johndavidjr Posted August 30, 2004 Share Posted August 30, 2004 Slightly inane question, but all pack weight could be eliminated in a century or so. Does anybody know if or when this stuff will hit the market? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashw_justin Posted August 30, 2004 Share Posted August 30, 2004 yes, all climbing will be accomplished through virtual reality; real mountains, rendered obselete, will be dealt with either by the environmentalists who will succeed in barring all access to the mountains, or the industrialists who will reduce all mountains to their constituent ores and sell them for a handsome profit (due in no small part to subsidization by the federal government). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
griz Posted August 30, 2004 Share Posted August 30, 2004 uhhh, for those of us who don't watch star trek... what the hell are you talking about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catbirdseat Posted August 30, 2004 Share Posted August 30, 2004 Your question is not inane, but rather insane. Do you think we will all enjoy weightless gear? Maybe we'll have antigravity belts like on Star Trek? The more significant change will come in the climbers themselves through biotechnology. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashw_justin Posted August 30, 2004 Share Posted August 30, 2004 No this is not some futuristic sci-fi fanstasy... the technology is already well establshed. For example, intramuscular ice tool implants, (Wolverine, et al., 1972) bioorganic rope systems, (Spiderman, 1958) hyrdoefficient dynamics (Frank Herbert, Dune) to list a few. Of course all of this advanced technology is conspiratorily suppressed by the gear manufacturers, who continue to capitalize on the stupid willingness of the climbing demographic to purchase 17th century textiles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted August 30, 2004 Share Posted August 30, 2004 I'm still waiting for buckytube cam trigger wires Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndavidjr Posted August 31, 2004 Author Share Posted August 31, 2004 Associated Press reported that NASA can make a "space elevator" using principle of ball swinging in circles attached to string. Necessary unavailable component would be ---in this case the string-- made of thin ribbons of carbon with newly developed molecular, or atomic structure, such that some bit of paper-thin tape would be strong as Golden Gate Bridge. NASA scientists report that development of this material is well-within techno-reach, but would require extensive development. This is much of the essence of so-called nanotech-- a field which may or may not be emerging. Imagine climbing hardware, boots, tents, bikes, etc. made of vaguely similar stuff. ---------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 Recent report demonstrated that toxicity of ordinary materials increases exponentially as size shrinks from micro to nano. No thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndavidjr Posted August 31, 2004 Author Share Posted August 31, 2004 Carbon must be safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 not at the nanoscale. those buckytubes are very sharp and can rupture cell membranes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndavidjr Posted August 31, 2004 Author Share Posted August 31, 2004 Remember Tang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 Remember poon Tang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlpineK Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 "Do the moon walk like the astronauts do..." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catbirdseat Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 not at the nanoscale. those buckytubes are very sharp and can rupture cell membranes. The very reason why asbestos is so damaging to the lungs. Nano technology opens up a whole new vistas of occupational hazards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenderfour Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 Remember poon Tang Remember Pootie Tang? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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