Friday, August 29, 2014

Have nanites caused science-fiction to cross into fantasy? (part 5)


Healing nanites exist in the Solar Echoes universe, but they may soon be part of reality. Nanites are being designed that would assist white blood cells in the repair of tissue cells. Nanites could attach themselves to the surface of recruited white cells and squeeze through the walls of blood vessels to arrive at an injury site. Nanites could even carry certain substances that could help accelerate recovery from an injury. In Solar Echoes, healing nanites are administered through an injection, and will allow the recipient to improve his injury status by one condition level. For instance, if a character is “Seriously Wounded,” his condition will improve to “Moderately Wounded,” which would incur smaller wound penalties than before. Some research today even indicates that cell regeneration might be possible in the future through nanite usage, which is reflected in Solar Echoes—regenerating nanites continue to work until all wound conditions are repaired (though effectively administering these nanites requires a very high level Biotech-check.) However, medical nanites in Solar Echoes cannot take control of a person or spread across the world through raindrops, as seen in the recent sci-fi movie, “Transcendence.” While Transcendence began as believable sci-fi, it didn't take long for it to transform into fantasy, with nanites infecting people and allowing them super-human strength while controlled by a powerful AI.

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