Commentaries on developments of physics.                            

                        © H.M. Thomas.                                                                                         Part 4. About nanotechnology. At a glance  we try to judge what is going on in science. What to think of developments as  nanotechnology, space technology, the quantum computer or something like teleportation? Here we will look what possibilities nanotechnology may offer us. Already in the sixties of the last century Nobel prize winner Richard Feynman said: “There is plenty of room at the bottom”. What did he mean by that? Nano-technology means manipulating atoms and molecules. This miniaturization of techniques will work on the level of a billionth of a meter about three atoms wide. Atoms and molecules can be arranged to build new materials with special properties. Technical feasibilities could be self-assembling and make consumers products as faster computers. The problem of the scarcity of raw materials may be lessened. What if for instance a scarce material as indium which is necessary for producing touch screens, is not available? With nanotech, transparent conductive films can be made of other non- transparent materials. But there is more. The shortage of food for the world population may decrease by producing nano- products for food. Also energy can be produced by using solar cells enhanced with nanotechnology. Possibilities are almost endlessly. Nano- robots may be used to control physical and chemical processes. Atom and molecule re-arranging techniques can produce polymers for commercial purposes or pharmaceuticals or new devices for nano-- electronics. Nano-- carbon fibers could serve industrial purposes like the automobile industry. Nanotech can help the production of materials to clean pollution. But also known is that there are many dangers as well. Nano- products can be used to clean the environment, but they can be very toxic as well. And being a new technology, nano- manipulated atoms and molecules may be difficult to trace in our environment or in the human body. Reason enough to stay alert and support feedback activities and technology assessment Look at the picture : a robot has an empty head, no ethics, no discipline to say “no”. It only has technology. Technology, curse or blessing? Mankind decides.

In the future we also will give commentaries on general questions as:

1-What is the general meaning of modern of quantum theory, space- time and relativity?

2-Does a theory of everything exists?

Sometimes we will combine present developments with a  historical context to elucidate fundamentals.

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About progress, developments and fundaments of physics. Q & A

                  Questions and Answers. A phantasy conversation about physics.                             

                        © H.M. Thomas.

 Part 3 . About 3D printing in the far future..

My robot meets a robot friend; an intermezzo.                                                                                                      This is a phantasy about developments in physics. Here below now and then we will look at a special topic of physics and try to unfold developments, tendencies and boundaries of the progress in physics. What to think of quantum mechanics, sustainable energy, mass or nano- technology?  Also technological inventions come by now and then. All in a fanciful way.                                                                                                   Here part 3 about 3- dimensional printing machines.                                                                                         The idea that three- dimensional printing is possible, already existed for more than a decade. One  makes a 3D object after a model by laying down one layer after another using powder or a  liquefied synthetic material. metal or whatever other utility. Recently printing machines for the consumer market become more and more available. As for many new inventions some unforeseen side effects may come along as well. Some technology  assessment seems therefore useful. Here follows a phantasy about such a 3D machine in the future.                                                                            

General questions I asked my robot. He gives answers. Does he know something I don’t?                                                          We try to judge what is going on in science. Where do we come from, where can we go?

I think I often tend, although being unaware of it, to combine present developments with what I myself like science and technology to be. A robotic creature however, if he is programmed the right way, may be able to do something extra. A robot can extrapolate tendencies and combine much more bits and pieces much faster and in a more non- contradictory way than I can. He just uses logic. I hope.                                                                                                                                                                  

Part 3 An Intermezzo about 3D printing:  “My robot at the left, meets a robot friend at the right”.

           A conversation follows.   

  My robot:  Hi are you also a robot? You’re face looks a bit humanlike. What is you’ re name?

The Robot friend: Hello. I’m your friend. I’m also a robot, but I’m a 3D printed robot. I’m made by a              machine, a 3D printer. I have no name, because I’m jobless now.

My robot: What is so special about you?  And why have you one white hand at you’re right side and a grey hand at the left side?

Well, I worked as an industrial robot and had to paint metal plates white colored. I got a self- learning module plugged- in to do that job. But I could not tell the metal plate from my own right hand. They both  looked somehow as the same material. Therefore I painted my own right hand white instead of the metal plate it held.  It seemed to be a serious mistake. They took the module away from me. That is why I’m jobless now.

My robot: That does not feel good I suppose.  May be those self- learning modules are no good for us robots. One can learn bizarre things not compatible with the purpose of our other software programs.

My robot friend: Oh yes. Once there was plugged in an extra  module into my motherboard. It was a unit for assistance with gardening purposes. But walking around a garden it was raining and raining, everything was very wet. I fell in a water puddle. Then short- circuiting made me being switched off. I was taken from the job permanently. Humans do not know how difficult it is what to learn oneself and what not using unfamiliar programming. Besides what looks good one time, is not good another time. How to decide what to do?  I make mistakes.

My robot: Humans have a lot to learn yet. Don’t you think?

The Robot friend: Certainly. I have to go now. I must rest. May be I have a burn- out. Bye, bye.

For reactions: ahjohann84@gmail.com

 Only if possible an answer may follow.

The author takes no responsibilities for using the text above or any actions based on the text above.