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| nanotechnology [2011/06/18 22:58] – [Examples of Nanotech Constructs] -grammar edits hagalaz | nanotechnology [2011/07/11 17:26] – [Examples of Nanotech Constructs] - clarified size of utility foglets hagalaz |
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| ===== Examples of Nanotech Constructs ===== | ===== Examples of Nanotech Constructs ===== |
| NANOTECH MATRIX: Also called utility fog, it's a mass of nanomachines that can rearrange themselves into different shapes. Before the [[history_introduction#the_apocalypse war|Apocalypse War]], artificially intelligent creatures were created uses this technology, and the most advanced ones could shape-change in a way similar to the T-1000 from the movie Terminator 2. (Some were used as "living cartoons" on television or at amusement parks!) These things have some limitations, though.... They are not physically strong. They don't eat ordinary food, instead they have to recharge or refuel from time to time with electricity or hydrogen gas, depending on the design. And they are not self-replicating or self-repairing. As time goes by (i.e. years and decades), individual nanomachines (or foglets) from the mass get lost or break down, and they can't replace themselves, so the mass of the creature is reduced. These creatures were uncommon before the war, and should be very rare today (nanotech utility fog hasn't been manufactured for over 150 years!). The technology to create new utility fog isn't available, it was never re-developed after the war. | NANOTECH MATRIX: Also called utility fog, it's a mass of micrometer-scale nanomachines that can rearrange themselves into different shapes. Before the [[history_introduction#the_apocalypse war|Apocalypse War]], artificially intelligent creatures were created uses this technology, and the most advanced ones could shape-change in a way similar to the T-1000 from the movie Terminator 2. (Some were used as "living cartoons" on television or at amusement parks!) These things have some limitations, though.... They are not physically strong. They don't eat ordinary food, instead they have to recharge or refuel from time to time with electricity or hydrogen gas, depending on the design. And they are not self-replicating or self-repairing. As time goes by (i.e. years and decades), individual nanomachines (or foglets) from the mass get lost or break down, and they can't replace themselves, so the mass of the creature is reduced. These creatures were uncommon before the war, and should be very rare today (nanotech utility fog hasn't been manufactured for over 150 years!). The technology to create new utility fog isn't available, it was never re-developed after the war. |
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| VIRTUAL REALITY: Instead of creating a creature from utility fog, it's possible to fill a room with the stuff and have an immersive environment similar to the "holo-deck" of Star Trek fame. Nothing in the fog chamber is real, it's all illusion created by the fog. Maintaining a fog chamber runs into the same problems of lost or broken foglets, so it's doubtful whether any are still operating today. If a small one were still working, it would be highly valuable for research. If a larger one were operating, it could become a very successful public attraction. Other forms of virtual reality are available in our setting, like the suit-and-goggles rig or CAVE displays, but they aren't nearly as effective as the "lost" technology of nanofog chambers. A nanofog chamber is the only VR technology good enough to fool someone -- at least part of the time -- into thinking what he sees and feels is real. | VIRTUAL REALITY: Instead of creating a creature from utility fog, it's possible to fill a room with the stuff and have an immersive environment similar to the "holo-deck" of Star Trek fame. Nothing in the fog chamber is real, it's all illusion created by the fog. Maintaining a fog chamber runs into the same problems of lost or broken foglets, so it's doubtful whether any are still operating today. If a small one were still working, it would be highly valuable for research. If a larger one were operating, it could become a very successful public attraction. Other forms of virtual reality are available in our setting, like the suit-and-goggles rig or CAVE displays, but they aren't nearly as effective as the "lost" technology of nanofog chambers. A nanofog chamber is the only VR technology good enough to fool someone -- at least part of the time -- into thinking what he sees and feels is real. |
