Post Singularity Social Simulation

Second Life is getting BIG, and keeps having various interesting problems: e.g. homogenising swarms of self replicators (akin to a risk of advanced nano-tech) and recently this mini debacle (after a online 'business' in second life shut down due to all it's products presumably being copied and freely distributed by some helpful citizen with a 'copybot').
This is entirely reminiscent of the situation in Charles Stross's "Singularity sky" when a technologically repressed society suddenly gains the ability to transcend an economy of scarcity (i.e. they get replicator factories). It is also a very pertinent simulation for big issues of change in the real world. Showing the possible dangers of self replicating technology, especially seeing as we can't restart reality after editing certain annoyances out of existence!

The big issue here though is IP (Intellectual Property). Certainly the thorniest issue of this decade in my opinion (and likely a few to come). What's happening in second life spells out exactly the situation we will be in 40 years from now; you just can't own information! The transition to this state is already well under way. Record companies, movie big wigs and the like, having a hard time accepting this, will have to bite the bullet soon and find a way to make money in a new style market, or face seriously humiliating closure (like the second life start up).

Look Mummy! No wires!

Wireless power! (BBC news): damn cool tech idea of using a novel design of resonant "non-radiative" objects (at about 6.4MHz) to beam power a number of meters between appliances or components.

No prototypes build yet, sounds very useful, provided it genuinely doesn't interfere badly with other equipment/things that happen to have the same resonances. A real boon for household layout, no wall sockets needed, lighting and appliance positions ultra flexible + small, embedded electronic devices in portable items: clothing, domestic/manufacturing robots can recharge unnoticed and just plain work!

NewScientist - 11/11/2006

'Take a leaf out of nature's book...': Research into constructing artificial plant-like nano engineered material that absorbs a broader spectum of light than conventional solar cells. Then can be coupled with exsisting materials tomake more efficient photo-voltaics, or use an different system to directly create hydrogen from water, in a very similar manner to plants. -Would be exactly what's needed to provide continuos energy supply (even when the sun doesn't shine) and efficiently make fuel for the fledgling hydrogen vehical market.

Axis of upheaval: the fundamental physics articles always grab my attention. This paper details experimental evidence that a spinning superconductor experiences 'Gravitomagnetism'. Cautiously announced as superconductors and gravity have a fair history of disrepritable science, and the implications of this being verified would include re-writting the Standard Model!

Possible technological applications of a real effect like this would allow half the gadgets in pop sci-fi tp be realised: artifical gravity or levitaion, tractor beams, force fields, etc. But the physists definately aren't counting eggs yet.

On the tide

Just been to a IMechE organised lecture on a tidal turbine power solution by TidalStream at Foster Wheeler, just down the road. Basically, they're a start up with personnel experienced in wind energy putting together designs with a view to producing modules placed in deep sea water (over 40 meters) which has particularly high tidal flows.

Seems like a solid idea, using a resource that could provide around 20% of UK demand, as we have favourable geography; Atlantic flowing around to fill/empty the North Sea twice a day.

Variable but highly predictable power generation, about par with off-shore wind power for pricing. Worry of physical impact dangers to medium/large sea life, which weren't mitigated by the speaker. Also, what amount of large debris is there floating about in the seas in these regions that could make such systems untenable (a rouge shipping container lurking about could easily put one of these out of action).