Comic #4031: programmable-matter

View Original Comic

Description

Comic Title: Nanobots

Panel 1:

• Speaker: "WE HAVE CREATED NANOBOTS, EACH OF WHICH IS CAPABLE OF MOVEMENT, CONNECTION TO OTHER NANOBOTS, SENSING, AND SIGNALLING."
• Visual: A man with glasses and a bald head stands next to a screen displaying shapes.

Panel 2:

• Speaker: "THUS, IF YOU HAVE JUST ONE HANDFUL OF NANO-CLAY, YOU CAN INSTRUCT IT TO RE-FORM INTO ANY SHAPE."
• Visual: The man gestures as he holds a small object.

Panel 3:

• Speaker: "IT CAN BE A KNIFE, A BALL, A WRENCH, A PROSTHETIC HAND, ANYTHING."
• Visual: The man holds up a yellow object.

Panel 4:

• Speaker: "THE TRADEOFF IS THAT BECAUSE THE MATERIAL ITSELF ISN'T SPECIALIZED FOR ANY PURPOSE, NO PARTICULAR CONFIGURATION WILL BE AS GOOD AS A SIMPLE INEXPENSIVE TOOL."
• Visual: A wide view of the audience listening attentively.

Panel 5:

• Speaker: "SO, YOU CAN HAVE EVERYTHING AS LONG AS YOU'RE OKAY WITH NOTHING BEING PARTICULARLY GOOD."
• Visual: Various audience members react thoughtfully.

Panel 6:

• Speaker: "EXACTLY!"
• Visual: The man smiles confidently.

Panel 7:

• Visual: A building exterior with a sign reading "MIT CENTER FOR ADVANCED METAPHORS FOR HUMAN EXISTENCE."

Comic Attribution:

• Source: smbc-comics.com