APM related terms
Contents
- 1 Clean Terms
- 1.1 Atomically Precise Manufacturing
- 1.2 Atomically Precise Technology
- 1.3 Mechanosynthesis
- 1.4 Machine Phase
- 1.5 Machine Phase Chemistry / Mechanochemistry
- 1.6 Diamondoid Materials
- 1.7 Diamondoid Molecular Elements
- 1.8 Advanced Molecular Machinery
- 1.9 Molecular Assembler
- 1.10 Molecular Manufacturing
- 2 Terms Containing "Nano"
- 2.1 Somewhat acceptable terms
- 2.1.1 Molecular Nanotechnology
- 2.1.2 Productive nanosystems
- 2.1.3 Nanofactories
- 2.1.4 Advanced Nanotechnology
- 2.1.5 Nanomechanics - Ok
- 2.1.6 Nanorobotics / Robotic Nanotechnology - Ok
- 2.1.7 Nanostructures - in context Ok
- 2.1.8 Nanocosmos - in context Ok
- 2.1.9 Nanoscale - in context Ok
- 2.1.10 Machine Phase Nanotechnology - Ok (but uncommon)
- 2.1.11 Nanomedicine
- 2.1.12 Anorganic Nanorobotics / Anorganic Nanomechanics
- 2.2 Terms to Avoid
- 2.1 Somewhat acceptable terms
- 3 General Terms
Clean Terms
Atomically Precise Manufacturing
Defined on the main page.
This term was heavily used in the book "Radical Abundace: how a revolution in nanotechnology will change civilisation"
to solve perception problems.
Atomically Precise Technology
Umberella term for APM and the products creatable with APM.
It should be used in place of "Molecular Nanotechnology".
Mechanosynthesis
Defined on the "mechanosynthesis" page.
Machine Phase
Defined on the "machine phase" page
Machine Phase Chemistry / Mechanochemistry
Defined on the "tooltip chemistry" page.
Diamondoid Materials
Defined on the "diamondoid" page.
Diamondoid Molecular Elements
Dedined on the "diamondoid molecular elements" page.
Here's a suggestion for a more catchy and usable name: crystolecules
Advanced Molecular Machinery
A bit too generic like "Nanomedicine".
Molecular Assembler
Defined on the "technology level III" page
Molecular Manufacturing
Good for as an umbrella term for all APM technology levels.
Terms Containing "Nano"
Somewhat acceptable terms
Molecular Nanotechnology
This is the most widely used term for AP technology as of (2013)
Google searches yield the most relevant results when this term is used.
Wikipedia uses this still as the main term Moelcular nanotechnology
Productive nanosystems
Defined on the technology level III page.
This is currently the prevalently used term. APM systems could be used as alternative.
Nanofactories
Currently prevalently used term.
possible alternatives:
- atomically precise small scale factory ... probably too much of a mouth full - wont be adopted
- atomically precise 3D printers ... (potentuially raises further misconceptions)
- gem-gum-(pocket)-factory ... gem-gum for gemstone-rubber a special case of a diamondoid metamaterial - easy to say and remember - avoids "diamond" in its name - as a bonus the seeming contradiction may sparks interest
Advanced Nanotechnology
There is also advanced nanotechnology in the biological direction, so this term is too unspecific and should be avoided.
Nanomechanics - Ok
Nanorobotics / Robotic Nanotechnology - Ok
Nanostructures - in context Ok
Nanocosmos - in context Ok
Nanoscale - in context Ok
Machine Phase Nanotechnology - Ok (but uncommon)
Nanomedicine
Somewhat vague, medicine has always had subject areas about nano sized compounds.
Anorganic Nanorobotics / Anorganic Nanomechanics
Freely made up here, but seems quite fitting for technology level III
Terms to Avoid
Nanotechnology
This term is way too generic and has lost its original meaning. See "history" for more information.
The term Makrotechnology has the same specificity and it's clear why no one uses it.
Nanobots or Nanomachines
Spurs misinformed thoughts of artificial lifeforms.
Nanites or Nanobugs
Makes sure one thinks of life like creatures (insects) which are dangerous out of this reason.
Nanosubmarines
Not that bad for speculative medical nanodevices but propulsion and interaction with nanobiology is often imagined in wrong nonphysical ways.
General Terms
technological evolution
Before using it check if you really mean evolution not an other type of improvement process like targeted design.
Some evolutionary traits:
- lots of unexpected mergement of seemingly unrelated ideas
- brute force trial and error visiting much more dead ends than successful continuation points
In a strict observation the term technology generation inherits the meaning of evolution too.
the flawed biological analogies
Theres at least as much difference as there is overlap with biological concepts. Using biological terms makes one see only the overlaps and usually lead to a very flawed and twisted picture of AP systems. The list below can be used as a starting point for a dictionary. If you think of the left use the right.
- whomb - building chamber / mechanosynthetic core
- reproduction - replication
- grow(th/ing) - build(ing) up
- seed of ... - proto ...
- ingestion / eating - take in
- excretion / (you can guess) - expulsion
- metabolism - resource management / material management / recycling
- limbs / arms / legs - manipulators / grippers / linkages / ...