# Tiny Bytes: Mechanical Ents

**Published by:** [ldnovak](https://paragraph.com/@ldnovak/)
**Published on:** 2022-07-20
**URL:** https://paragraph.com/@ldnovak/tiny-bytes-mechanical-ents

## Content

Hello, Today, I want to take a break from how encryption will break and jump into some world building. One of the ideas that initially got me gong was how could Ents exist but be created by technology. Here’s the idea:BackgroundRedwoods in California start to die. No one knows why but their bark starts falling off and they become structurally unsound. Eventually the bark that falls off is replaced with artificial bark. Initially, the replacement bark just mimics the original bark. It has a rigid structure, gets placed on a tree, and bark grows over it (either by the tree or biological science). Over time the replacement bark gets mode advanced. Sensors are added to monitor the tree’s health and the area around them. Bluetooth/other is used to help the trees communicate locally (or mixed with natures natural ability to communicate). Some trees have the ability to spray liquids to help stop forest fires. As we get more data on the trees we begin to understand them more. Analyzing that data and combining it with NLP allows use to see the trees’ thoughts. We learn to talk back to the trees. The bark can send signals to the trees. Also, at this point, most of nature is some combination of tree/bacteria (currently exist) and devices with AI/introduced support organisms (future introductions). Communicating we have subtle ways to communicate with each -- i.e., communicate with the tree. This allows a type of two way conversation with trees. With conversation comes novelty. Some trees are given a set of mechanical eyes and a mouth. Some are a novelty and others are for convenience (the trees can also communicate with personal electronics). Of course, different areas debate different rules about communicating with trees. Different implementations, policies, changes of human movements, and different amounts of care lead to different outcomes for trees. Some tree’s artificial bark no longer looks like bark but just metal. Some have movement and can sway to the light. Some have the ability to move by their roots to make relocating trees easier.Imagined ConversationHi Tree, how are you? The soil is dry and it has not rained. I am thirsty. The whole valley is like this. Is that why you are here? No, I am here to see the views. The views are quite pretty. I hope they last. There is trash near my roots. Could you please pick it up? (not sure what tree personalities are yet)Ecosystem(This will take much more work) Different trees will take different amounts of human involvement to survive. However, as time goes on the ecosystem needs to support these trees. There has to be bacteria/organisms that help recycle the parts on the trees. They last a while but there needs to be something. There also has to be a way that the artificial bark lasts for many, many years. I also imagine that the tree seeds eventually are supported by some kind of technology. The seeds can be fragile and helping the seed grow + get sensors is important. That’s the quick idea for now. I also thought about if I wanted to live in this world. If technology touches everything is that a good world? I’m not sure. I DO want there to be systems that exist without human help (fully automated). What happens to an ecosystem built on technology is is self sufficient and humans leave? What happens if IT NEEDS humans and they leave? Night, Lucas

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