Talk:Nano-nomads
From Wise Nano
Why be a nomad? Historically, nomads have had good economic reasons for being nomads, following an animal migration, moving domesticated herds to fresh grazing lands, or working trade routes. People don't become nomads to site see.
And where are you going to roam? You didn't mention space travel so I assume you mean to stay on Earth. Nanotechnology will improve transportation capability to the point where going to Paris from Cleveland will be like going to the mall today. Trudging around the desert like Mad Max is going to kind of pointless when anyone can reach any place on earth in a matter of minutes.
I suggest you convert this project into an examination of self sufficient space exploration or space homesteading, both of which I have a lot to say about.
Transportattion Capability by Mike Treder, CRN 07:25, 12 Oct 2004 (CDT)
Nanotechnology will improve transportation capability to the point where going to Paris from Cleveland will be like going to the mall today.
I don't know about that. Getting from Ohio to France in 20 minutes? You would have to average 18,000 miles per hour, approximately. I can't foresee any scenario in which the acceleration/deceleration wouldn't kill a person, or at the least cause extreme discomfort.
However, it does seem probable that with improved air transport, or more likely underground vacuum tube mag/lev, the trip could be reduced to a couple of pleasant hours.
Cleveland->Paris in 20 min is doable by Chris Phoenix, CRN 11:23, 12 Oct 2004 (CDT)
The back of my envelope says that it takes 2.6 G's to accelerate to 36,000 MPH in 10 minutes. That's discomfort, but not extreme and certainly not fatal. A non-chemically-powered powered rocket (nuke, beamed, solar?) could in theory do that.
More to the point, you could get there in under an hour at 1.4 G. (1G lateral, plus the earth's pull.)
Chris
You are missing the pioint by Jim moore 22:14, 12 Oct 2004 (CDT)
The point of being a nano-nomad is not to go from Cleveland to Paris in a few minutes or hours. The point is to make traveling as fun and enjoyable as possible.
"Why be a nomad?"
To see and experience earth's different environments/ecosystems in person.
A counter question could be "Why be sedentary?" Agricultural and industrial societies needed people to be settled, I don't think that a nano-enabled society needs its members to be settled.
I get it now! by Mike Deering 13:12, 14 Oct 2004 (CDT)
Okay, I get the point now. Nano-nomads are permanent tourists. Spend a few days in the Amazon rain forest, a few days on the Sahara desert, a few more days on the Ross ice sheet, sounds like fun. The diversion of diversion of diversion.
Do you know why Isaac Asimov is dead? Why Robert A. Heinlein is dead? Did they not know about Alcor or cryonics? They knew. Did they think it wouldn't work? They said it would work. Didn't they want to live in the future? They loved all the wonderful possibilities that they knew the future would bring. They created fantasy futures in their writings, but they also understood the difference between fantasy and reality. Predicting technological developments is pretty easy. For instance, we know that TV sets and computer monitors are merging, and cable TV systems and the internet are merging, and some day soon, when they are in direct competition, that the TV/cable side will disappear and be completely consumed by the computer/internet system. Likewise, many other technological developments are clearly inevitable. But the forms of society produced by the effects of these technologies can not be predicted, its complexity puts it in the category of a dynamical system sensitive to initial conditions. They understood that the odds are not with us. There are many ways the future can go badly, and a much more limited number of ways it can go well. We can't design a society of our choice and make it work in the future. We can only attempt to steer our path through the white water of possibilities. The future is infinitely more dangerous than almost anyone realizes. The Singularity (MM, SAI, molecular biotech) will give someone God-like powers in our very near future. Who will that someone be? Can the power be shared or can their be only one?
Floating house by 12.205.157.38 08:01, 15 Oct 2004 (CDT)
Get a mountain Upsidaisium (ref: Bullwinkle) and form it into your house.
Everything on your back by Brett Bellmore 06:11, 24 Nov 2004 (CST)
One model of nano-nomadism, would be to build just about everything you need into highly sophisticated clothing. Need a bed? With properly programed actuators, a skin tight body suit could let you sleep comfortably on a pile of rocks. It could certainly keep you warm in the winter, cool in the summer, dry in the rain. Clean you more effectively than bathing. And look however you wanted it to look.
If the point of being a nomad is to enjoy the trip, you can't beat walking, but powered rollerskates have potential, too, or inflatable wings that allow you to soar on thermals.
Involuntary Street Camping by 143.182.124.3 12:55, 2 Dec 2004 (CST)
Jim presents the positive side of nomadism - an entertaining lifestyle choice. There may be a negative side as well - involuntary nomadism. Some years back I suggested that due to the economic impact of the transition to the age of nanotech, we might see an upswing in people living on the street - essentially homeless and squatting in public spaces like parks and sidewalks to collect solar energy, others scavenging nanoblock trash for its energy-savings value. Some will probably also live on the sea, or eventually in the air.
In the air by Brett Bellmore 19:38, 2 Dec 2004 (CST)
That in the air option has a certain appeal; Easy travel, the certain knowlege that you wouldn't be shaded by your neighbors, and a good view. A solar powered hot air dirigable would be quite feasible. The obvious drawbacks are that it would be relatively indefensible, (You can't really armor a lighter than air craft.) and cargo capacity would be limited.
