Santa Claus machine
Encyclopedia
A Santa Claus Machine, named after the folkloric Santa Claus
, is a hypothetical machine that is capable of creating any required object or structure out of any given material. It is most often referenced by futurists and science fiction
writers when discussing hypothetical projects of enormous scale, such as a Dyson sphere
. These types of future constructions would be too large for many civilizations to build directly, so they would need a series of machines to intelligently build the machine with little or no direct control.
to operate autonomously. Finally, one of its requirements on a gigantic project such as a Dyson sphere
would likely be the ability to replicate itself. This would enable a single Santa Claus Machine, given sufficient matter and energy, to construct a project of any size and operate indefinitely.
Many theorists have seen the obvious nightmare scenarios that accompany such a device, including machines running out of control and destroying an entire planet, or a clanking replicator
disaster, à la the brooms in The Sorcerer's Apprentice
. At the other extreme, others suppose the resultant post scarcity
economy
would lead to a utopia
.
Adrian Bowyer
of the RepRap Project
says this project is more modest in that it requires human assistance to replicate (just as flowers need insects), but it does copy most of its own parts, make other useful stuff, and its designs are given away free under the GNU General Public Licence. It is also available now.
The human society seen as a whole can be thought of as a limited Santa Claus Machine.
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
, is a hypothetical machine that is capable of creating any required object or structure out of any given material. It is most often referenced by futurists and science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
writers when discussing hypothetical projects of enormous scale, such as a Dyson sphere
Dyson sphere
A Dyson sphere is a hypothetical megastructure originally described by Freeman Dyson. Such a "sphere" would be a system of orbiting solar power satellites meant to completely encompass a star and capture most or all of its energy output...
. These types of future constructions would be too large for many civilizations to build directly, so they would need a series of machines to intelligently build the machine with little or no direct control.
Origin
The term was coined by Theodore Taylor in 1978:It’s possible to imagine a machine that could scoop up material – rocks from the Moon or rocks from asteroids – process them inside and produce just about any product: washing machines or teacups or automobiles or starships. Once such a machine exists it could gather sunlight and materials that it’s sitting on, and produce on call whatever product anybody wants to name, as long as somebody knows how to make it and those instructions can be given to the machine. I think the name Santa Claus Machine for such a device is appropriate.
Discussion
The Santa Claus Machine requires some great advances in technology to be possible, including the ability to take any collection of matter and reconfigure it into any other type of matter. It would also presumably require a high level of artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
to operate autonomously. Finally, one of its requirements on a gigantic project such as a Dyson sphere
Dyson sphere
A Dyson sphere is a hypothetical megastructure originally described by Freeman Dyson. Such a "sphere" would be a system of orbiting solar power satellites meant to completely encompass a star and capture most or all of its energy output...
would likely be the ability to replicate itself. This would enable a single Santa Claus Machine, given sufficient matter and energy, to construct a project of any size and operate indefinitely.
Many theorists have seen the obvious nightmare scenarios that accompany such a device, including machines running out of control and destroying an entire planet, or a clanking replicator
Clanking replicator
A clanking replicator is an artificial self-replicating system that relies on conventional large-scale technology and automation. The term evolved to distinguish such systems from the microscopic "assemblers" that nanotechnology may make possible...
disaster, à la the brooms in The Sorcerer's Apprentice
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
The Sorcerer's Apprentice is the English name of a poem by Goethe, Der Zauberlehrling, written in 1797. The poem is a ballad in fourteen stanzas.-Story:...
. At the other extreme, others suppose the resultant post scarcity
Post scarcity
Post scarcity is a hypothetical form of economy or society, in which things such as goods, services and information are free, or practically free...
economy
Economy
An economy consists of the economic system of a country or other area; the labor, capital and land resources; and the manufacturing, trade, distribution, and consumption of goods and services of that area...
would lead to a utopia
Utopia
Utopia is an ideal community or society possessing a perfect socio-politico-legal system. The word was imported from Greek by Sir Thomas More for his 1516 book Utopia, describing a fictional island in the Atlantic Ocean. The term has been used to describe both intentional communities that attempt...
.
Adrian Bowyer
Adrian Bowyer
Adrian Bowyer is a British engineer and mathematician, currently an academic at the University of Bath.Born in 1952 in London, Bowyer is the older child of the late Rosemary and John Bowyer; the latter was a writer, painter and one of the founders of Zisman, Bowyer and Partners, consulting engineers...
of the RepRap Project
RepRap Project
The RepRap project is an initiative to develop a 3D printer that can print most of its own components...
says this project is more modest in that it requires human assistance to replicate (just as flowers need insects), but it does copy most of its own parts, make other useful stuff, and its designs are given away free under the GNU General Public Licence. It is also available now.
The human society seen as a whole can be thought of as a limited Santa Claus Machine.
See also
- Assembler (nanotechnology)
- 3D printing3D printing3D printing is a form of additive manufacturing technology where a three dimensional object is created by laying down successive layers of material. 3D printers are generally faster, more affordable, and easier to use than other additive manufacturing technologies. However, the term 3D printing is...
- Replicator (Star Trek)Replicator (Star Trek)In Star Trek a replicator is a machine capable of creating objects. Replicators were originally seen used to synthesize meals on demand, but in later series they took on many other uses.-Origins and limitations:...
- Universal ConstructorUniversal constructorA universal constructor may refer to*Universal assembler, a hypothesized nanotechnology device for building a large class of nanomachines including itself, or...
External links
- the Replicating Rapid-Prototyper Project : RepRap.org
- Don Lancaster's Santa Claus machine library
- Seth Rosenthal, Santa Claus Machine, Wired magazine, May 1994