tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806285951476851034.post4248065382864177765..comments2023-04-06T03:58:20.482-04:00Comments on The Everyday People Project: The Internet Changes EverythingSusanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07350532214928944088noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806285951476851034.post-7784182866281437182011-07-18T12:49:07.059-04:002011-07-18T12:49:07.059-04:00Well, here's the definition of the singularity...Well, here's the definition of the singularity: Technological singularity refers to the hypothetical future emergence of greater-than human intelligence. Since the capabilities of such an intelligence would be difficult for an unaided human mind to comprehend, the occurrence of technological singularity is seen as an intellectual event horizon, beyond which the future becomes difficult to understand or predict. Nevertheless, proponents of the singularity typically anticipate such an event to precede an "intelligence explosion", wherein superintelligences design successive generations of increasingly powerful minds. The term was coined by science fiction writer Vernor Vinge, who argues that artificial intelligence, human biological enhancement or brain-computer interfaces could be possible causes for the singularity. The concept is popularized by futurists like Ray Kurzweil and widely expected by proponents to occur in the early to mid twenty first century.<br /><br />Kaku wrote his book predicting future technology after discussions with numerous scientists from many disciplines about in-progress innovations and extrapolating those technologies into the near future. Some of the things he predicts are "flying" (magnetiic) cars, safe, driverless cars, cheap, nonpolluting energy, healthier, MUCH longer lives, ubiquitous nano technology - resulting in merchandise that can change color, shape and function, Internet glasses and contact lenses, etc.<br /><br />These aren't fanciful hopes or dreams but are the likely (imminent?) developments of current innovations. You should really find the time to read read Kurzweil and Kaku because I'm certainly not doing them justice here. Fascinating stuff. <br /><br />I like you print books on demand suggestion but it still can't replace wandering around a bookstore and discovering a new book.Nocomme1https://www.blogger.com/profile/07854461583080704015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806285951476851034.post-76572644800736028622011-07-18T07:00:38.862-04:002011-07-18T07:00:38.862-04:00Nice tease, Eddie. Spill the details for people l...Nice tease, Eddie. Spill the details for people like me who no longer get to read for enjoyment. Singularity? Kaku's predictions?<br /><br />The bookstore phenomenon is a sad one, but I heard about one brilliant idea for survival - print books on demand at a bookstore/publisher. I'd love to run a shop like that!<br /><br />http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/03/22/1344659/bellingham-bookstore-prints-books.htmlSusanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07350532214928944088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806285951476851034.post-38325492594286367952011-07-15T08:38:23.121-04:002011-07-15T08:38:23.121-04:00The speed with which technology has been progressi...The speed with which technology has been progressing has been interesting to me for some time. Society's ability to absorb it is has been the subject of increasing attention. Futurist Ray Kurzweil has made a career out of analyzing and predicting the impact what he and others refer to as the impending "Singularity".<br /><br />The particulars of what the next hundred years of tehnological advances is likely to look like is examined in detail in physicist Michio Kaku's latest book, "The Physics of The Future". The advances he foresees will look like magic to us here in the early part of the 21st century. (Arthur C. Clarke once famously said that, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."). I saw Kaku speak at the Boston Museum of Science a few months ago and he very convincing on the subject.<br /><br />While I enjoy the benefits of all this change as much as the next guy, I'm certainly not immune to the feeling of being caught unhappily off guard. Over the last few months whenever I want to go to a book store, you know, a place where you can actually by a book with real paper pages, I find that I practically have to make a day trip of it, so many book stores closing recently that the travel time required to find one makes it almost (but not quite) not worth the effort.<br /><br />The times they are a'changing, Sue. For good and bad.Nocomme1https://www.blogger.com/profile/07854461583080704015noreply@blogger.com