[H-GEN] RepRapping in Brisbane!

[Arjen Lentz]

Hi Robert,

On 28/03/2008, at 1:42 AM, Robert Brockway wrote:
> On Thu, 27 Mar 2008, Arjen Lentz wrote:
>> For those of you who were interested in participating with building
>> and exploring the RepRap (http://reprap.org), there's now a forum on
>> the main RepRap site for the Brisbane activities. See http://forums.reprap.org/list.php?107
>> The first msg there also reiterates the current objectives.
>>
>> If you (still) want to be involved, it'd be great if you could reply
>> there (or directly to me) so we have a show of active hands.
>> Please also note which things you'd be specifically interested in (or
>> expert in).
>
> I like the social aspect of this.  I think a lot of good can come  
> from this.

Indeed, that's my interest.
It's a great tool and environment to learn with/from.


> OTOH the idea of self replicating machines concerns me.
>
> Any possible safeguard put in place against uncontrolled exponential  
> self
> replication is in principal subject to malfunction and failure.  The
> potentially exponential growth rate means that it only takes all the
> safeguards to simultaneously fail _once_ and you have a problem of
> monumental proportions.

Homo sapiens self-replicates and causes no end of trouble to itself  
and its surroundings.


> Of course the work of RepRap isn't going to gobble the world any  
> time soon
> but self replicating machines that are built 50 years hence may well  
> be
> able to replicate themselves very quickly using the resources in their
> environment.
>
> This is not a comment against RepRap since self replicating machines  
> are
> coming one way or another.  The safest option (from a transparency  
> POV) is
> for them to be implemented using open source principals so at least we
> have the best chance of spotting ways in which the safeguards may  
> fail.

RepRap is all open source.

> It's my view that given constantly improving efficiency in this area  
> self
> replicating machines must eventually become a problem for  
> civilisation.


In my view, not necessarily more than any other self-replicating  
entity that already exists.
Many are or can be pests, including our own species.
Considering our own situation, I have no doubt that there will be  
problems.
As for civilisation, that's a very relative concept. How civilised are  
we, really (but that's a whole other can of worms we shouldn't start  
on here)


Chers,
Arjen.
-- 
Arjen Lentz, Owner @ Open Query (http://openquery.com.au/)
Based in Brisbane, Australia - ph. +61-7-3103 0809
Open Source Experts, MySQL Specialists

Director of OSIA (http://osia.net.au/) Open Source Industry Australia
Australia's industry body for OSS - be counted!