X-Message-Number: 25511 Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2005 18:41:51 -0800 From: Mathew Sullivan <> Subject: The slippery slope of a wishful future Thomas, My usage of the word was more from the perspective of those who cling to something of a bioconservativist view, thinking their identity will be forever bound to their biological structure in the traditional or natural sense. As far as wet- and dryware are concerned, I think the difference will become blurred with time. With access to molecular nanotechnology, many of us will transition from a biological existence to something that is much more. As new technology comes on line we will do things such as augment and then replace blood cells with respirocytes. Install internal cell phones with networking ability that starts from basic communication to eventually being able to transfer one's identity. Reinforce our bones with diamond fiber that is stiff in some areas and flexible in organs such as skin to the point that we could go into space without the need for a space suit. Slowly augmenting and finally replacing all biological brain cells with nano- and quantum-constructed cells. As I mentioned in a previous post, I was inspired by the movie Virtuosity and upgraded liquid glass to liquid diamond. I think we can look and feel like fleshy bags of water as we are today, but use little or no water. I'm also comfortable with a Borg-like collective with more than one copy of myself, and they won't have to walk around like tin cans with the personality of something reminiscent of a zombie. They or we can be just as personable and friendly as any of us today. How far that fully synchronized collective can spread out is unknown at this point. Since we all currently see by means of photons reflected off other objects, in the future, you will have the choice of absorbing or sending out photons in a controlled fashion, creating a desired image, or no image at all. Or maybe maintain a natural state that would look like a figure made of water with maybe a few photons escaping/leaking as a consequence of physical or mental activity. With a liquid diamond body you could not only fly your ship throughout the universe, but merge with it and become the ship, surfing on solar flares for amusement if you wish. That is about as radical as I can get with a prospective body for myself aside from such things as utility or maybe even quantum fog. With a grand unified theory of the universe (M-Theory?), I'll be curious if someone can come up with a proposal for some type of multi or transdimensional being. Although they should give me a little notice prior to the announcement so that I might take a Dramamine pill. I hope we are all around to see how the real future unfolds, but in the mean time were stuck with wishful thinking. Mathew Sullivan Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=25511