Colony World Frontiers

[Fred Brackin]

[QUOTE=Lamech;1403305]Yeah, except the starting point is something can can recreate itself. QUOTE]

Only if you are TL12. Nobody has been assuming a TL12 colony.

[Lamech]

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin

Umm... I was refering to the DNA having a starting point that can replicate itself. The machines these colonists are starting with will need human inputs and assistance to reproduce. I really doubt it will suddenly mutate into an artificial intelligence. Hence no gray goo... erm, gray fabricators.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Lamech

Yeah, except the starting point is something can can recreate itself. I'm assuming from the OPs posts, that the people actually do need to do work here. Hence, it can't recreate itself without guidance.

I'm responding to you, responding to Polydamas talking about Von Neuman machines. By definition they have to be self-replicating. They don't have to be really smart. Some self replication is certainly possible at TL 10 with weak AI. It's possible now for small and simple machines.

[Lamech]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

I'm responding to you, responding to Polydamas talking about Von Neuman machines. By definition they have to be self-replicating. They don't have to be really smart. Some self replication is certainly possible at TL 10 with weak AI. It's possible now for small and simple machines.

Once, again even if they do start building copies of themselves, it still takes a long time for even one generation. Just check the machine's every couple weeks. Worse case scenario, you go blow some stuff up. Just build it away from the city.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Lamech

Once, again even if they do start building copies of themselves, it still takes a long time for even one generation.

"A long time" is relative, but it's kind of a poor ultra-tech factory if it takes >25 years to build something.

Just check the machine's every couple weeks.

Why would you error check it unless you thought it was capable of making errors? I'm confused.

[roguebfl]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

But prosperous western nations show that being well off makes people have small families. Why do people think the moment humans have elbow room they spew out children like a fire hose?

Because settlers willing move away from a ZPG high tech worlds are largely drawn from the bored and those for whom the population growth control restrictions of their parent society chafes. And freed from the worry that these would be a life as an adult for their child to fit in.

[roguebfl]

self-replication machines are only a problem if tho use decision to use the faction is in the control of the machine. Just make it an external access only trigger, then it only happens when the controller wants it to happen.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by roguebfl

Just make it an external access only trigger, then it only happens when the controller wants it to happen.

Error correction and safety lock mechanisms are themselves subject to mutation and natural selection.

[roguebfl]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Error correction and safety lock mechanisms are themselves subject to mutation and natural selection.

So SOP before releasing the copy is diagnostics.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by roguebfl

So SOP before releasing the copy is diagnostics.

Everything will have errors over time. That is the nature of entropy.