[extropy-chat] Forbes Magazine on Robotics

[Martin Striz]

On 8/20/06, Keith Henson <hkhenson at rogers.com> wrote:

> The trouble is, human demand for energy is so high that small scale
> solutions just won't do it.

Alternative energy, when fully implemented, won't be small scale, it
will just be decentralized, and that's a benefit in itself.  Having
the world's energy subject to the whims of a few dozen people is
scary.

> The potential for wind energy, for example, isn't large enough.

High altitude wind power is sufficient to supply the world's energy
needs, according to many estimations.

http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:High_Altitude_Wind_Power

http://www.skywindpower.com/ww/index.htm

Other than that, energy needs will be met with resources available
locally: hydroelectric where rivers are available, solar at low
latitudes, etc.  With advanced photovoltaic technology, every building
could be energy self-sufficient.

> >That being said, I don't think alternative energy will make the
> >greatest impact within the *10 years.*
>
> You are probably right.  But without a massive start in the next ten years
> a substantial fraction of the current population is likely to die in the
> next 20 years from starvation or wars from the effects of a looming bleak
> future.

A bit histrionic.  Even I don't see the energy crisis looming that
closely.  However, I would love to see a massive start in alternative
energy R&D anyway.

> >Out of that list, my vote
> >would be wireless networking.  There's no reason why Bill Gates'
> >conception of networked home appliances couldn't happen within the
> >next 10 years.
>
> I just can't see a toaster able to burn an image of Jesus into bread having
> that much of an impact on my life.

That just means you shouldn't expect anything too radical in a mere 10 years.

Martin