Thinking about replicators
Al posted in General on May 15th, 2007

Welcome to my blog. It’s been a long time coming but I have finally made my first post. As I have waited so long to make a post I thought I’d better make it a good one. I recently bought a nice little pocket notebook to jot down thoughts that pop into my head that I don’t want to lose in that vast void that is my mind. I have about six ideas written down now so I had to pick one. It was a tough choice, ranging from “why, in my opinion, strange slap-stick type comedies suck” to “which power would you prefer, bending space or time?” but I picked one which I actually think is a good idea. Let’s see what you think.

The ultimate X Prize

Have you heard of the X-Prize? It is basically a foundation setup to award monetary prizes to people/companies who solve the greatest challenges facing the world today. The last X Prize won required a non-governmental organization to launch a reusable manned spacecraft into space twice within two weeks. Impressive huh? Yeah sure, manned spacecrafts into space is all well and good but what about replicators? Yes, replicators. The ability to create any object you have the blueprint for from hydrogen atoms. I don’t actually know much about replicators, so I assume hydrogen atoms as they are the most basic. Star Trek never went into much detail.

Why replicators?

Well a replicator, in theory, will allow you to replicate any object known to man. You could replicate food, water or a solid gold diamond encrusted turd. You name it. It would solve world hunger, fresh water shortages, create expensive medicines. I’m sure most of the benefits would only come apparent when the whole world has one. I mentioned “expensive” which should ring a few bells. The amount of powerful, rich people you would upset with this kind of technology would be pretty much every powerful and rich person on this planet. There would be no need for money, no need for you to buy anything ever again. I mean if all it took was for you to select a blueprint on a computer you could download and pirate not just digital media (which has pissed a few companies off already) but you could also pirate any object on this planet. You can imagine a situation like this:

Jim : Hey, I like the looks of that juicy fat t-bone steak you are eating. Can I have a copy?

Bob : Sure, I’ll stick it in an email for you.

Jim : Thanks. I also like the look of your jeans, pop that in too! Oh and your car. And that solid gold diamond encrusted turd you keep carrying around with you.

Bob : Yeah, why not.

What’s the point in a prize?

This is where another problem comes in. Prize money is little incentive as if I just invented a replicator; a few million pounds would be of little interest. I’d just replicate me up some cash or screw cash; I’d just replicate me up anything I wanted. This is where my idea comes into play. Create a bank account which will be owned by every person on this planet. It will be a joint world account that anyone can put money into. Bank statements are publicly available via the Internet. People can donate money into the fund so that this technology can be created. They can also have the kudos of saying they helped save the world from its ills. A list can be available of people who have donated with the amount they donated. Once the replicator has been invented it then belongs to the world. This generation and every generation afterwards. Blueprints are freely available to anyone who wants it. Most people won’t be able to do anything with the blueprints as I’m sure it won’t be made out of MDF and glue but once you have one replicator you can replicate another and another. Just a matter of time before everyone has one.

Another problem

Another problem I thought of is what’s to stop a lazy sponge of a scientist to sit back and milk the X-Fund. “Yeah sure I’ll make you a replicator-dilly-thingamajig” they will say. Well, as this is a world project owned by the people of this planet, why not let them decide. Democratic voting to see who gets the X-Funding. The scientists can post their results on the web and the people can decide if they are worthy of the funding. If your research is not cutting the grade the funding stops. You can reapply but you will have to be voted in again for funding.

Having the voting on the web does exclude a few billion people on this planet but I’m sure poorer nations would love for the whole world to be on equal footing. Rich nations would no longer be rich and poor nations would no longer be poor. Poorer nations could setup public web terminals for people to vote or donate.

Eventually the technology would put everyone out of a job and the whole world would change fundamentally. As I said before, the implications probably won’t be realised until it happens. No more wage slavery and no more poverty. As far as I can see, people will be free to do as they please. If they want to be free creative human beings, they will be able to. If they want to sit around smoking the finest weed known to man, they will be able to. Of course this is wishful thinking and I’m sure Governments will have something to say about free individuals. There is also the problem with land (I can replicate a house but where would I put it?) and energy (perhaps replicate some solar panels) but it’s getting late and I have written far more than I expected. I’d like hear your thoughts on that matter.

Thanks for reading