From: Ziana Astralos (zianastralos@yahoo.com)
Date: Thu Sep 28 2000 - 21:02:42 MDT
--- J. R. Molley (jr@shasta.com) writes:
> Right, he uses the term "cybernetic totalism"
"Cybernetic totalists", huh? It's just about a
requirement for a paper like that to come up with an
ominous-etc term for the subject of the diatribe. :-)
> to refer to the Kurzweil-Moravec-deGaris-Drexler
> constellation of concepts which point to
> technological singularity. His manifesto is
> constrained by limiting itself to computers and
> software (his areas of expertise) -- with only a
> cursory glance at biotechnology and nanotechnology.
> He insufficiently analyzes (imo) the explosion of
> robotics laboratory work.
I agree. It's easier to dispute a large concept if you
ignore most of it ;-)
> Who would not agree with him that software has
> failed to keep up with hardware development? No news
> there.
Just pointing out the obvious.
> But why doesn't he mention recent consilience of
> machines with humans (cyborg technology)?
Yes, why indeed??
> He jokes that robots of the future will stall when
> their computer operating systems crash.
Wow, I haven't heard *that* one before... ;-)
> His manifesto seems to me a whining diatribe
> motivated by his own frustrating experience with
> computers.
That was my impression as well.
> But for anyone terrified of the future and its
> accelerating technologies,
Too many of those.
> Lanier's essay might serve as a soothing
> tranquilizer. He seems to imply, "Stop fretting
> folks. The future will fail, so we can all get back
> to our desks to work on those darned spreadsheets."
Yeah, until this stuff does happen, and then it'll be
a lot harder to ignore and/or dismiss it.
> "Greetings, flesh-forms! I am Kevin Warwick of
> Reading University, cyborg freedom fighter from the
> 22nd century.
I thought that was 'Kevin Reading of Warwick
University'. :-) Kevin Warwick's the real guy.
> My era is very different to yours - civilisation has
> been destroyed and humanity almost wiped out in the
> long wars
Hey, let's sell the movie rights! ;-)
> against the giant, battery powered
"It keeps going, and going, and going..."
> "robot football team",
Ooh, they've advanced to football! Those 22nd-century
robots sure have developed beyond the merely
soccer-playing bots of the 21st century! :-)
> and a sinister, skeletal "electric cat".
Bleh, and all we have is cute, friendly "electric
dogs"!
> But some fragments of our ancient history remain,
So now a hundred years or so makes history 'ancient'?
Woah.
> passed down from one cybernetically enhanced forearm
> to another
Forearm's not a very efficient location.
> - and, in thoserecords, one name stands out above
> all others. That name is Kevin Warwick of Reading
> University - the most important human being who
> ever lived."
> http://www.kevinwarwick.org.uk/
I dunno about that. Just because he's headed in that
direction doesn't mean he'll get there first. :-)
Aumentar!
Onward,
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