See This Nanotech Movie Now

Long download times and overworked servers have made it difficult for many to access the "must-see" movie that we wrote about back in July. Although many thousands already have seen it, many more people have not yet been able to watch this amazing computerized animation of a near-future nanofactory.

We're happy to report that KurzweilAI.net has posted the movie in a streaming media format. "Productive Nanosystems: From Molecules to Superproducts," was produced by John Burch of Lizard Fire Studios, in collaboration with Dr. K. Eric Drexler. The project was made possible by a grant from Mark Sims, CEO of Nanorex.

Dr. Drexler designed and analyzed the processes shown at the molecular level of the factory and provided guidance and feedback during the entire project. He is a researcher, author, policy advocate, and CRN advisor focused on emerging technologies and their consequences for the future. He pioneered studies of productive nanosystems and their products (the still-theoretical field originally termed "nanotechnology"). He has authored numerous technical publications on this topic as well as books including Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology, which first introduced the basic concepts to a general audience, and Nanosystems: Molecular Machinery, Manufacturing, and Computation, an applied-physics analysis of advanced productive nanosystems.

Now that the nanofactory movie has been made available as streaming media, we urge everyone to see it -- or see it again -- and then tell all your friends. Adequate preparation for the serious societal and environmental implications of advanced nanotechnology will require significant public support. This video could communicate the potential power of the technology more convincingly than any article or speech.

Tags: nanotechnology nanotech nano science technology ethics weblog blog

Comments

[Mike Deering]

Great movie! I couldn't see it before, though I did try several times. Big thanks to Kurzweil for making it available. By the way, his new book THE SINGULARITY IS NEAR is due at bookstores and my mailbox the 22nd of this month. I'm so excited! I ordered it back in December when it first went on advance sale at Amazon. When i first ordered it Amazon said it would come out Aug 27th. I was devastated when the release date was pushed back to September 22. But it's almost here! Yeah!

[Mark Burginger]

As a CG fan, I truly enjoyed this work of art and science. It takes a huge amount of time set up animations such as this. In addition to the artistic efforts, the actions performed need to have a scientific validity. The financial backers for this animation must be very proud of the results.

If only a part of the budget that is commonly spent on some lame Hollyweird movie were re-directed toward the second edition of this goal. Apple's designer of the year Jonathan Ive could spearhead the industrial design of the desktop unit, Industrial Light could take over the visual animation. This initial concept would provide the inspiration. It can happen. After seeing this animation by Lizard Fire Studios there is no doubt in my mind.

[John Burch]

I'm glad people are getting to see the movie. It was very good of Kurzweil's site to host it.

Personally, I'd rather see the money put into research instead of into slick(er) productions. My work was 90 percent design and 10 percent art. We need research, not art for art's sake. I'm hoping to work with others to animate the steps to get to the nanofactory. Without money to support that effort, it will be a low priority task.
John

John

[Jay]

If anybody's interested in *really* distributing this thing, you might want to publish it as a torrent.

Bittorrent makes for 30% of all net-traffic.

[dionne]

i love your movie and i want to see it again