Fwd: Roadmap to Post-Scarcity
Heath Matlock
suppose this conversation is better suited for this mailing list as
Bryan pointed out.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Heath Matlock <heathm...@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Jan 5, 2010 at 7:24 PM
Subject: Roadmap to Post-Scarcity
To: openmanu...@googlegroups.com
How is post-scarcity going to take place? What are the enabling technologies,
and what can be expected from them? Factor-e-Farms and hackerpaces may
help in reducing costs of goods for certain items, perhaps increasing
the standard of living. Certainly those on these farms may be the
firsts to realize self-sufficient living, but what about the
surrounding town and cities? What kind of output can be expected per
acre of farming? What is needed to accommodate small, medium, and
large cities?
I figure hydroponics' popularity will continue growing in cities, but
again how much is needed for people to provide their food needs. Maybe
there will be some who accommodate all their food energy needs, but
I'm also guessing some will only make enough to accommodate a meal or
two. What are the energy requirements for these gardens?
Can we realistically rely on pop culture to adopt a farming/gardening
lifestyle? This is where the idea of a molecular assemblers become
appealing, because I don't think anyone would be opposed to have a
magic box which produces their food, clothing, housing, and the rest
of their needs.
What other technologies can we expect to raise the standard of living
and reduce time from mundane tasks so citizens' can pursue their
interests more freely, and thus hopefully causing a more productive
civilization? What is needed to adopt and implement these
technologies? What are the energy requirements? This is a thread meant
to give clarity as we move forward, hopefully alert and not oblivious
to flaws in perceived flawless logic. So please chime in. :-)
Paul has already mentioned flexible manufacturing:
"""
So, there are at least five different related (and
overlapping) paths to flexible manufacturing:
* humanoid robots using manipulator-held tools
* An ecosystem of Cubespawn cubes
* Dedicated flexible manufacturing machines doing machinging
* generalized 3D printing
* Humans following instructions from the web using hand tools and less
"""
--
Heath Matlock
+1 256 274 4225
--
Heath Matlock
+1 256 274 4225