics systems to monitor brain activity. According to a press release, the group's proposal is to create a tiny device that would emit light to stimulate brain cells and record light from brain cells, analogous to a camera. Using electronic structures 500 times smaller than the width of a human hair, six Brown University professors plan to explore the function of the human brain under a $4.25-million grant from the U.S. Defense Department. And they make some interesting comments about the long term potential of their work.

Ohio State wants to be next nanotech hotbed

from the not-what-I-was-thinking,-but-OK dept.

According to a press release for an upcoming conference on the medical applications of micro- and nanotechnologies, "the university, the city of Columbus, and the state of Ohio have invested heavily in the development of micro- and nanotechnology," says Mauro Ferrari, director of the Biomedical Engineering Center, and associate director of the Heart and Lung Institute at Ohio State.

In September, Ohio State University will host a comprehensive international conference devoted the medical uses of micro- and nanotechnology. About 70 research papers have been scheduled to be presented at "BioMEMS and Biomedical Nanotechnology World 2000." The conference will run September 23 through 26 at the Hyatt Regency Columbus.

The release concludes: "When people hear 'microelectronics,' they think of Silicon Valley," Ferrari Said. "Ten years from now, when people hear 'nanotechnology,' we want them to think of Ohio."

CIA advocates public education on nanotech

from the so-where's-their-donation? dept.
This "news" predates nanodot, but it's worth noting this item from IDG that gives both NASA's views on nanotech (which we knew), but also the CIA's (which we didn't): The rapid pace of technological change is also forcing the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to adjust. In February 1999, the CIA formed IN-Q-Tel Inc., a nonprofit corporation set up to invest in technology companies. The CIA believes it is not currently able to keep up with developments in information technology infrastructures and is being challenged in its mission of presenting top-flight information to the federal government, Gilman Louie, president of IN-Q-Tel, said…Louie also advocated public education as an element in promoting support for nanotechnology. "The genie is already out of the bottle." he said.

Prion linked to Alzheimer's and Mad Cow Diseases

from the Oh-that-explains-everything dept.

A researcher at Nankai University in Tianjin, China has found a link between degenerative brain diseases and prions. The work is described in this press release.

"This suggests a common molecular mechanism underlying the initiation stages of sporadic Alzheimer's disease and both sporadic and genetic prion diseases," says the study's lead researcher, Chi Ming Yang, Ph.D., a professor of chemistry at Nankai University. The research indicates that a source of prion-generated diseases may be damage to normal proteins caused by free radicals.

"100% Recycled Electrons" is no joke

from the who-says-it's-not-easy-being-green? dept.
AlterNet reports that the Internet is already having tremendous positive effects on the environment: "The emerging new economy created by the Internet is producing more than just a business revolution — it is also generating enormous environmental benefits…. While the nation's economy grew by more than 9 percent in 1997 and 1998, energy demand stayed almost flat in spite of very low energy prices, marking a major departure from recent historical patterns."

Vinge seen as technoprophet

from the when-Vernor-speaks-smart-people-listen dept.
From the SingularityWatch newsletter edited by Senior Associate John Smart: Vernor Vinge lives in San Diego, and is now retiring from his professorship to write science fiction full time (Congrats, Vernor!). An August 13th article from the San Diego Union-Tribune decided this was an appropriate time to discuss his interpretation of the Singularity. From the article itself: "In 20 years, superintelligent computers will outsmart humans and take over the world. Sounds ludicrous, the stuff of science fiction. So how come when Vernor Vinge makes the prediction, smart people listen?" Read more for John's comments.

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