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Primary Paper:
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Effective Administration of Molecular Nanotechnology
- scheduled for March 2003
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The development of molecular nanotechnology (MNT) will create a host
of challenges, problems, and risks. A few of the risks will be sufficiently
severe to require extreme levels of restriction; however, extreme restriction
creates several additional problems. This paper will consider several
interlocking questions related to the effective administration of MNT.
Possible actions for control and promotion of the technology will be reviewed.
Interactions between the challenges of MNT and possible responses will
be analyzed in detail. Finally, a unified program of technological and
human administration, which can be adjusted to supply good administration,
will be described.
Other Papers in Progress or Planned:
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Nanoblock Design
and Manufacturing
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In order to maximize the latent innovation
potential in nanofactory proliferation, and to prevent illicit, unwise,
or malicious product design and manufacture, a solution will be proposed.
Designers will work with “nanoblocks” of various sizes and composition
to create new or modified products. This will prevent the production
and spread of miniature, self-propelled replicators (gray goo); and
when combined with automated verification of design safety and protection
of intellectual property, it will allow unprecedented levels of innovation
while maintaining safety and commercial viability.
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Projected Timelines
for Nanofactory Capability
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Building and perfecting the first nanofactory
will be difficult, expensive, and time-consuming. The second one will
take about an hour and will cost around $20. This paper will survey
existing nanotechnology capabilities, examine the technologies that
must be further developed in order to build a nanofactory, and estimate
the costs and the time required. Taking into account variable factors
in economics and politics, three potential timelines will be projected:
slow, medium, and fast.
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A Call to Action
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Considering the fastest possible timeline
for potential nanofactory development, and assaying the dire implications
of a development without sufficient controls, this paper calls for an
urgent international project to build, distribute, and effectively administer
this powerful new technology. Drawing heavily on previous research papers
and objective analysis, a comprehensive program will be outlined that
meets the needs of commercial, governmental, and humanitarian interests,
while protecting against black market development, criminal abuse, and
potentially catastrophic arms races.
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Patent Reform
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This paper will review the many problems
caused by today’s inequitable and outdated methods of considering and
granting patents. It will assess the potentially greater difficulties
to be caused by a near future of rapid and widespread innovation. A
proposal will be offered calling for a system of automated intellectual
property detection and other reforms; these will pave the way toward
greater freedom of invention and protection of legitimate rights.
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Bidding for Nanoblock
Designs
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The concept of allowing designers to work
with “nanoblocks” of various sizes and composition in creating new and
modified products can be enhanced by a unique new plan of bidding for
proposed designs. An architecture for such a system will be presented
that will significantly streamline the process of commissioning, selling,
and speculating on new product designs.
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Medical Applications
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[Abstract being developed]
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Detailed, Technical
Nanofactory Architecture
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[Abstract being developed]
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