| ||
Random quote: "The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' (I found it!) but 'That's funny ...'" - Isaac Asimov - (Added by: whargoul) |
I have seen the future, and it's pretty damn cool. Moderators: Admin Jump to page : 1 Now viewing page 1 [25 messages per page] | View previous thread :: View next thread |
General Discussion -> Off Topic | Message format |
Administrator |
| ||
Admin Posts: 4004 Location: Dallas, Texas | This is from TED: "Sixth Sense" wearable tech. You've got to see it all the way to the end. http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/pattie_maes_demos_the_sixth_sense.html This is the kind of thing that my children will take for granted in a few years. | ||
jynnantonnyx |
| ||
Uber User Posts: 64 Location: Dallas, TX | I don't think I'm the only person creeped out by this sort of technology, even while admitting that it is incredibly cool. There's something disturbing about tech that proposes to do our thinking for us. For instance, there was a time when I memorized phone numbers, even if I had them written down in a phone book, because I never knew when or where I might need to call somebody. As soon as I got my first mobile phone, I slowly dropped the habit of memorizing numbers and let my phone do the thinking for me. Every so often I realize how easily I could lose every phone number I have if I only lose my phone. As Neil Postman once wrote, all technological progress is a faustian bargain. Every technological benefit arrives with an accompanying deficit, without exception; even if the benefit outweighs the deficit, some damage is going to be done by each technological change. It's a "three steps forward, two steps back" sort of thing much of time, but sometimes it's two steps forward and three steps back. The latter regression is the stuff of which dystopian-future fiction is made. It especially disturbs me in this video that the tech exists to create a sort of "profile" for any person you come across, either in the form of a tag cloud or (I suppose) a summary pulled from a database. Our information fetish is already creating massive privacy problems, and this will only exacerbate the problems. It's getting to the point where we begin to distrust people who don't have online profiles on Blogger or Facebook. (I even feel put out if someone I know doesn't have an Amazon wish list attached to his email address.) Information technology is developing at such a rate that we are unable to prevent the damage caused every time a disgruntled employee runs off with a company laptop. Personal information is precious and volatile, and we're tossing it around like napalm-filled balloons. | ||
Administrator |
| ||
Admin Posts: 4004 Location: Dallas, Texas | jynnantonnyx - 2009-03-16 9:44 AM It especially disturbs me in this video that the tech exists to create a sort of "profile" for any person you come across, either in the form of a tag cloud or (I suppose) a summary pulled from a database. I'll have to agree with you here. I love all the bits of this device save for the profiling part. It reminds me of Cory Doctorrow's Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom . In it, everyone is permanently wired from an early age. They can see your "Woofie" frofile, which is a kind of prestige level a person achieves in a society that does not use currency etc. It's an instant class identification system that I found disturbing when I read it. Perhaps there's a limited use for that kind of technology for law enforcement or medical services. It would be a huge benefit if a policeman could see what he's up against when he approaches a suspect. For an EMT or doctor they could instantly see prior medical conditions that in an emergency could save a life. Of course, if the technology exists somebody will use it for nefarious purposes. Bit of a Pandora's Box. | ||
jynnantonnyx |
| ||
Uber User Posts: 64 Location: Dallas, TX | Yes, if the profiling tech were limited to government & medical uses only, that would truly place a great deal of power in a very few hands. Better that it be outlawed entirely than it be monopolized by Big Brother. | ||
jynnantonnyx |
| ||
Uber User Posts: 64 Location: Dallas, TX |
| ||
Pierre |
| ||
Member Posts: 38 | I just read the April 2, 2010 article on Techland, interview with Ray Kurzweil. I thought of writing my comments here to get some opinions from fellow SF connoisseurs. The article is located here: http://techland.com/2010/04/02/an-interview-with-ray-kurzweil/ While I agree the first half of this century will bring a convergence of medical, electronics and other technologies, I cannot adhere to the dystopian view of Kurzweil in his related predictions (implants and other enhancing apps). The mere ethical and moral issues brought up will surely negate any (un)intended misuse of some of the technology and applications described. Kurzweil in fact describes forms of control that society is unlikely to sanction, with perhaps the exclusion of military applications that will abound (who said war is moral?). If I grasp further correctly the ramifications, this would form the base of a creation of an elite society. To be able to instantly "download" all information into your brain would certainly redefine competitiveness. At best, some of the predictions are speculative and pure conjecture. At worst: Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated. . | ||
htaccess |
| ||
Veteran Posts: 207 | Reminds me of Bill Joys "Why the future doesn't need us" ( http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/8.04/joy.html ). Not sure I agree with him or Kurzweil, but I owe him a debt since I use vi(m) every day ( http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/09/11/bill_joys_greatest_gift/ ). | ||
Jump to page : 1 Now viewing page 1 [25 messages per page] |
Search this forum Printer friendly version E-mail a link to this thread |
Books
BOOK AWARDS
Hugo Award
Nebula Award
BSFA Award
Mythopoeic Award
Locus SF Award
Locus Fantasy Award
Locus FN Award
Locus YA Award
Locus Horror Award
August Derleth Award
Robert Holdstock Award
Campbell Award
World Fantasy Award
Prometheus Award
Aurora Award
PKD Award
Clarke Award
Stoker Award
Otherwise Award
Aurealis SF Award
Aurealis Fantasy Award
Aurealis Horror Award
Andre Norton Award
Shirley Jackson Award
Red Tentacle Award
Golden Tentacle Award
Legend Award
Morningstar Award
Nommo Award
BOOK LISTS
Classics of SF
SF Mistressworks
Guardian: The Best SF/F
NPR: Top 100 SF/F
Pringle Best 100 SF
Pringle Modern Fantasy
SF: 101 Best 1985-2010
Fantasy 100
ISFDB Top 100
Horror 100
Nightmare Magazine 100
HWA Reading List
Locus Best SF
200 Significant SF Books by Women
David Brin's YA List
Baen Military SF List
Defining SF Books:
50s | 60s | 70s | 80s | 90s
SF by Women Writers
A Crash Course in the History of Black Science Fiction
Authors
Top Authors
All Authors
All Women Authors
Author Videos
AUTHOR AWARDS
Damon Knight Memorial
World Horror Convention
WFA Life Achievement
Cordwainer Smith Rediscovery
AUTHOR LISTS
Starmont Reader's Guide
Publishers
Top Publishers
All Publishers
PUBLISHER LISTS
Ace Doubles Series:
D | F | G | H | M | #
Conversation Pieces
Classic Library of SF
Critical Explorations in SF&F
EP Masterpieces of SF
Fantasy Masterworks
SF Masterworks
Laser Books
Liverpool SF Texts and Studies
Author's Choice Monthly
Pulphouse Short Stories
Winston SF
Resources
Podcasts
BookTubers
Magazines
Conventions
eBooks
Bookstores
SF/F/H Sub-Genres
Websites
Clubs & Groups
WWEnd
BookTrackr™
The Responsible Parties
WWEnd Patrons
Support WWEnd
Advertise on WWEnd
FAQ
Contact Us
My World
Sign Up now and enjoy the enhanced features only available to members.
Blog
2024 British Fantasy Awards Winners
2024 British Fantasy Awards Shortlists Announced
2023 Nommo Awards Winners
2024 World Fantasy Award Finalists
2024 Aurora Award Winner
Forums
Home | © 2024 Tres Barbas, LLC. All rights reserved.
(Delete all cookies set by this site) | |