Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
How integrated will we eventually get? Will we ever reach a point where a new technology comes along that will allow faster and more intimate interaction between people and society shouts that technology down as going "too far?"
I think humanity's experience with networking is still in it's infancy. The printing press was invented in 1450 and over the course of 500 years it transformed many aspects of humanity--revolutions, downfall of nobility, religious upheaval, industrial capitalism, science, enlightenment, new ideologies etc. The web has only been popular since the mid 90s, so by comparison it's likely that we've haven't yet witnessed the biggest transformations that will occur because of it.
There was once a time when to collaborate with my colleagues I would have to share physical pieces of paper with them, which then became files shared on a floppy disc, and later email, and now we can edit the same document live on google, even on via phone while on the couch. This entire evolution for me occurred over the course of about 10-15 years, which time-wise is basically nothing in the large scheme of things. Will our ever-increasing ability to network and interact with others eventually plateau?
It's nice to see that my reputation precedes me in a topic other then Pueblo.
This is a interesting topic and honestly there are many aspects to which I would like to address.
First off you say google. Don't get caught up on any one company. The advancements we are seeing in information technology is happening world wide with many companies and while google is a big player this is not the google revaluation but a information technology revaluation.
I think you main question is will we reach a point where we stop advancing exponentially. Well forever is a long time and I would suspect that at some point we could get to a technological level where we do level off. That being said from what I have read we are no where near that point.
Another aspect that is interesting that you brought up is the Borg. I am very familiar with them as I love Star Trek. In fact I have already seen the last movie 3 times and my all time favorite Star Trek movie is the Wrath of Kahn. That being said in my opinion there is no way we could end up like the Borg. Let me explain why:
The Borg was first created for TNG and if you look at them they were essentially what we thought of robots at the time were like with no emotion or feeling just merged with people. That is a common mistake most science fiction movies and tv shows have made and continue to make. We know that information technology does not advance that way as AI already is starting to have emotions and will continue to advance exponentially in all areas. So when we do begin to merge with the technology, it is already starting to happen but will really get into high gear in the 2020's. We won't be emotionless "Borgs" but the exact opposite will happen and society will see a explosion of science, art, creativity, music etc. That is not to say we won't have our challenges as society fundamentally changes as we approach the singularity, we will, we just won't be anything like the Borg. Although I will admit they made for a great adversary.
The reason I suggested Google at this moment in time is because one could imagine a corporate entity like that who could gradually create the most popular integrated platforms with which people interact and collaborate, combined it seems in the future with networking technology that connects billions of people directly. Right now its all about smart phones. Perhaps in the future optical accessories, perhaps far down the line increasingly sophisticated body implants.
So of course the technology is diverse and from various sources, but currently it seems that Google as a corporation already controls the way the vast majority of people interact with the information on the web. Increasingly people have to have Google accounts to then interface with this experience, which then of course is linked to their Android phone (the name itself is a transparent portents of humanity's future). If these interconnected platforms continue to evolve and are ever combined with products/devices that are able to be interfaced with the human nervous system. What faster way to search the web than by networking with the collective consciousness of all other users simultaneously? History suggests it won't be Google precisely, but something like it.
Once billions of people are combined into one networked consciousness, the real fun will begin and there is no way of knowing what that would mean.
Yes, Josseppie your reputation does precede you and it's a good one.
I'm betting on Google. If it's going to happen they, or a spin-off company, will do it. They already seem poised to make that leap and are aggressive enough to make it happen.
The reason I suggested Google at this moment in time is because one could imagine a corporate entity like that who could gradually create the most popular integrated platforms with which people interact and collaborate, combined it seems in the future with networking technology that connects billions of people directly. Right now its all about smart phones. Perhaps in the future optical accessories, perhaps far down the line increasingly sophisticated body implants.
So of course the technology is diverse and from various sources, but currently it seems that Google as a corporation already controls the way the vast majority of people interact with the information on the web. Increasingly people have to have Google accounts to then interface with this experience, which then of course is linked to their Android phone (the name itself is a transparent portents of humanity's future). If these interconnected platforms continue to evolve and are ever combined with products/devices that are able to be interfaced with the human nervous system. What faster way to search the web than by networking with the collective consciousness of all other users simultaneously? History suggests it won't be Google precisely, but something like it.
Once billions of people are combined into one networked consciousness, the real fun will begin and there is no way of knowing what that would mean.
You have just described the technological singularity.
Here is how I see it:
Today to 2019: The big good bye.
I call it this because this is the last decade we will live like we have.
The 2020's: The pre singularity.
I call it this because life will be so different and technology will be advancing so fast people will know the singularity is coming but it won't quite be here.
2030: The start of the singularity.
For the average person this is when they will consider the start of the singularity. By then technology will really be advancing fast and the majority of people, at least in the first world, will have merged with the technology.
2045: The singularity.
This is the mathematical date for the singularity. By then 1 computer that costs $1,000 will be a billion times more intelligent then all the humans today combined.
Last edited by Josseppie; 05-30-2013 at 08:24 AM..
Yes, Josseppie your reputation does precede you and it's a good one.
I'm betting on Google. If it's going to happen they, or a spin-off company, will do it. They already seem poised to make that leap and are aggressive enough to make it happen.
Thank you!
It very well could be google. My point is while we can predict how information technology will advance we can't predict things like what companies will do. There are just to many variables.
First off you say google. Don't get caught up on any one company.
Exactly.
People talk about Google taking over the world, and they might, but Amazon has an awful lot going on, too. Most people think of Amazon as an online shopping mall. That's just one facet of their operation. They do an enormous amount of business "behind the scenes" with various web/cloud based services.
People talk about Google taking over the world, and they might, but Amazon has an awful lot going on, too. Most people think of Amazon as an online shopping mall. That's just one facet of their operation. They do an enormous amount of business "behind the scenes" with various web/cloud based services.
True, but to my knowledge Google is advancing the hardware side more than any other company and that is going to very important to the attainment of the singularity. Assuming it will happen. I do harbor doubt, both about it coming about and the results if it does. Big Brother on an unbelievable scale.
True, but to my knowledge Google is advancing the hardware side more than any other company and that is going to very important to the attainment of the singularity. Assuming it will happen. I do harbor doubt, both about it coming about and the results if it does. Big Brother on an unbelievable scale.
Plus Ray Kurzweil is the director of engineering at Google working on AI.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
