Visions of the future

[ryokimball]

I'm cleaning house while listening to the new Bungie podcast, and they mentioned "the future of gaming," which got me thinking...
There's a lot of ideas out there. Nanobots, cybernetics, revolutionary things that not only change the way we see the world around us but the world itself and ourselves. What do you see as the biggest ups and downs of future technologies? Do you think people will be willing, once the technology becomes available, to surgically implant devices into their eyeballs so that they can see computer displayed information without the need of an external monitor of any sort? Curing the blind, the deaf, et cetera are great applications of such technologies, but what about the negative, such as the very idea of hacking one of those eyeball-integrated to create a black screen across the eye (such technologies would have to be wireless...)?

And what of the social or grand-scheme technologies? I remember Bill Gate's keynote thingy where he had a little device that he could point at different scenes and automatically get information about a place... what about different levels or uses of this such as (as mentioned, or at least I misinterpreted from the podcast) graffiti or integrating video games into real life (digital treasure hunts in the real world, for instance)?

I just want to see your thoughts on the topic.

[Cabhan]

Earlier this year, I read Ray Kurzweil's The Singularity is Near. He basically talks about the rise of nanotechnology, more powerful computers, and what the future of AI will bring. For those not familiar with transhumanism, the Singularity is the moment at which we invent an AI that is capable of improving itself: due to the incredibly superior performance of computers over the human brain at this point, technology and its performance will skyrocket, ushering in a new age of human augmentation.

When we get to the point that human augmentation is possible, I believe that it will ultimately be adopted. I mean, already, we are making devices that help deaf people to hear, amputees to use robotic limbs, etc. Now imagine if we could extend our reflexes, improve our mental capacities, process information at the speed of a computer, increase our lifespans to an incredible length, etc. Obviously the adoption will not be instant, since there will no doubt be early complications, but the same can be said of LASIK surgery.

Also, as Kurzweil points out (paraphrased): "no doubt some people will refuse to get involved, but they won't be around too long to influence the debate".

A lot of Kurzweil's suggestions involve nanotechnology, and it certainly seems that this has the potential to change the world. It will be very exciting to see where this technology is in 10 years.

[fingal]

For me the most potentially negative effect of some new technologies is the way they appear to isolate people from their immediate surroundings. Computers are useful tools, but I worry that people (myself included) rely on them too much... What about face to face interaction, and enhancing our relationships with each other? I'm seeing a decline in this, but an increase in remote communication.

Nano-technology seems almost certain to be highly significant, but there's also a lot of talk about quantum computers. Integrate quantum computing with AI, and you have something not unlike a brain... but more focused, faster and utterly devoid of anything with a human conscience. There must be failsafes built into devices like these, assuming they can ever really achieve rational thought.

There seems to be an assumption that computers will enhance our lives, but I'm no longer certain of this... What about the wider global problems we're now facing? Wars, environmental degradation, economic problems; we have to realise that technology might benefit the few, while causing problems for the many. Technology without a conscience might be dangerous if misapplied, and this is the theme of a lot of science fiction.

The medical benefits of quantum mechanics seem enormous, but we're human beings and I can imagine that we're going to invent new and exciting ways to kill each other as well... using the same technology. Of course all this is idle speculation: I really have no idea!

[Thrillhouse]

The more I contemplate the distant future, the more I'm glad I won't be around to see it.

[elija]

If you want a (probably) accurate vision of the future, then you
should without a doubt read this.

The chapter on why the future won't be like Star Trek is wipe the tears away
funny.

[thesimplecreator]

have you ever seen I Robot ?
hopefully will smith is there to save us haha

[the0wl]

Nano-technology seems almost certain to be highly significant, but there's also a lot of talk about quantum computers. Integrate quantum computing with AI, and you have something not unlike a brain... but more focused, faster and utterly devoid of anything with a human conscience. There must be fail-safes built into devices like these, assuming they can ever really achieve rational thought.

Ever hear of Isaac Asimov's "Three Laws Of Robotics?"

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Yeah. Me too... Somehow, I see "The Powers That Be" (TPTB) adopting a more Colossus/Guardian or "SkyNet" approach, under the arrogant belief that they can actually control it.

There seems to be an assumption that computers will enhance our lives, but I'm no longer certain of this... What about the wider global problems we're now facing? Wars, environmental degradation, economic problems; we have to realize that technology might benefit the few, while causing problems for the many. Technology without a conscience might be dangerous if misapplied, and this is the theme of a lot of science fiction.

How about technology driven by greed and control? C'mon now... RFID on the products we buy, in "smart" credit cards, in the 2009-mandated "Real ID," on license plates by 2011, and prospects for injecting them into "criminals" which are being discussed by corporations and governments now? How far is that from being injected into newborns? I'm not Judeo/Christian/Islamic, but I do understand their prophetic "mark of the beast..."

The medical benefits of quantum mechanics seem enormous, but we're human beings and I can imagine that we're going to invent new and exciting ways to kill each other as well... using the same technology. Of course all this is idle speculation: I really have no idea!

Maybe you don't have any ideas, but I and several others have plenty, and that definition of "plenty" scares me to my core. But it likely won't matter if TPTB have their way...

[darkrose0510]

Anyone here a Doctor Who fan? Think Cybermen.

"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."

[fingal]

Anyone here a Doctor Who fan? Think Cybermen.

Yes - a life long fan. And I think about 'cybermen' a lot, everytime I catch the bus and see people using iPods.

[elija]

Yes - a life long fan. And I think about 'cybermen' a lot, everytime I catch the bus and see people using iPods.

It's the blue tooth ear pieces that make me think of Cybermen. I find myself
checking for the second one