They have the potential to rebel against us :{

'My Teeth! They're turning on me!!!'

Much of it is 'fear of the new', we all say 'We don't know the long term effects' or words to that effect, but tend to ignore the fact that until the technology has been used long-term, we are never going to find out...

I think in this case, its more that people fear that it could be used as a tool to keep people in line. Imagine if bloodscrubbing nanos were used to prevent or limit the blood flow in a person because he dissented with the authority in charge.



Of course this is all conspiritorial, and I can see that it wouldnt be allowed to happen, but still.

Thing is though, if you can think of that kind of idea, then so can anyone else. Whether caused through deliberate act or malfunction, to start relying on technology to that massive a degree, that we allow it into our own cellular structure, is a hell of a leap.

Especially when you consider that almost every technical endevour usually needs to fail once for the problems to be identified.

Flipside wrote:Thing is though, if you can think of that kind of idea, then so can anyone else.

That's a self-defeating argument, you realize...since it's precisely because anyone can think of it that it would not be allowed to happen.

hehehe True, Nanites would probably be hard wired with encrypted checksums and self-terminating code anyway, but you'd need something along the lines of Asimov's idea that, not only did the program use the rules, but, in some way, the program was incapable of functioning without those rules in place.

Nanites would represent the ultimate in Mass production, you would have to be certain that the tiniest defect would cause the Nanite to shut down, and possibly the one that built it.

I'm really just rambling on here, but one last thought occured to me..

I was amazed how unsurprised I was when I considered the possibility of people protesting for 'Rights for Nanites' if they found out about the self terminating code....


Edit : better to have Spam on the implications of Nanites than the Spam that started the thread I guess

ngtm1r wrote:

Flipside wrote:Thing is though, if you can think of that kind of idea, then so can anyone else.

That's a self-defeating argument, you realize...since it's precisely because anyone can think of it that it would not be allowed to happen.

If only humans made perfect things.....

Has anyone seen the new method of authentication someone proposed?

Basically you have a 3x3 grid of pictures of fluffy bunnies and kittens. You make the person signing up click the pictures of kittens only in the grid.

Seems bots do not have it in their cold, logical hearts to discern the difference between your average lettuce muncher and a small feline.

Martinus wrote:Has anyone seen the new method of authentication someone proposed?

Basically you have a 3x3 grid of pictures of fluffy bunnies and kittens. You make the person signing up click the pictures of kittens only in the grid.

Seems bots do not have it in their cold, logical hearts to discern the difference between your average lettuce muncher and a small feline.

That sound pretty cool.

Martinus wrote:Has anyone seen the new method of authentication someone proposed?

Basically you have a 3x3 grid of pictures of fluffy bunnies and kittens. You make the person signing up click the pictures of kittens only in the grid.

Seems bots do not have it in their cold, logical hearts to discern the difference between your average lettuce muncher and a small feline.

I've seen those, and they are cool, but some of the morons using it have started doing stupid stuff like adding baby foxes that look exactly like kittens. (Obviously if you select those you get it wrong.)