Open Source Nanotechnology

dschl writes "There is a draft article linked from NanoTechnology Magazine about Open Sourcing Nanotechnology Research and Development. It is written by a sociologist, and covers some interesting issues including patent pooling, open source licensing for intelluctual property in Nanotech, and increased safety by using an open source model. "

Comments

Story made for Slashdot

[Durinia]

wow...of all the combinations of favorite Slashdot topics, this is the one I least expected...

hmm...maybe next we'll get "RIAA sues nanotech firm for distrubuting music for free using nanobots"

open source nanotech? sounds dangerous to me.

[spam-o-tron mk1]

Has anyone even considered the gray GNU scenario?

Bruce

This is for MODELING

[Thalia]

Does anyone even bother reading the article? This is to use open source to develop further molecular modelling software. Of course, such software would be useful for nanotech, but that's not the point. This type of technology already exists, see for example the Catalogue of Molecular Biology Programs, some of which are open source, like Garlic, and MMTK. The actual creation of nanotech can't be open sourced, since the requirement to create it can not be bought off the shelf. (Well, if you have a few million, you probably could buy it.) The primary prerequisite for open source research is that the materials are relatively cheaply and easily available to the general public. Thalia

Gray Bull

[CaseyG]

The more I learn about how nanotechnology is actually happening, the less concerned I am about a "Gray Goo" scenario.

Nanotechnology, as it is currently designed (and in very few cases, implemented), is incapable of self-replication. The von Neumann "Universal Constructor" is sufficiently distant from present technology as to remain essentially fictitious. Additionally, the von Neumann model relies on both an independant instruction-control system (microcumputer or otherwise), and a supply of prefabricated components. Want to stop a von Neumann? Stop making parts.

The Drexler architecture, using chemical rather than mechanical manipulators, is closer to modern theory, as it mimics the effects of current biotechnology and organic chemical manufacturing, but still relies on an independant instruction-control system.

In both cases, the instruction-control system (referred to in the link above as a "universal computer") must be capable of infinitely variable tasks for the device to be useful. It must have the instruction set necessary to create another example of itself, and any instructions required by its target manufacturing process. It only requires sufficient memory to replicate, as any manufacturing process can be broken down sufficiently to use subprocesses infinitely simpler than self-replication

Regardless, the "universal computer" is unnecessary to the end goal of nanorobotics. A localized instruction-broadcast system can direct the nanorobots in any tasks relevant to their location, and would prevent any manufacturing, self-replicative or otherwise, while out of range of this signal.

"Don't worry, be nano." :)

-c.
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