Topic #6: July 15-21, 2012
Facilitator: Ernie Reyes
Ray Kurzweil is a futurist famous for the "Law of Accelerating Returns" that in summary, states that intervals between technological breakthroughs are becoming shorter. He stated that, "... the rate of technical progress amongst humans has also been exponentially increasing, as we discover more effective ways to do things, we also discover more effective ways to learn, i.e. language, numbers, written language, philosophy, scientific method, instruments of observation, tallying devices, mechanical calculators, computers, each of these major advances in our ability to account for information occur increasingly close together. Already within the past sixty years, life in the industrialized world has changed almost beyond recognition except for living memories from the first half of the 20th century."
True enough, we are daily witnesses to the rapid growth of technology and its effects on our lives.
Topic: What do you think are the most significant impacts of our generation's accelerated technological advancement (positive and/or negative) on human existence? Where do you think we're headed?
Ray Kurzweil is a futurist famous for the "Law of Accelerating Returns" that in summary, states that intervals between technological breakthroughs are becoming shorter. He stated that, "... the rate of technical progress amongst humans has also been exponentially increasing, as we discover more effective ways to do things, we also discover more effective ways to learn, i.e. language, numbers, written language, philosophy, scientific method, instruments of observation, tallying devices, mechanical calculators, computers, each of these major advances in our ability to account for information occur increasingly close together. Already within the past sixty years, life in the industrialized world has changed almost beyond recognition except for living memories from the first half of the 20th century."
True enough, we are daily witnesses to the rapid growth of technology and its effects on our lives.
Topic: What do you think are the most significant impacts of our generation's accelerated technological advancement (positive and/or negative) on human existence? Where do you think we're headed?
- Sher Moran Ray Kurzweil focuses on breaking research and cutting edge technology from information technology, bioengineering, Robotics to what not. His concept on the “Law of Accelerating Returns” which is exponentially increasing applies to man’s being more efficient. The question posted: “what do you think are the most significant impacts . . . and where it’s heading?“ Personally I will not touch on these accelerated technological advancement, as it is one too many but will skim a bit on two very important terms today: “Quantum leap” and “Synchronicity”. I hope my few chosen words can do justice to these concepts. Quantum leap and synchronicity are what is happening today. Even the energy of our minds transcends time and space. This 4&6s FB page is not just a coincidence, it was meant to be because of synchronicity. At its simplest analogy to better explain, why do birds form the V shape when they migrate or a school of fish turn left or right, up or down together without “speaking to each other”? The accelerated technological advancement worldwide is a result of these brilliant ideas and mind flow, which to me is the most “mind blowing” realization of information flow. Where is it heading? There is the good and evil, the yin and yang, the risks and karma. Let us just hope that the good type of synchronicity prevails.
- Rey Anthony A. Chan I think we're headed to a wired wireless world where everything has an internet address (v6) and we (some Big Brother) can monitor things remotely.
- Rey Anthony A. Chan Its not something to be afraid of. Its something to embrace and work with. Theres no turning back.
- Ernie Reyes No turning back, indeed! In this day and age, being "left behind" takes on a whole new meaning - if you don't have access to the internet, an email (or even a Facebook) acct, or a mobile phone, you're the odd one out. However, this isn't necessarily a bad thing either. Anyone remember the simple joy of playing in the neighborhood with your friends with just two sticks and some stones? :)
- Sonja Chan I remember even farther than that! Reason enough to look forward to the future, what with this Exponential Growth Technology of Kurzweil. His Singularity Theory is at best impressive, at least, to me but while his futuristic views are optimistic, he himself admits, and warns us, that there are downside effects. He tries to cushion this, though, by saying we do have ways of countering the negative aspects even if not as yet well developed. So a vast new world is up and coming - still to develop from the many technological innovations we have already experienced! One of my interests on this, though, as you would expect, would be on the language area. It is phenomenal how machines now enable the deaf and the blind to experience language like a normal person does. I am most fascinated, in fact, with the text-to speech technology myself, among other things, of course - goes so well with my kindle. :) But side by side with my admiration for the language aspect is my concern with how virtual reality can handle human emotion. I am not really very comfortable with the idea. Are you?
- Ernie Reyes His take on the theory of technological singularity is very intriguing. He was even so bold to predict 2045 as the year this comes about. This "event horizon" supposedly marks the beginning when humans can no longer predict what their future would look like, primarily because the super intelligent computers we create to solve our inefficiencies would do so beyond the capabilites of the human mind. I guess we'll find out in 33 years. :)
- Sonja Chan Right! and as he says, Singularity is Near! 33 years is indeed near! But think about this: - computer intelligence to surpass human intelligence? computers to be present
everywhere in the environment like in your furniture, in your jewelry? distinctions between humans and machines to no longer exist?.... because humans and machines will merge in both the physical and mental realms? That's what his Singularity means! Well, it is true that all these predicted technological advancements benefit mankind specially in the military, the medical, and the educational areas. Among a lot of other things, talk about a reckless driver and the computer will come in to avert an accident! There's even a chance of agelessness! Who wouldn't like that! But the possibility of a computer to be more intelligent than all humans combined scares me...humanity could be then be exterminated by a machine. I detest the fact that the faculties which define me as human be merged with the machine in terms of virtual reality! No turning back? Still I like myself as unadulterated human and you can fight me there! - Ernie Reyes We can certainly see that the outlook for the near future will be one focused on technology. Both ends of the spectrum will include techno-junkies, relationships in cyberspace and virtual realities, to a wireless world that seeks to improve and/or rather impose on our privacy. Advances in artificial intelligence and robotics will soon blur the line between humans and machines, but can never replace what truly defines humanity - feelings and emotions. Those are the two things that, regardless of how "intelligent" a supercomputer may be, prevent it from composing a concerto or writing a sonnet. It is predicted that society will soon be divided into the technologically-savvy and the disenfranchised hold-outs of the modern world. We already see traces of this around us, but the reality is that we cannot stop the forward march, and all we can do is wait - and pick a side.
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