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Re: [ox-en] Peer Economy. A Transition Concept.



Michel writes:
And robots or other production machines are another story. 

Stefan Mn answers:

Why?

IMHO they are the same as far as universality is concerned. The simple
machines from beginning of capitalism or even before were very
specific. They were able to do exactly one thing (which is probably
idealized but you get the point). CNC machines were one milestone on
the road to universal matter manipulation machines. Industrial robots
are another one as are fabbers. I'm really interested in what's wrong
with that perspective.

BTW: Even computers could be seen as matter manipulation machines. And
indeed very specialized ones. Only the materials they process is of
rather universal use.

Hi, if I may add my 2 cents:

* Fabbers work on the base of "Bit-Dust", if they are additive. So the
condition is to find apt materials, which might be fine for some products.
a problem is that some of the stuff in discussion today might be toxic,
might cause waste problems, might not fulfil the usage requirements
(elasticity, look and feel, stability) of certain products.

Most products require special and diverse materials, the unimaterial case
of a mobile phone is different from its multimaterial interior.

Another think to think about: the plastic culture of the 1950s gave way
again to a recognition of natural materials, craftmanship and authenticity.

I have had long talks with people who praise the fabber as a universal
production solution. I really think that the better solution is in a
combination with cnc and robotics and other ways of information driven
processes - allowing us to working with multiple materials, which might
mean that there is a rich automated infrastructure working with special
materials. I always point to the fact that biological processes are mostly
information driven and nature is an incredible storehouse of automation,
that we have hardly understood.

* So the real problem is the claim that physical goods are rival. We now
see a tragcic case that seems to support the concept of rivalness
(biofuels vs. food). My claim is that a reasonable planetary management
would lead to physical abundance, and gradually eliminate rivalness. The
secret lies in spatial arrangements of matrerial and energy flows. Local
examples could pave the way.

Franz

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