Another
proposed application
of nanotechnology involves utility fog - in
which a cloud of networked microscopic robots (simpler than assemblers) changes its shape and properties to
form macroscopic objects and tools in accordance with software
commands. Rather than modify the current practices of consuming material
goods in different forms, utility fog would simply replace most physical
objects.
A
collective of nanotechnological devices ("Foglets")
that link together into a complex network in the air, able to work together to exert force in any direction or
transmit information between each other. This would give users almost
complete control over their environment. See Utility Fog by J. Storrs Hall
[J. Storrs Hall 1994]
Another
proposed application
of molecularnanotechnology is "utility fog"[16]
- in which a cloud of networked microscopic robots (simpler than assemblers) would change its shape and properties
to form macroscopic objects and tools in accordance with software
commands. Rather than modify the current practices of consuming material
goods in different forms, utility fog would simply replace many physical
objects.
A
collective of nanotechnological devices ("Foglets")
that link together into a complex network in the air, able to work together to exert force in any direction or
transmit information between each other. This would give users almost
complete control over their environment. See Utility Fog by J. Storrs Hall, Extropy #13 and #14. [J. Storrs Hall, 1994]
[AKA:
Polymorphic Smart
Materials] Objects formed of "intelligent" polymorphic (able to
change shape) substances, typically having an octet truss structure. Concept
concieved by Dr. J. Storrs Hall. "Imagine a microscopic robot. It has a
body about the size of a human cell
and 12 arms sticking out in all directions. A bucketfull of such robots might
form a 'robot crystal'
by linking their arms up into a lattice
structure. Now take a room, with people, furniture, and other objects in it
-- it's still mostly empty air. Fill the air completely full of robots. The
robots are called Foglets
and the substance they form is Utility Fog, which may have many useful
medical applications.
And when a number of utility foglets
hold hands with their neighbors, they form a reconfigurable array of 'smart matter.'" Copyright Dr. J. Storrs Hall
Research Fellow of the Institute for MolecularManufacturing. See Nanotech
Utility Fog, and On Certain Aspects of Utility Fog, & Utility Fog: The
Stuff that Dreams Are Made Of, by J. Storrs Hall, and Polymorphic Smart Materials. "Here's a short list of the powers you'd have or appear to have if embedded in
fog: Creation--causing objects to appear and disappear on command.
Levitation--causing objects to hover and fly around. Manipulation--causing
forces (squeezing, hitting, pulling) on objects (real ones) at a distance.
Teleportation--nearly any combination of telepresence and virtual reality
between fog-filled locations." [Dr. J. Storrs Hall]
A
mass of robots with twelve legs apiece forming a microscopic truss structure.
Capable of changing shape, and perhaps color, in response to external
commands. [JH]
[AKA:
Polymorphic Smart
Materials] Objects formed of "intelligent" polymorphic (able to
change shape) substances, typically having an octet truss structure. Concept
concieved by Dr. J. Storrs Hall.
