Reddit reviews Radical Abundance: How a Revolution in Nanotechnology Will Change Civilization

This thread is dangerously close to being an invitation to circlejerk. There are a lot of kooks, yes. If anyone's interested in actually learning more, then read one or two books from a man that's very much not a kook.

His first one is available for free to read in a browser here. It's 30 years old, and despite there being a later updated version available somewhere as an ebook to buy, the only chapter in it that's dated is the one where he talks about how we will build some sort of web of pages on networked computers :) This is a great read, and will expand the world view of anyone who hasn't been exposed to the ideas. I'd go so far as to say that people can't meaningfully participate in any serious conversation about the future without basic understanding of the concepts introduced here. Sadly this group seems to include 99% or more of the population.

http://e-drexler.com/d/06/00/EOC/EOC_Table_of_Contents.html

Then the last one, from a year and a half ago, setting the record straight on why progress the last 30 years has been the way it has, calling out and highlighting a lot of bullshit, and charting a course forward. Not as good a read as the first one, but certainly enlightening. It's not available for free, (except on pirate sites, and I suspect Eric wouldn't mind), so here's the Amazon link.

http://www.amazon.com/Radical-Abundance-Revolution-Nanotechnology-Civilization/dp/1610391136/

If anyone reads this, and posts questions or challenges or anything serious, I'll volunteer to check the thread and reply to each of you.

I'm reading Drexler's new book Radical Abundance (2013), it's quite good. Except perhaps for the chapters dedicated to the difference between science and engineering, which i thought were too long.

http://www.amazon.com/Radical-Abundance-Revolution-Nanotechnology-Civilization/dp/1610391136

He counters many of the claims made by his detractors. Explaining how it's often just a case of misunderstanding.

You can learn about Drexler's explanation of what Robert is basing his predictions off of in Engines of Creation, or his newer book Radical Abundance. Additionally, some way less digestible stuff can be found on Robert Freitas' website. I think this video is the only thing I've really understood when it comes to his work and findings. Ray Kurzweil is also very accessible but a lot of people are skeptical about him because of things unrelated to his rational predictions.

Here's a back-and-forth between Drexler and Richard Smalley, an accomplished chemist who criticises Drexler's vision of nanotechnology. I find it important to understand the criticism lobbied against nanotechnology, and in my opinion the criticism from Smalley is paper thin. He is constantly conceding to Drexler until he has to end his last response with some nonsense about children being afraid of what he's saying. I haven't come across a truly substantial argument against the possibility of manipulating matter at the scale Drexler describes with nanofactories and fleets of medical nanobots, but I hope whatever criticism that is helps the technology become more substantial in our lives.

Radical Abundance: How a Revolution in Nanotechnology Will Change Civilization

> I don't think Drexler really gets this.

I assure you he does. Read his new book, Radical Abundance.

>Is such a machine possible?

Yes, it's called a molecular assembler. It's the holy grail of nanotechnology.

Eric Drexler (the guy who popularized the idea in the 80s and 90s) has a new book on this subject, titled Radical Abundance. You should check it out.

I'm reading Drexler's book on radical abundance. He is the guy who came up "nanotechnology" or more precisely APM - atomically precise manufacturing. His claim is the revolution that is coming for physical production is akin to the digital information revolution. I'd give it a read so far it is fascinating.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1610391136

If you have read any of Eric Drexler's books on nano-technology, like Engines of Creation or Radical Abundance - he expects the future of nano-tech to be Atomically Precise Manufacturing decentralized at the local level.

I'm very interested in futurology & I find it interesting that two trends that seem to be underpinning all technological change in the 21st century are decentralization and disintermediation.

So in a sense, i'd say Marx may be half right - it is the ultimate fate of the means of production to pass from the control of traditional capitalists, but not to the the state, a body whose significance will fade in our lives as the 21st century goes on, but rather pass closer to regular people at the decentralized local level.