Perfect World Mechanics

Essay

In my last post I mentioned welders... now I espouse mechanics, but this time I'm not talking about the people who fix your car. This time I'm trying to explain how the whole Perfect World thing's gonna work. Pay attention... it could get a little complicated:

A green world, one which is ecologically sound, is an efficient one. You will find very little unplanned redundancy. Raw materials will not be squandered because the needs and desires of an entire civilization, from a single person to the whole planet, will be accounted for.

Since people can't read each other's minds, how are we to create a world where few people are producing simultaneous work? How can one hand know what the other hand is doing?

At the Perfect World's core is a piece of software that runs the show. Like a website, anyone can dial in to use it. It houses all the information necessary to make Perfect World run smoothly. This is a complex program-- it knows where every person is, all through the day. It knows everybody's abilities. It knows what stuff everyone has, what stuff they need, what stuff they want, what they can contribute and what they cannot. Not only does it account for all raw materials available and the location and quantity of finished products... it has a good idea what recyclables are available for re-use, and in what quantities. And on the other side, it knows what jobs are available and who is best qualified for them. In other words:

It's like the Radar O'Reilly of the future! (that's a M.A.S.H. reference, for all of you young-uns out there)

I am probably oversimplifying how this program will work. The amount of information it works with will be vast, so it will need to be broken down into manageable chunks, each running on a local network. This mega-program will be made up of millions of smaller information-obtaining programs, which will process local information into something the larger program can utilize, which in turn sends information to the appropriate source. I'm being deliberately vague, but that's only because I haven't designed this program and so don't know exactly how it would work. But it would likely be akin to any of today's shipping and tracking software. Here's the basics:

A file is maintained for every person, every business, every building, every town... in short, every piece of humanity, man-made or living. And every living person would have their own access terminal. Extensive cross-referencing puts needs in touch with those who can satisfy needs.

Today, each person has many daily needs, and is expected to solve many of them on their own. They will need to eat several times a day. They need clothing for protection from the elements. They need occasional bathroom time. They need to stretch their bodies for physical health, and stretch their minds for emotional health. They need a place to live. The list of needs goes on. Then the list of WANTS begins-- snacks and games and sex and fun... and together they make a very long list indeed.

Together, the human race has a staggering amount of regular needs. Right now we're not living symbiotically on our planet; in fact, we are killing our host because of thoughtless waste, unconscionable pollution and resource mismanagement. How would PerfectWorldTheory.com (for example) satisfy everyone smoothly while keeping the planet purring?

One obvious solution would be to expand the organizational capacity of our worldwide computing system. We've already seen how computers have contributed to productivity. Expand the process on a planetary scale and you can see where this might go.

Let's try an example: Across the globe at any given time, let's say 65,000 clock radios have chirped their last good morning. Each of those people would type in a request for a new one. The software would compile that information and pass it along to local warehouse facilities that receive and store freshly manufactured product for use as needed, then fills the orders and ships them. There would be many such facilities around the globe to reduce shipping costs. Shortly, each person has their new clock radio, and has sent the old one in for recycling.

Recycling is a very important part of conservation efforts. A product at the end of its useful life is stripped apart and separated. Any parts which can be reused will be, and those which cannot will have another use designed for them. For example, old tires were once destroyed by burning until air pollution became a concern. Now thousands could be stitched together to create a framework for underwater reef systems-- sea life grows into and around the tires until a large deposit of natural material builds up and creates a barrier against storm surges. Any product which has no second life will be dropped from production if possible.

On a larger scale, say a small town needs a new bridge because the old one is crumbling. A computer-based discussion is broadcast to all persons of interest. which in this case would be everyone in town. The pros and cons are debated and everyone votes on the project. Because this is a safety issue, it would likely receive a unanimous vote. The software then contacts all bridge designers and bridge-makers within a set perimeter who would join the project if interested. Soon several designs are submitted which are then voted upon. The chosen bridge would be created and completed in short order and the old one, dismantled and recycled.

Or thinking even larger, let's say a state needs a solution to repeated flooding. During the debate phase a few bright ideas are considered which would have previously been shelved because of the exhaustive cost. Now, because the only factors to be considered are advantages, manpower and resources, even wildly ambitious projects are not automatically dismissed. Because of this, the state joins with the nation to design a set of flood channels which would divert rain to the water-starved states of the southwest, a plan which expands to become a nationwide water distribution system. As a result, not only has flooding everywhere been controlled; but draught has ended, nationwide crops are ensured water, and the flood channels find a dual use as a pan-national transportation riverway!

Each Person's Part

I've mentioned in earlier posts how we will be eliminating a great many unnecessary jobs in the Perfect World-- some will become pointless, as with meter maids and cashiers; some will be replaced with machinery, as traffic cops and ditch diggers did in the 20th century; and some will be melded into new occupations, as traditional teachers merge into designing teaching techniques that uses multimedia to immerse our youth in education.

We will also be educating to our children's 'hot spots'- those areas of special interest, unique to each person. Perfect World assumes that in the grand scheme of life, there are enough hot spots to cover every facet of human living-- in other words, that there will be enough children born with the desire to become doctors to cover the world's need for doctors. In that way nobody need be taught lessons which are uninteresting (or even painful!) to them. Also, since each person is likely to have multiple hot spots, they can be assured of multiple occupations in their life, often at the same time in life.

In a scenario, our Perfect Worlder (let's call him... oh, Pete White) wakes up in the morning feeling like going to work and contributing. He steps to the computer and pulls up his work profile. Listed are any jobs going on around him within his specialty range. His major abilities include organization, electronics design, singing, comedy and massage; he also has a few dozen minor aptitudes. He had put in a request to sing with a traveling music group because he wants to travel and see new places, but no definites yet, although three groups are in the process of forming and will contact him when they have chosen a genre.

But there were about fifteen other possibilities for today listed within walking distance. Pete reads the job requesting someone to organize classic photographs,four hours a day for an upcoming art showing and, interested, clicks the 'offer' button. In a moment the 'accept' button lights and he has work for a few days-- the computer loads the address and other information into his mobile device. He also notices an evening job singing the classics with a pianist in a beautiful enclave overlooking the bay; he clicks 'offer' on that one too and receives an 'accept' in moments. The pianist had already searched the computer for vocal stylists in his own genre, which gave him Pete's file, along with a few others; when Pete offered his service first, he was accepted automatically, and the job dropped off the other potential's files at the same time.

He does 45 minutes of cardio, takes a leisurely shower and eats a healthy breakfast, jogging the half-mile and arriving at work about 11 am. At about 3 pm Pete finishes for the day and jumps into a nearby pool to cool off, and for invigorating exercise-- he does laps for half an hour then spends another 20 in the sauna, finishing off with a rotating temperature jet bath.

He heads over to the local restauratorium and collects a plate of culinary tidbits from a dozen fine chefs, all working in a huge, fully stocked kitchen, then sits at a table with a number of strangers, all engaged in fascinating conversation. Each person offers up knowledge in their chosen fields for the others to absorb. Entertainment is discussed, as is innovation, art and philosophy. Time passes quickly as new people join the group to add their stories. Soon Pete has to begin his evening singing; he excuses himself and uses one of the many SDVs (self-driving vehicles) parked all over to get to the large hall at the water's edge. As the car navigates the streets unassisted, Pete lays back and uses the time to call up his set list on the car's roof monitor, which displays the lyrics while it plays the music. Confident his voice is in fine tone, he hops from the SDV and mounts the stage to thunderous applause.

After the day's work, his contribution has been added to his file, along with any extraneous information: his first 'employer' found his work to be 'impeccable' and later that evening, he received three standing ovations at his performance, a tic worth noting by any traveling groups looking for singers.

But Pete is not finished with his day, no-- He doesn't have to come back to work tomorrow-- the classic photos can be organized by another qualified person. As a matter of fact, if the computer notices he's out very late, it will automatically cancel his work for the next day, and if he has been drinking, will provide him with a hangover remedy when he gets home!

Pete prefers to exercise some more... in the arms of a lovely magenta-haired woman from the next enclave who had been at, and enjoyed, his concert! When looking over her profile he noticed that she has listed, among her many talents, her sexually adventuresome libido. She slips into his arms and coyly suggests the Slide, which is a Sex Playground favorite-- two and a half miles of smooth, slippery fun! The entrance to the clear lexan slide is a hundred stories in the air and just an elevator ride away. It is lubricated with a light, minty oil; the couple begins their descent slowly, on a barely perceptible ramp, and while they slide, strategically placed 'fingers' reach out to invigorate them. They begin making love, and seemingly on cue the slide increases its descent rate, the oil becomes more viscous and at some point they seem to be in free-fall! Vigorous activity inspires the slide to become more choppy, with sharper turns and shorter, bumpier drops. Their music of choice emanates throughout the tube, as is their chosen air temperature and scent.

Somewhere towards the end they both experience powerful orgasms, made even more so by pheromones pumped into the air. Pete and his partner are deposited, spent, onto a floating bed raft at the bottom of the slide, which casually makes its way to a stop after navigating a winding, enclosed river seemingly floating through a dark and florid jungle. It settles into a closed and private nook where they rest; when they are ready, they open the door and emerge near the water spa to clean up and relax in any of several unique environments.

Pete hugs and thanks her, and they part for home. In the SDV he records the evening verbally, too tired to write, answering the program's prompted questions, many of which make their way into public record. His own data has put her in his 'most favored' section, along with descriptions of some of her most delightful techniques, plus those talents of his own that she seemed to enjoy-- most notably a lick/suck/bite that brought her to the edge of climax several times. She too recorded her impressions of the evening, and unbeknownst to him she has recommended him to several of her closest friends!

It's finally bedtime for our Perfect World friend Pete White, after a very busy, very productive day. Tomorrow he spends at the beach with friends. The program has already made the necessary arrangements.

Across the globe and within each dwelling, every person experiences their own version of a wonderful day, day after day, from the moment they become aware of being aware until they close their eyes forever. Their hopes and dreams become reality with regularity. Their pains and stresses, reduced unconditionally. Exposed to the vast stretch of human experience, creativity and emotion, each soul picks for themselves a life packed with experience and awe, leaving them sated and fulfilled and eager to share and learn.

Welcome to the Perfect World.

Copyright 2009 Bruce Ian Friedman