Pathways to advanced APM systems
From apm
- The incremental path
- The direct path
Its not a binary either or question whether the direct or the incremental path will be taken its more that the two represent extreme ends of a spectrum of possible development progressions. Both types of paths will likely heavily borrow from the non mechanical technology path.
- (TODO: link description about internal conflict)
Views of the paths from the proponents of different viewpoints
Critiques:
- incremental path (Ralph Merkle & co): slow and aimless little targeted effort ... (TODO: collect their arguments)
- direct path (E.Drexler & co): too hard to access experimentally, slow experimental progress, little research motivation (funds)
Relation to speed of introduction of advanced productive nanosystems
It seems any bets are off here. It is worth to note that the usual association of the direct path with sudden and rapid changes and the indirect path with slow and progressive changes might be not incorrect.
- (TODO: treat benefits and risks of fast vs slow changes)
