THE REPLICATOR PRIZE

Establishing a substantial cash prize for discovering a theoretical foundation for an “Electricity to Products” technology.

THE VISION: Imagine a technology that can turn energy directly into food and consumer goods. If such a technology existed, the only limits on human wealth and prosperity would be the amount of energy human civilization could harness. A first step towards this desirable end would be the discovery of theoretical approaches to creating such a technology. Cash prizes have a long and honorable history of generating desirable innovations for humanity. This website intends to apply this incentive approach to the problem of material scarcity.

THE SCOPE: The fictional Star Trek technology known as “the Replicator” is, with one modification, the model for the technology we desire to create. The modification is: whereas the Star Trek Replicator appears to turn energy directly into material food and goods, we will accept a technology theory that transforms or reorganizes one form of matter (say rocks or a bucket of sea water) into another form (say blue jeans, a cell phone, or a pepperoni pizza) instead of turning only energy and “empty air” into something. However a technology theory using the nanofactory approach of taking in atomic or molecular feedstocks and mechanically assembling them into products is a solution outside the scope of this prize.

Here’s what we need to make the Replicator Prize happen:

1. A substantial amount of cash for the prize
2. A clear and detailed description of what an “Electricity to Products” theoretical proposal needs to contain and accomplish to win the prize
3. A respected and technically competent panel of reviewers to select the winner

OUR APPROACH: Believing in the wisdom of crowds, this website will provide, in the Comments to this post, a venue to discuss the best way to get each of the items listed above. As the most popular suggestions and approaches are identified, we will vote and select the best approaches for finding the cash, creating the technical description of what must be accomplished to win and the selecting panel of reviewers. We will then offer the prize, solicit and evaluate the submissions and award the prize. It is possible that other prizes to promote the creation of “Electricity to Products” technology will follow this one.

In the Comments below, please provide your suggestions for the best ways to:

1. RAISE THE FUNDS FOR THE PRIZE
2. DETERMINE WHAT WINNING SUBMISSIONS MUST CONTAIN AND ACCOMPLISH
3. DETERMINE WHO SHOULD THE REVIEWERS BE

UPDATE – It also appears we could use some suggestions as to how to best publicize this website and the Replicator Prize itself.

Please click Comments, below, to participate.