Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of NanotechnologyIn this original book about the consequences of new technologies, Drexler takes the reader through exhilarating new discoveries and the promise of those around the corner. Beginning with the insight that what we can do depends on what we can build, Drexler analyzes nanotechnology, which involves the manipulation of individual atoms and molecules. He makes a plausible case for expecting technological developments in artificial intelligence and molecular engineering that will result in tiny mechanisms being controlled by microscopic powerful thinking computers. He also explains how the new alternatives could be directed toward vital human concerns -- wealth or poverty, health or sickness, peace or war. ISBN 0-385-19972-4: $17.95. |
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Page 57
... million molecules per second , even without conveyors and power - driven mechanisms to slap a new molecule into ... million times shorter than a human arm , and so ( as it turns out ) it will be able to move back and forth about fifty ...
... million molecules per second , even without conveyors and power - driven mechanisms to slap a new molecule into ... million times shorter than a human arm , and so ( as it turns out ) it will be able to move back and forth about fifty ...
Page 107
... million nucleotides changed . The chance of our three - strand correction pro- cedure failing at any given spot is then about one in a million mil- lion . But compare five strands at once , and the odds become about one in a million million ...
... million nucleotides changed . The chance of our three - strand correction pro- cedure failing at any given spot is then about one in a million mil- lion . But compare five strands at once , and the odds become about one in a million million ...
Page 262
... million million million . . . The implied relationship is not exact but shows the right trend : for example , the second number should be 2.33 uncorrected errors in a million million , and the third should be 4.44 in a million million ...
... million million million . . . The implied relationship is not exact but shows the right trend : for example , the second number should be 2.33 uncorrected errors in a million million , and the third should be 4.44 in a million million ...
Contents
Engines of Construction | 3 |
The Principles of Change | 21 |
Predicting and Projecting | 39 |
Copyright | |
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ability able active shields arms artificial intelligence atoms automated engineering systems bacteria basic Biochemists biostasis bonds brain build cell repair machines Chapter chemical chines complex computers copies cost damage dangerous described develop devices discussion due process Earth electronic energy Engines of Creation entropy enzymes Eric Drexler EURISKO evolution evolved experiments fact forum faster future genes genetic hardware human hypertext ideas imagine knowledge layer lightsails limits to growth living Marvin Minsky material mechanical memes mental million mind molecular machinery molecular machines molecular technology molecules nanocomputers nanomachines nanotechnology natural neural nuclear organisms patterns possible predict principles problem protein machines replicating assemblers ribosomes Richard Dawkins RNA molecules Robert Ettinger robots rockets science court scientific scientists seems simple simulation space speed spread survive synapses technical technology race tion tissue viruses vitrification