Christmas tree machine

Christmas tree machine

A Christmas tree machine is a concept in science fiction referring to a modestly sized device which, given a few raw materials, can produce almost anything imaginable, and in great volume. (Thus, for the owner of such a machine, it is always "Christmas morning"). A Christmas tree machine may be a nanotechnological molecular assembler, or a highly advanced 3D printer, or be based on as-yet unknown technologies.

The term "Christmas tree machine" is often used with satiric or ironic intent, as in science fiction writer Charles Stross' [http://www.accelerando.org/_static/toughguide.html#ChristmasTreeMachine Tough Guide to the Singularity] .

Numerous examples of Christmas tree machines exist in recent science fiction:
* Star Trek's Replicator Machine


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