Is I Robot the future of humanity?
Discussion
plasticpig said:
Two scenarios.
1. Breakthroughs in nanotechnology increase human lifespans and eradicate disease. Everything is self repairing and replicating. Resources effectively become infinite as scavenger nanobots are spread across the solar system to mine resources.
2. Breakthroughs in nanotechnology leave the world drowning in grey goo.
1. Breakthroughs in nanotechnology increase human lifespans and eradicate disease. Everything is self repairing and replicating. Resources effectively become infinite as scavenger nanobots are spread across the solar system to mine resources.
2. Breakthroughs in nanotechnology leave the world drowning in grey goo.
Computers in cars already decide to stop humans doing some things that could be dangerous but not neccessarily at the time the human is trying to do it.
The future starts, IMO, with the collapse of the US empire (yes I know it's not really an empire - I'm just simplifying their global influence and foreign policy). They - and we - will lose WW3 to China, who will win by forcing the West to spend itself to death, a bit like the arms race in the cold war but not with weapons. I think that the US in particular is going to spend itself into bankruptcy trying to keep up technologically and in the export market with China.
At some point in the middle of all this Iran or North Korea might either nuke someone, or get nuked by the US in case they might be planning to nuke someone.
Remember, you read it here first.
The future starts, IMO, with the collapse of the US empire (yes I know it's not really an empire - I'm just simplifying their global influence and foreign policy). They - and we - will lose WW3 to China, who will win by forcing the West to spend itself to death, a bit like the arms race in the cold war but not with weapons. I think that the US in particular is going to spend itself into bankruptcy trying to keep up technologically and in the export market with China.
At some point in the middle of all this Iran or North Korea might either nuke someone, or get nuked by the US in case they might be planning to nuke someone.
Remember, you read it here first.
Alfanatic said:
I think that the US in particular is going to spend itself into bankruptcy trying to keep up technologically and in the export market with China.
Out of curiosity, rather than argument, could you provide some examples of Chinese technological innovation? Not manufacturing of others IP. I just don't recall anything.
randlemarcus said:
Alfanatic said:
I think that the US in particular is going to spend itself into bankruptcy trying to keep up technologically and in the export market with China.
Out of curiosity, rather than argument, could you provide some examples of Chinese technological innovation? Not manufacturing of others IP. I just don't recall anything.Currently however,is more difficult.
AshVX220 said:
I think we're (western civilisation) possibly living in the best of times and places right now.
No global conflict (yet, or in the foreseeable future).
No, massive disease, or starvation or real poverty.
WW3 will happen at some point I guess, but I think what an earlier poster wrote is correct, it will be global revolution, where the sides are no where near clearly defined rather than a World War as we know. However, that will possibly get out of hand and result in the use of Nukes etc.
It will be started on purpose, by organised factions (terrorists etc), and possibly kicked off fully with the detonation of small Nukes in various locations around the world.
For example, you don't win a world war by fighting everyone, you get everyone to fight each other and then take over what (if anything) is left.
With money having such control over everything and the markets, Eurozone etc really struggling, governments spending more than they are ever going to get back in Taxes, IMHO, it's only going to get worse, starting in about 5-10 years.
My life has been fairly easy compared to my ancestors (WW1 and WW2 etc) and compared to what I think future generations will have to put up with. Hence why I think this is the best time to be alive.
If there is to be another global conflict, I don't think it'll be a traditional country-versus-country, weapons-versus-weapons bust-up.No global conflict (yet, or in the foreseeable future).
No, massive disease, or starvation or real poverty.
WW3 will happen at some point I guess, but I think what an earlier poster wrote is correct, it will be global revolution, where the sides are no where near clearly defined rather than a World War as we know. However, that will possibly get out of hand and result in the use of Nukes etc.
It will be started on purpose, by organised factions (terrorists etc), and possibly kicked off fully with the detonation of small Nukes in various locations around the world.
For example, you don't win a world war by fighting everyone, you get everyone to fight each other and then take over what (if anything) is left.
With money having such control over everything and the markets, Eurozone etc really struggling, governments spending more than they are ever going to get back in Taxes, IMHO, it's only going to get worse, starting in about 5-10 years.
My life has been fairly easy compared to my ancestors (WW1 and WW2 etc) and compared to what I think future generations will have to put up with. Hence why I think this is the best time to be alive.
I think it'll be a kind of huge class conflict. People disenfranchised with politics and economics, mass unemployment etc - I get a real sense that Europe could suffer dangerous civil conflicts if it carries on. The conflict will be in the form of very serious underground disruption, highly organised via the internet. I'm thinking big IT infrastructure collapse, big strikes and blockades, maybe even the odd assassination here and there. Think the Red Brigades and the Baader-Meinhof gangs, only better-organised, better-targeted and with more popular support.
I think most people see very deep levels of venality and corruption at the heart of politics and finance, and they're sick and tired of feeling powerless to do anything about it.
randlemarcus said:
Alfanatic said:
I think that the US in particular is going to spend itself into bankruptcy trying to keep up technologically and in the export market with China.
Out of curiosity, rather than argument, could you provide some examples of Chinese technological innovation? Not manufacturing of others IP. I just don't recall anything.Also, a quick google of China and innovation reminds me that the same article pointed out that China is now starting to file more patents than Western countries.
This rather old article from 2010 seems to cover both sides of the story.
http://www.economist.com/node/17257940
On the Deus Ex/augmentation bit, this sort of thing was predicted in the game in the eBook articles lying around:
http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/emerging-tech/2012/05/...
This technology will just be refined now to the point where any mechanical augmentations or separate machines (i.e. cars) can be directly controlled by the brain.
On the nanotechnology bit, carbon nanotubes and other graphene/fullerene structures will form the basis of many products in the future, but one thing there is some concern about is the toxicity. Nanotubes can pass straight through cell walls and have been shown to cause ill effects in rodents akin to the fibrosis related diseases such as asbestosis and silicosis. Following a lot more research, this could be a huge limiting factor to the extent of use of fullerenes. If you are involved in a crash in a carbon nanotube material vehicle, you could be exposed to the fragmented particles. It would have to be a big crash though as the specific strength of the stuff is 500 times that of high carbon steel.
http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/emerging-tech/2012/05/...
This technology will just be refined now to the point where any mechanical augmentations or separate machines (i.e. cars) can be directly controlled by the brain.
On the nanotechnology bit, carbon nanotubes and other graphene/fullerene structures will form the basis of many products in the future, but one thing there is some concern about is the toxicity. Nanotubes can pass straight through cell walls and have been shown to cause ill effects in rodents akin to the fibrosis related diseases such as asbestosis and silicosis. Following a lot more research, this could be a huge limiting factor to the extent of use of fullerenes. If you are involved in a crash in a carbon nanotube material vehicle, you could be exposed to the fragmented particles. It would have to be a big crash though as the specific strength of the stuff is 500 times that of high carbon steel.
MiseryStreak said:
On the Deus Ex/augmentation bit, this sort of thing was predicted in the game in the eBook articles lying around:
http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/emerging-tech/2012/05/...
This technology will just be refined now to the point where any mechanical augmentations or separate machines (i.e. cars) can be directly controlled by the brain.
On the nanotechnology bit, carbon nanotubes and other graphene/fullerene structures will form the basis of many products in the future, but one thing there is some concern about is the toxicity. Nanotubes can pass straight through cell walls and have been shown to cause ill effects in rodents akin to the fibrosis related diseases such as asbestosis and silicosis. Following a lot more research, this could be a huge limiting factor to the extent of use of fullerenes. If you are involved in a crash in a carbon nanotube material vehicle, you could be exposed to the fragmented particles. It would have to be a big crash though as the specific strength of the stuff is 500 times that of high carbon steel.
Very good point regarding augmentation, that probably will be the next big thing, that and brain / computer interaction (hopefully not via a fricken big spike as in the Matrix).http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/emerging-tech/2012/05/...
This technology will just be refined now to the point where any mechanical augmentations or separate machines (i.e. cars) can be directly controlled by the brain.
On the nanotechnology bit, carbon nanotubes and other graphene/fullerene structures will form the basis of many products in the future, but one thing there is some concern about is the toxicity. Nanotubes can pass straight through cell walls and have been shown to cause ill effects in rodents akin to the fibrosis related diseases such as asbestosis and silicosis. Following a lot more research, this could be a huge limiting factor to the extent of use of fullerenes. If you are involved in a crash in a carbon nanotube material vehicle, you could be exposed to the fragmented particles. It would have to be a big crash though as the specific strength of the stuff is 500 times that of high carbon steel.
Immortality via virtual worlds? You might need to save up for a few big external hard drives first though
Efbe said:
TBH I'd say logan's run is more the future.
if not that, then 1984,
Funnily I was thinking of Logans run the other day.if not that, then 1984,
I spent a few days on some hospital wards full of old people in great pain marble clearly gone and I couldn't help thinking carousel might be a better way.
1984 isnt the future, its here now. Thought crime is alive and well.
No the outcome will be no humans, they will be wiped out by bacteria, viruses, germs and parasites that have been bread by humans to be resistant to all of the antibiotics, pesticides and piosons we are using on them now.
Just look ar bed bugs making a comeback in the american hotels!
Just look ar bed bugs making a comeback in the american hotels!
Whitefly Swatter said:
No the outcome will be no humans, they will be wiped out by bacteria, viruses, germs and parasites that have been bread by humans to be resistant to all of the antibiotics, pesticides and piosons we are using on them now.
Just look ar bed bugs making a comeback in the american hotels!
Should never have got rid of the telephone sanitisers Just look ar bed bugs making a comeback in the american hotels!
Twincam16 said:
Butter Face said:
Have you not seen Wall-E?
That, my friends, is where we're headed.
It's worrying. I think everyone should be made to watch that film and allow it to guide a lot of future decision-making.That, my friends, is where we're headed.
A lot of people see the fact it's a Disney animation with cartoon depictions of humans, but in reality it's serious dystopian sci-fi with a veneer of child-friendliness applied for mass-market appeal. Superb film, but yes, very very worrying.
maybe I'm missing the point of most dystopias, but it makes a point 1984 et al either miss, ignore, or shroud so heavily in allegory that I've missed it - our doom won't come from governments using technology to better oppress us - it's from our own brains being completely unable to cope with the impact it's having on our lives. I also enjoyed Asimov's Robot series - whilst possibly slightly more abstract, a similar idea. Each class of humanity dominated by its own neuroses. Terrific read(s)
Whitefly Swatter said:
No the outcome will be no humans, they will be wiped out by bacteria, viruses, germs and parasites that have been bread by humans to be resistant to all of the antibiotics, pesticides and piosons we are using on them now.
Just look ar bed bugs making a comeback in the american hotels!
The period of human history during which we have had access to those products has been very short, and much of humanity still doesn't have access to them.Just look ar bed bugs making a comeback in the american hotels!
paranoid airbag said:
maybe I'm missing the point of most dystopias, but it makes a point 1984 et al either miss, ignore, or shroud so heavily in allegory that I've missed it - our doom won't come from governments using technology to better oppress us - it's from our own brains being completely unable to cope with the impact it's having on our lives. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_shock
Interesting that it hasn't happened, despite the book being 42 years old.
Gassing Station | Science! | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff