Welcome to
Science a GoGo's
Discussion Forums
Please keep your postings on-topic or they will be moved to a galaxy far, far away.
Your use of this forum indicates your agreement to our terms of use.
So that we remain spam-free, please note that all posts by new users are moderated.


The Forums
General Science Talk        Not-Quite-Science        Climate Change Discussion        Physics Forum        Science Fiction

Who's Online Now
0 members (), 181 guests, and 2 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Latest Posts
Top Posters(30 Days)
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 19
F
Junior Member
OP Offline
Junior Member
F
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 19
Automated systems are already flexing their muscle in the biology world. We could never have sequenced the human genome in such a timely manner without the help of machines that grew in efficiency as the project unfolded.

In addition, the much-hyped nanobot? cell-repair machines will become available within the next two decades to automatically maintain; even improve all biological structures.

Supercomputers are quickening advances in every scientific field with their ability to perform thousands, millions; eventually billions and trillions of simulations that can turn research dreams into real world accomplishments.

One day, these powerful automated systems will not require human guidance ? they will automatically establish goals and determine best ways to accomplish those goals.

Should we fear these futuristic systems? The answer is no, because there is nothing to prevent us from one day transferring these powerful intelligent system?s abilities into our brains.

We would simply replace our slow-calculating biological neurons with non-biological ones that can handle supercomputer-speed processing.

Think of the tremendous advantages in decision-making. We develop an idea, or face a situation, and immediately our mind can run billions or trillions of simulations all within a nano-second or two, and voila! We make a totally accurate and correct decision, always.

Future machines will serve us ? then merge with us. This is not something we should ignore or fear; it is something we should look forward to with great joy!

.
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 901
B
Superstar
Offline
Superstar
B
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 901
Quote:
Originally posted by Futuretalk:
Should we fear these futuristic systems? The answer is no...
We should probably fear people who think that we have nothing to fear. Many advances in technology have bought unforseen problems. Why do you think you have this one bagged up?

In fact, in terms of risk, this is massive.

I hope we have a greater degree of maturity and learn from previous mistakes.

Blacknad.

Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 901
B
Superstar
Offline
Superstar
B
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 901
Quote:
Originally posted by Futuretalk:
This is not something we should ignore or fear; it is something we should look forward to with great joy!
GREAT AND UNSURPASSABLE JOY!! YES!! AMEN!!!

I name you 'CYBER-BISHOP' and 'TECHNO-ZEALOT'.


Blacknad.

Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 901
B
Superstar
Offline
Superstar
B
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 901
Quote:
Originally posted by Futuretalk:
Think of the tremendous advantages in decision-making. We develop an idea, or face a situation, and immediately our mind can run billions or trillions of simulations all within a nano-second or two, and voila! We make a totally accurate and correct decision, always.
If we ran a billion simulations, we still need to pick the right one in the end. We all know that if someone is faced with two choices - a right one and a wrong one - they have more than enough ability to pick the wrong one. What good will a billion choices make?

I think you're getting a little carried away.

Blacknad.

Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 19
F
Junior Member
OP Offline
Junior Member
F
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 19
Two possible futures

Those who advocate a ?negative? future often fail to understand how advancing technologies interplay with each other, which often results in exponential growth.

Nano-assemblers, expected by as early as mid-2020s promise a number of breakthroughs that will change the way we live; our dependency on fossil fuels, methods of transportation, and ways in which we maintain our health.

True, over the next two decades, WMD attacks are extremely likely, but as intelligence advances, these violent activities should not get out of hand to the point of endangering civilization?s existence.

Each ?negative? encounter we experience in our trek towards the future pushes advances that will help develop corrective measures to offset those bad situations.

There are two possible futures in store for humanity. One where we stumble along and allow radical religious groups to influence us with their efforts to impede progress and resist change; or a brighter future filled with the knowledge that exponential advances in science and technology will one day provide a ?paradise? life for everyone on Earth.

The choice is ours, and this writer believes that humanity will find its paradise.

Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 901
B
Superstar
Offline
Superstar
B
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 901
Quote:
Originally posted by Futuretalk:
True, over the next two decades, WMD attacks are extremely likely, but as intelligence advances, these violent activities should not get out of hand to the point of endangering civilization?s existence.
"as intelligence advances..."

So you think all suicides bombers are dumb?

All Generals fools?

Hannibal a half-wit?

What has intelligence got to do with it?

Blacknad.

Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 901
B
Superstar
Offline
Superstar
B
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 901
Quote:
Originally posted by Futuretalk:
Each ?negative? encounter we experience in our trek towards the future pushes advances that will help develop corrective measures to offset those bad situations.
FutureTalk,

So all of our negative experience of war has totally irradicated war?

We have been warring for thousands of years - from Nation States to Family Feuds. Do you see any sign of it abating? Are we learning from experience?

Currently one of the most advanced counties in the world is killing Iraqis by the shed load. It has had its fair share of negative war in the past. Has it reduced its appetite for it since Vietnam?


FutureTalk, you need to get your head out of Sci-Fi books and into the real world.

Learn a little less about nano-assemblers and a little more about people.

Blacknad.

Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 901
B
Superstar
Offline
Superstar
B
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 901
Quote:
Originally posted by Futuretalk:
There are two possible futures in store for humanity. One where we stumble along and allow radical religious groups to influence us with their efforts to impede progress and resist change; or a brighter future filled with the knowledge that exponential advances in science and technology will one day provide a ?paradise? life for everyone on Earth.

The choice is ours, and this writer believes that humanity will find its paradise.
So you are just another evangelist promising us paradise. The earth may well become a paradise - but not while humans live on it.

Blacknad.

Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 19
F
Junior Member
OP Offline
Junior Member
F
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 19
War and terrorism are two sided.

Terrorists fight to defend against what they view as ?a threat to their culture?, as capitalist entities try to push change into their local cultures. Most countries in the world view these terrorist activities as misguided and wrong, but they still happen.

When Bush received permission from Congress to invade Iraq, he stated in an interview that, ?God was on his side?, and implied he was guided by his religious beliefs ? this brought criticism from many who believe church and state should remain separate. Now, some believe that faulty intelligence helped drive the Iraq invasion.

I doubt anyone knows for sure whether the world would have been better off if Saddam were left in power; we cannot relive the past.

However, if civilization is to advance forward, it must learn to settle strife and disagreement in less violent ways. Wars and terrorism have the potential to snowball into horrific actions with soon-to-come biotech and nanotech weapons that could easily wipe out all life on Earth.

Learning to get along with each other and become a ?happy global family? has to become reality before we can expect to achieve our potential. Will we make it? Positive futurists believe we will.

Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 901
B
Superstar
Offline
Superstar
B
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 901
Quote:
Originally posted by Futuretalk:
Learning to get along with each other and become a ?happy global family? has to become reality before we can expect to achieve our potential.
Agreed. It's just that, unlike you, I don't have high hopes that technology advances alone will do the job. In fact, technology advances may well allow us to hurt each other more effectively and in greater numbers.

Blacknad.

Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 175
R
Senior Member
Offline
Senior Member
R
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 175
I'm with Uncle Al when he praises the miracle that is the flushing toilet, but I also agree with John Ralston Saul's observation that:

"As technology, and with that economics, has become our obsession, so our imagining of conscious, intentional human development and relations has become more difficult"


Link Copied to Clipboard
Newest Members
debbieevans, bkhj, jackk, Johnmattison, RacerGT
865 Registered Users
Sponsor

Science a GoGo's Home Page | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact UsokÂþ»­¾W
Features | News | Books | Physics | Space | Climate Change | Health | Technology | Natural World

Copyright © 1998 - 2016 Science a GoGo and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5