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attempts to 'make money'. In addition, research would be aided even more by the Global Knowledge
Database. For example, let's say someone is trying to come up with a choice material that possesses
certain properties which are required for an experiment. That person would punch these properties into
the Global Database, with some kind of designation that it is a question of materials. The computer
then comes up with a list of as many materials which fit the description as possible, in order of best
match to the demand. This is literally exactly what a search engine today does, but this search engine
contains (ideally) all of the scientific and technical information in its most up to date format at the time.
The database must be continually updated when new theories or ideas are taken in favour of older ones
(although older ideas should never be eradicated completely, since there is always a chance that they
will be needed again). This process would need to be voluntary at first, but would almost certainly
become automated as well, eventually. In this way, scientific research would not only accelerate even
faster, but the educational system would always be based on the most current state of scientific
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knowledge.
There is more to a society than just scientific progress, however. It is critical that a fully
functioning society also provides its citizens with opportunities for personal expression and emotional
stimulation, as realized through a vibrant arts community. Once again, without the hindrance of money,
art would be able to flourish in ways that would simply not be possible today. Too often, potential
artists must put aside their dreams in order to find a job that actually pays well enough for them to
survive. Likewise, many artists end up compromising their artistic vision in order to create something
that is more commercially viable (selling-out). In a society where everyone's basic needs are met
without worry, artistic expression of all kinds would likely explode, thus creating a society that is not
only scientifically and technologically advanced, but is also rich in artistry and culture of all kinds.
Music, poetry, theatre, literature, storytelling, painting, sculpting, philosophy, and all other forms of
expression would at last be free to reveal themselves without worry of censorship or monetary gain. In
order to accommodate the artistic community, every city would need to be complete with a number of
auditoriums and exhibition halls which could be booked on a first-come-first-serve basis. In addition, a
variety of museums and galleries would be present in order to display the artistic contributions of the
citizens. Like scientific research, artistic contributions would also be continually added to the
Knowledge Database in order to further enhance the education system, by offering access to the artistic
works of humanity. So, an RBE would not be some bland, emotionless civilization; it would instead be
a fusion of science and art, which brings logic and emotion into a harmony never before seen. It would
be like a second renaissance that went on indefinitely.
Transportation and Infrastructure
There are few ventures that require more resources, energy, and time than transportation.
Whether we're moving people, cargo, or both, we spend large portions of our lives attempting to move
things from one place to another. To complicate matters further, human controlled transportation is
almost universally dangerous. Whether we're talking about car accidents, oil tanker spills, or pedestrian
collisions, human errors often result in transportation being a risky and life-threatening activity. So, in
an RBE, the transportation system would be set up to maximize efficiency and minimize the need for
human control of any kind.
Short-distance transportation, as well as transportation to remote and rural areas, would be
accomplished mostly through the use of cars, like today. However, these cars would be nothing like the
gas-powered clunkers which rule the road at present. Rather than continuing to rely on the over 100-
year-old technology that is the combustion engine, we would instead switch to entirely electric
automobiles, which produce no pollution and have fewer moving parts that can break down. Electric
cars are not a new idea, but they have traditionally been given a bad reputation due their poor
performance compared to traditional cars, as well as their relatively short driving range. However, these
concerns are now things of the past. A highly advnaced modern electric car is able to travel more than
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