Slashdot Mirror
Nanotech Assembly One Step Closer
perrin5 writes "according to Science Daily researchers at University at Buffalo have managed to assemble 3D structures of carbon,silicon, and latex by using "non uniform AC electric fields" as the shaping impetus. I've never really understood exactly what purpose nano-machines were going to fufill, especially in their early stages. Any one care to fill me in?"
Well, in Stephenson's Diamond Age, that's basically what was happening, except one step further on... Nanotech was based on "feed" technology, where in order for a nanofactory to work it had to be hooked up to a source pipe. Since each pattern had a different number of atoms of each type, each pattern had its own fingerprint, and if objects were generated without the IP holder being paid royalties, or if the objects were dangerous, the culprit could be tracked down.
There was a new technology, called "seed" technology, where an independent bunch of nanos would not only act as a factory, but would also absorb raw materials by themselves. The powers that be were quite unhappy with their loss of control over nanotech, and were actively trying to suppress the new paradigm.