wide on magazine

The techno roller coaster

Sent by my dear friend Michelange Baudoux (founder of the company ObjectiveGui).
This is a global view on almost all the current and upcoming technologies and their evolution from the hype to the hypotetical productivity stage.

One thing is sure, some are quick to evolve (RFID), others are blocked in the curve since ages (i.e: tablet PC’s)

24 comments May 26th, 2007

When virtual reality and reality are merging into one dimension

Nano technologies are slowly emerging from the ground. The technology is already studied for years now, and it’s already a long time that numerous patents are taken by companies for many inventions and applications in that field.

Recently nanotubes have been commercialized and the lack of production chains make developement of its use in industry a bit slower. But for sure there are already hundreds of application in tha area.

All this article is based on a 3D simulation, so it’s as far as I know half fiction and may be anticipation. we’ll have to wait a bit longer to see more than that and of course if it was indeed a insight on the future and not as some people buzz machine generator designed to get funds. But thinking about nanos is giving a lot to think about.

The first video demonstration showing the kind of nanofactory that could create « nanobjects » of tomorrow.

We do not speak here about big production chains, but the desktop factory, the one to one industry enabling home manufacture of industrialized products.

But, nanotechnologies are now opening new perspectives. And this is announced as an upcoming project. A study field which could offer in few years a radical change in our lives.

The Carnegie Mellon’s Synthetic Reality Project from the university of , Claytronics are described as:


Source: wikipedia.

This Catoms can be programmed to form interesting dynamic shapes and configurations. This then leads to numerous applications. Claytronics could then compute 3D objects or persons that our brains would accept for real. A golf lesson in your livingroom gave by Tiger Woods? French Open Tennis matchs streamed on your kitchen table? Or more simply polymorphic pocket objects (polymorphic multi usage kit: key, screwdriver, various tools)?

This new technology will also be able by using these tiny Catoms, to enable three-dimensional copies of people to be “faxed” around the world for virtual meetings.

A doctor could also consult with a patient over the phone, even taking their pulse by holding the wrist of the claytronic replica, reports New Scientist.

The question is then:

«…Does someone broke the knob on the hype engine?»

Source: Robots.net

Or are there some prototypes that can really validate such things in a not so distant future? If this become a reality this could mean that the two dimensions (virtual >< reality) would then merge in a deep and total way.
The impact on our perception of reality would be total.
Science fiction and science often exchanged ideas and direction to look onto. I would say not If?

If such a think is possible The Matrix would be just a childish and naive vision of what would be a virtual reality.

12 comments February 13th, 2007