Mike Reeves-McMillan

So I have a mid-future SF setting on simmer where technology has become a lot “softer” (read: more organic, in the…

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Mike Reeves-McMillan

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So I have a mid-future SF setting on simmer where technology has become a lot “softer” (read: more organic, in the background, largely unnoticed). As part of that, I’d like to have a mesh network of genetically-engineered microbes exchanging P2P wifi signals. They’re in plants, animals, people, and so the Net is everywhere. 

My problem is, what stops these microbes evolving back into non-wifi-enabled microbes that would have an advantage over the wifi-enabled ones (because they wouldn’t be using energy to broadcast radio signals, and would get to use it for themselves)? What advantage is there to a microbe in being part of a mesh network?

Lacerant Plainer, Peter Smalley: any thoughts?  

Comments

24 responses to “So I have a mid-future SF setting on simmer where technology has become a lot “softer” (read: more organic, in the…”

  1. Samuel Smith Avatar
    Samuel Smith

    Microbes mutate quickly, either through plasmid sharing or viral code injection. I’d pick sod (large surface area, controlled genetics – “WiFi Sod at Home Depot, now with 802.11r!) or trees for longevity, though signals in winter when they sleep?

    Reply
  2. Samuel Smith Avatar
    Samuel Smith

    Microbes mutate quickly, either through plasmid sharing or viral code injection. I’d pick sod (large surface area, controlled genetics – “WiFi Sod at Home Depot, now with 802.11r!) or trees for longevity, though signals in winter when they sleep?

    Reply
  3. Mike Reeves-McMillan Avatar
    Mike Reeves-McMillan

    Moss? In this setting, a lot of tree planting has gone on (to claw back from climate change), and nobody really has lawns any more.

    Reply
  4. Mike Reeves-McMillan Avatar
    Mike Reeves-McMillan

    Moss? In this setting, a lot of tree planting has gone on (to claw back from climate change), and nobody really has lawns any more.

    Reply
  5. Samuel Smith Avatar
    Samuel Smith

    Mike Reeves-McMillan moss is a viable alternative, and is used in place of lawns in many areas (still a niche custom, but very environmentally friendly.) If I wasn’t in the Phoenix Furnace … http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/01/garden/01moss.html?

    Once established, it does much the same as sod, and is probably as genetically stable. Moss in real life doesn’t like copper. Antennas need a conductor to propagate signal so, moss carbon nanotubes?

    Reply
  6. Samuel Smith Avatar
    Samuel Smith

    Mike Reeves-McMillan moss is a viable alternative, and is used in place of lawns in many areas (still a niche custom, but very environmentally friendly.) If I wasn’t in the Phoenix Furnace … http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/01/garden/01moss.html?

    Once established, it does much the same as sod, and is probably as genetically stable. Moss in real life doesn’t like copper. Antennas need a conductor to propagate signal so, moss carbon nanotubes?

    Reply
  7. Mike Reeves-McMillan Avatar
    Mike Reeves-McMillan

    Radio moss sounds good, with carbon nanotubes. There’s still the question of why it just doesn’t evolve back into a form that keeps the energy for itself. Why does moss want a radio?

    Reply
  8. Mike Reeves-McMillan Avatar
    Mike Reeves-McMillan

    Radio moss sounds good, with carbon nanotubes. There’s still the question of why it just doesn’t evolve back into a form that keeps the energy for itself. Why does moss want a radio?

    Reply
  9. Samuel Smith Avatar
    Samuel Smith

    It would evolve back, but on a longer time scale. In order for the moss to want a radio, it needs an incentive. Microbes evolve to resist antibiotics, but this resistance takes energy. In an antibiotic-free environment, the microbes lose resistance because those without have the advantage.

    Why does moss want a radio? That’s an excellent question. Perhaps it confers extra energy? The moss antenna array could absorb background noise, and only emit on the frequencies it’s programmed to, garnering a small benefit in the difference. Not realistic, since background radio only gives what, pico-watts?

    Reply
  10. Samuel Smith Avatar
    Samuel Smith

    It would evolve back, but on a longer time scale. In order for the moss to want a radio, it needs an incentive. Microbes evolve to resist antibiotics, but this resistance takes energy. In an antibiotic-free environment, the microbes lose resistance because those without have the advantage.

    Why does moss want a radio? That’s an excellent question. Perhaps it confers extra energy? The moss antenna array could absorb background noise, and only emit on the frequencies it’s programmed to, garnering a small benefit in the difference. Not realistic, since background radio only gives what, pico-watts?

    Reply
  11. Mike Reeves-McMillan Avatar
    Mike Reeves-McMillan

    Could it benefit from knowing what weather was coming, by communicating with other moss far away?

    Reply
  12. Mike Reeves-McMillan Avatar
    Mike Reeves-McMillan

    Could it benefit from knowing what weather was coming, by communicating with other moss far away?

    Reply
  13. Samuel Smith Avatar
    Samuel Smith

    Possibly. Either by adapting to changing conditions – dry spell on the way, go dormant – or by signaling for attention through passing devices, hey human water me please!

    Reply
  14. Samuel Smith Avatar
    Samuel Smith

    Possibly. Either by adapting to changing conditions – dry spell on the way, go dormant – or by signaling for attention through passing devices, hey human water me please!

    Reply
  15. Mike Reeves-McMillan Avatar
    Mike Reeves-McMillan

    Oh, now that opens up possibilities. They can get the water and nutrients they need by signalling with wifi. But that only works in inhabited areas, not out in the forest – unless the squirrels and such are also wifi-enabled, and can be induced to crap near them to fertilise them?

    (It’s much easier to answer “why does a squirrel want a radio?”)

    Reply
  16. Mike Reeves-McMillan Avatar
    Mike Reeves-McMillan

    Oh, now that opens up possibilities. They can get the water and nutrients they need by signalling with wifi. But that only works in inhabited areas, not out in the forest – unless the squirrels and such are also wifi-enabled, and can be induced to crap near them to fertilise them?

    (It’s much easier to answer “why does a squirrel want a radio?”)

    Reply
  17. Samuel Smith Avatar
    Samuel Smith

    Just an idea: gamified crowdsourced civilization. Just like getting points in Farmville and similar games, people get points for helping where the community needs it. Moss needs water, first person to quench the thirst gets points. Trees need harvesting, etc. Points to be exchanged for… more resources?

    Reply
  18. Samuel Smith Avatar
    Samuel Smith

    Just an idea: gamified crowdsourced civilization. Just like getting points in Farmville and similar games, people get points for helping where the community needs it. Moss needs water, first person to quench the thirst gets points. Trees need harvesting, etc. Points to be exchanged for… more resources?

    Reply
  19. Mike Reeves-McMillan Avatar
    Mike Reeves-McMillan

    Yeah, that’s where I’m taking it already. Contributor credits. Though it’s mainly for things that AIs can’t do, creative things and the exercise of human judgement, rather than watering the moss. Where I am right now with the first story, the protagonist is trying to raise enough credits to get equipped to go out in the wilderness. 

    Oo. There we go. There are rewards for going out in the wilderness and maintaining the moss there. Thank you!

    Reply
  20. Mike Reeves-McMillan Avatar
    Mike Reeves-McMillan

    Yeah, that’s where I’m taking it already. Contributor credits. Though it’s mainly for things that AIs can’t do, creative things and the exercise of human judgement, rather than watering the moss. Where I am right now with the first story, the protagonist is trying to raise enough credits to get equipped to go out in the wilderness. 

    Oo. There we go. There are rewards for going out in the wilderness and maintaining the moss there. Thank you!

    Reply
  21. Samuel Smith Avatar
    Samuel Smith

    Happy to be a sounding board!

    Reply
  22. Samuel Smith Avatar
    Samuel Smith

    Happy to be a sounding board!

    Reply
  23. Mike Reeves-McMillan Avatar
    Mike Reeves-McMillan

    This is what I like about G+.

    Reply
  24. Mike Reeves-McMillan Avatar
    Mike Reeves-McMillan

    This is what I like about G+.

    Reply

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