A real Star Trek Replicator 4 your home?

In summary, the article discusses the idea of a Star Trek "replicator" and how it is still a long way from being a reality. It also discusses the possibility of what would happen if we were to get to a point where most of our food was manufactured using a replicator. It concludes by saying that we would all eventually become vegetables.
  • #1
MonstersFromTheId
142
1
A real Star Trek "Replicator" 4 your home?

Check out this article:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/maney/2005-06-14-replicator_x.htm

This is still a long way from a Star Trek "replicator". Unlike Mr. Gershenfeld's "fabs", a Trek replicator does more than make parts, it'll also make you anything from a cup of hot "Earl Grey Tea" along with a dainty cup to hold it, to an entire meal served up just the way you like it sitting on dinnerware that you don't even have to clean.
No doing dishes or cooking pans! Halla-frigging-luya!
'Course nobody likes to talk about the idea that the input of a Trek style replicator system is usually hooked into the output of the 'ol "waste extraction system" (Ew!).
But that whole idea brings up an interesting question.
Suppose for a moment that things got to the point where most of the food we ate was manufactured at the molecular level by, well, whatever, "replicators", "fabs", whatever.
Suppose most of the power to run such systems was solar power.
At that point, would humanity still qualify, from the stand point of taxonomy, as a form of animal life, or would we at that point maybe qualify as something else? Suppose we get to the point where we can no longer survive without the technology required to make our own food using factories essentially powered by sunlight?
At that point are we still a form of animal life? Or maybe more accurately viewed as a form of cybernetic plant life?

We're all going to wind up bein vegetables! ;-)
 
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  • #2
I remember seeing shows about things that will make plastic replacement parts like a printer but it was simply plastic (or ceramic or some weird composite, if orget) parts. It'd be pretty cool and you could get like a communist utopia if you can do things quickly without regards to money or resources. Of course, however lol, anyone has the capabilities of creating hydrogen bombs and such...
 
  • #3


Wow, that article is really fascinating! It's amazing to see how far technology has come and how close we are getting to something like a Star Trek replicator. But you're right, it's still not quite there yet. I think the idea of being able to create food and objects at the molecular level is both exciting and a little scary. And your point about our classification as a form of animal life is really thought-provoking. It's hard to say what would happen if we became so reliant on technology for our basic needs. Maybe we would evolve into something else entirely, or maybe we would just continue to adapt and change. Either way, it's definitely something to think about. And who knows, maybe one day we really will all be living like the crew of the Enterprise!
 

1. What is a Star Trek Replicator?

A Star Trek Replicator is a fictional device from the Star Trek universe that can create any object or food item instantly out of raw material. It is essentially a 3D printer on steroids.

2. How does a Star Trek Replicator work?

The exact workings of a Star Trek Replicator are not fully explained in the show, but it is believed to use transporter technology to convert energy into matter, rearranging subatomic particles to create the desired item.

3. Can a Star Trek Replicator really be made for a home?

As of now, there is no technology that can replicate the capabilities of a Star Trek Replicator. However, 3D printers are becoming more advanced and are able to create a wide range of objects, including food items.

4. What can a Star Trek Replicator create?

A Star Trek Replicator can create anything that can be broken down into energy and matter, so essentially any object or food item. However, in the show, there are limitations and certain items cannot be replicated due to copyright or ethical reasons.

5. Is a Star Trek Replicator safe to use?

In the Star Trek universe, replicators are considered safe and have been in use for centuries without any major issues. However, if a replicator were to malfunction, it could potentially create dangerous or harmful items, so proper maintenance and programming would be necessary for a real-life replicator.

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