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"Modern science fiction is the only form of literature that consistently considers the nature of the changes that face us, the possible consequences, and the possible solutions."
- Isaac Asimov
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| Matter Compiler | ||
| A device that builds the desired article (such as a dress) atom by atom according to a specified design. |
The ideal of being able to construct materials molecule by molecule is now being tested with very small nanomachines. However, it is only a matter of time before larger articles are made available.
One example that has a history in science fiction is the idea that customized clothing, like dresses, blouses and ribbons, could be created in an absolutely customized manner.
| Whenever Nell's clothes got too small for her, Harv would pitch them into the deke bin and then have the M.C. make new ones. Sometimes, if Tequila was going to take Nell someplace where they would see other moms with other daughters, she'd use the M.C. to make Nell a special dress with lace and ribbons. |
| From The Diamond Age,
by Neal Stephenson. Published by Bantam Books in 1995 Additional resources -
|
Tired of shopping for clothes, and trying to find something that fits you? You might want to take a look at the entry for customized clothing from Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein some fifty years earlier.
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Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from The Diamond Age
More Ideas
and Technology by Neal Stephenson
Tech news articles related to The Diamond Age
Tech news articles related to works by Neal Stephenson
Matter Compiler-related
news articles:
- Filabot Turns Dull Plastic Junk To 3D Printed Shiny
| As Big As A Biltong - World's Largest 3D Printer |
| The Dawn Of Orbiting Manufacturing In 2020? |
| Orbital Manufacturer 'Made in Space' Gets $73 Million NASA Contract |
| CNSILK Robotic Spider Builder |
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'...unseen mechanical entities... that are in our very midst. One of them following each of us.'
'... he crossed the waiting room to the Padre booth; inside he put a dime into the slot and dialed at random.'
'Perhaps we had better use the soundtrack and let it hunt.'
