Community Forums => General Chat => Topic started by: Stogi on December 02, 2008, 01:50:16 AM
Title: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: Stogi on December 02, 2008, 01:50:16 AM
I've been stirring this idea around in my head for sometime and as time goes by, it becomes more and more true.
Whenever you have a problem, where do you turn? It's almost always to someone or something wiser than yourself; a book, a friend, or a parent. Now that the internet is expanding and becoming more and more apart of our daily lives; how are you solving your daily problems? If you don't know the answer to a question, where do you turn? Where else but the internet?
Today is becoming more about how to find information than actually knowing the information. It's astonishing how easy and quickly we can become instant experts about very complex ideas (http://www.newscientist.com/search?query=%22instant+expert%22&fromdate=&todate=&rbauthors=&rbissueno=&resultview=keyword). If I don't know something, you can be sure I can find out. That's what this new age is about. And this is just through text. Web 2.0 brought more complexity to the internet, but what about Web 3.0? Could they put an end to books and texts as we know it?
Now some historians have called this generation the "dumbest" but why? Because we don't know who the 24th President is? Or we don't know where a certain country is? Give me two seconds and I can find out for you. Do you see what is happening here? Do you see what will happen here?
Can you explain why when one man has discovered something, that ten people like him around the world also discover it immediately afterward? Is there already a collective consciousness?
But I digress. It seems like tech companies are racing towards one ultimate goal: communication; the faster, the easier, the better (but of course, under their system only). The race is becoming more and more competitive; with technologies becoming smaller and more precise. Everyone is wanting to be the "next"; the next iPod, the next Razor, the next iPhone. It's been 7 years since the iPod was released and now look at the technology we have access to. Can you imagine what we can't live without 7 years from now?
NOTE: I saw today a commercial for a new phone that allows webcam like chat over your cellphone. This has been in Japan for quite sometime, but it's astonishing how quickly our technology is moving. Soon enough it'll be the staple, I'm sure.
Companies who plan to become rich shouldn't be thinking about the next iPod or the next iPhone. No, no, they should be thinking about the next infrastructure, the next base for technology to climb to. Do you really think in 10 years that our cellphones and TV screens will be anything like they are today? There are already screens out now that can literally fold and wrap around itself and nanotechnologies and chemical sciences that have literally shrank the size of a computer chip to a speck of dust. Technology is coming. It's coming fast; really fast. And in the end, you will have two personas: yourself and your digital self. Both of whom are just as important and literally feed off each other in a symbiotic type of relationship.
Can you picture the technology of the future? Can you picture your lives in the future?
For instance, I have a lot of ideas of what will literally shatter the perceptions and the foundations of how we learn (especially in classes and universities around the world) that I am keeping tight lipped about; but I'd like to say one thing: interactivity is the key. There is nothing more engaging and more interesting than interaction. The act of change or the ability to change: it is why we do everything. Think about it.
Now, I don't know why I am writing this; perhaps because I plan to make my fortune with technology or maybe the intangible feeling of catching and writing down your thoughts; but what I do know is that science will rule the world. Hell, ever since we dropped the bomb it already has. Still, someday, when our collective thought can finally be tapped into and our goals and aspirations for our world can finally utilize the entire worlds energy, where we focus on problems with all our might; it is science that will prevail. The natural laws of this world will tumble and make way for a transition that literally scares the living hell out of me. It is then that we will find out what humans really are: innately good or innately evil.
Title: Re: The New World.
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on December 02, 2008, 02:04:37 AM
Lay off that Force, Luke.
Title: Re: The New World.
Post by: Mario on December 02, 2008, 02:07:27 AM
Then an asteroid hits the earth in 2015 and we start all that from scratch again, and Reggie won't survive because he hasn't played Disaster.
Title: Re: The New World.
Post by: Stogi on December 02, 2008, 02:14:39 AM
I actually believe if we make it passed 2050, we could handle an asteroid heading for earth.
Title: Re: The New World.
Post by: RABicle on December 02, 2008, 05:11:17 AM
Oh. I thought this thread would be about ERepublik (http://www.erepublik.com/)
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: King of Twitch on December 02, 2008, 12:55:30 PM
"Can you picture the technology of the future? Can you picture your lives in the future?"
Funny you should ask that, we just had a thread about that
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: Stogi on December 02, 2008, 03:45:32 PM
I remember that thread. Pretty funny ****.
It's weird. I was doing this as an experiment to see who would dwell into the philosophical, scientific, and even the business aspects of this discussion, and no one has yet to. I posted a control in another forum and the conversation is becoming more and more energetic, with people responding with thoughts I had yet to come up with.
It's sad. I thought we had the highest ratio of intellectuals on this forum. /cry
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on December 02, 2008, 03:51:36 PM
We're smart enough to not waste our time at work on this.
no offense i has churro
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: Stogi on December 02, 2008, 03:54:34 PM
Yet your willing to waste it with quips?
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on December 02, 2008, 03:58:02 PM
Cheaper in the long run. More efficient thinking vs. time ratio.
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: Stogi on December 02, 2008, 04:04:24 PM
Ya, but aren't you the least bit interested in how technology will shape your future?
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: Bill Aurion on December 02, 2008, 04:27:46 PM
Not really...Outside of videogames, I couldn't care less about the future of technology...In fact, my tastes sort of wish for a regression, as I know in the future there will be the eventual extinction of print media, and I would rather lounge out on the sofa with a book than read it on the computer...Hell, I spend enough time on here as it is!
It also worries me, as a med student, that technology will result in further laziness and worsening health (think Wall-E)...Technology needs to be utilized in a way that makes our lives better, not what makes them easier...Convenience really isn't convenience in the long run...
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: Stogi on December 02, 2008, 04:49:19 PM
Have you heard of E-Ink? You maybe interested in the compromise.
And I completely agree with you. Technology should make our lives better, but it is human nature to simplify the complex; to make what was hard before, easy. And though technology does breed laziness, it also has significant uses in health, and as a med student, you will undoubtedly use the ever changing landscape of technology to rid ailments and disease. So don't bite the hand that feeds you.
And is it too much of a stretch to think that technology could reverse the symptoms of laziness?
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: Bill Aurion on December 02, 2008, 04:53:02 PM
it also has significant uses in health, and as a med student, you will undoubtedly use the ever changing landscape of technology to rid ailments and disease. So don't bite the hand that feeds you.
Well that's why I said "makes our lives better, not what makes them easier"...Technology should have a more ambitious purpose outside of being able to order pizza from the couch using TiVo... =)
And is it too much of a stretch to think that technology could reverse the symptoms of laziness?
Yes, very much so...Trends in obesity and other laziness-induced medical illnesses can attest to that...Back years ago, when kids wanted to have fun, they'd have to go outside...Now kids have TV, computers, and videogames (Wii Fit withstanding)...Who cares about exercise? ='D
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: King of Twitch on December 02, 2008, 05:01:06 PM
WII FIT.
Just yesterday I was looking through the new REI catalogue at the "Suunto Core Multifunction Watch" and was amazed at its ability to keep track of depth/altitude, storm alerts, directions.. then I looked at the $250 price tag and went WHAAT?
In addition to the HD false revolution, the forced digital conversion, and vidya game third parties, it's easy to see that the future is always limited by short-term quest for $$.
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: Stogi on December 02, 2008, 05:23:14 PM
it also has significant uses in health, and as a med student, you will undoubtedly use the ever changing landscape of technology to rid ailments and disease. So don't bite the hand that feeds you.
Well that's why I said "makes our lives better, not what makes them easier"...Technology should have a more ambitious purpose outside of being able to order pizza from the couch using TiVo... =)
And is it too much of a stretch to think that technology could reverse the symptoms of laziness?
Yes, very much so...Trends in obesity and other laziness-induced medical illnesses can attest to that...Back years ago, when kids wanted to have fun, they'd have to go outside...Now kids have TV, computers, and videogames (Wii Fit withstanding)...Who cares about exercise? ='D
That maybe true, but never has physical perfection been so wanted than in today's society. People are probably exercising more for the sake of exercise than ever before. And as we learn more, we know more. Such as what is good for us and what isn't. Our society has built a huge market on health and health products. I'm not talking about medicine, I'm talking about Kashi cereal and non-fat yogurt. So while you maybe correct, there is another side to the coin.
Just yesterday I was looking through the new REI catalogue at the "Suunto Core Multifunction Watch" and was amazed at its ability to keep track of depth/altitude, storm alerts, directions.. then I looked at the $250 price tag and went WHAAT?
In addition to the HD false revolution, the forced digital conversion, and vidya game third parties, it's easy to see that the future is always limited by short-term quest for $$.
Money will always be the fuel for innovation. Most people want to believe that the people handing out money to researchers are doing it for a charitable cause, but that is naivete. New research means a new strangle hold on the market and ultimately more money.
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: Bill Aurion on December 02, 2008, 05:28:50 PM
That maybe true, but never has physical perfection been so wanted than in today's society. People are probably exercising more for the sake of exercise than ever before. And as we learn more, we know more. Such as what is good for us and what isn't. Our society has built a huge market on health and health products. I'm not talking about medicine, I'm talking about Kashi cereal and non-fat yogurt. So while you maybe correct, there is another side to the coin.
This magical interest in health has little to do with technology and more to do with the aftermath of discovering what technology has been doing to people... ;)
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: ShyGuy on December 02, 2008, 05:33:41 PM
bring on the dark ages.
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: Stogi on December 02, 2008, 05:36:25 PM
That maybe true, but never has physical perfection been so wanted than in today's society. People are probably exercising more for the sake of exercise than ever before. And as we learn more, we know more. Such as what is good for us and what isn't. Our society has built a huge market on health and health products. I'm not talking about medicine, I'm talking about Kashi cereal and non-fat yogurt. So while you maybe correct, there is another side to the coin.
This magical interest in health has little to do with technology and more to do with the aftermath of discovering what technology has been doing to people... ;)
Not really. It's the other way around. It's technology that allows us to look at health in a new light and ultimately analyze what our habits are doing to people's well being.
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on December 02, 2008, 06:21:25 PM
I pay attention when the cool stuff gets conveniently smaller and cheaper.
My cell phone... does almost nothing. I typically receive no more than 2 calls a week, and make no more than 1 call a week. Average weekly phone time: <60sec.
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: DAaaMan64 on December 02, 2008, 08:45:26 PM
In this new era, is it pronounced ear-uh or air-uh?
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on December 02, 2008, 08:57:00 PM
ARRuhh
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: ThePerm on December 02, 2008, 10:33:18 PM
the technology i pay most attention to is sd cards. Their price keeps climbing downward. were entering a world where great technology will e widely available at low prices. Optical media sucks ass. I can't think of how many time i've screwed up a cd or a dvd because of some problem, or made a cd or dvd and then found something i wanted to put on it. 8gb sd cards can be found in some places for $17 (Fry's electronics phoenix, arizona) Pretty soon 16gb cards can be found for the same price. At this point a person can fit a couple dvd movies on them. Other than the internet already has, this will revolutionize how quickly we can move information.
Daaman64, depends on where in the sentence i say Era. ex 1. End of an earuh. ex 2. In this Aira the dinosaurs were huge.
same with either
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: ShyGuy on December 02, 2008, 11:03:54 PM
Maw compooter just had an era. A fatal exception era. THANKS TECHNOLOGY
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: oohhboy on December 02, 2008, 11:38:32 PM
Now days there is an overabundance of information. Sure you could look up pretty much anything on the internet these days. Knowledge is easy to acquire. However a lot of people don't THINK anymore. People mindlessly regurgitate ideas without understanding them. Everything is taken at face value.
Intelligence still isn't as well regarded as physical pursuits. I admit, it's hard to make intelligence a sexy thing, however it doesn't excuse the anti-intellectualism. People bathing in ignorance like fat people in butter.
This is something that technology isn't going to fix. It is a social problem. We may know more, but we aren't any smarter for it.
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: ThePerm on December 03, 2008, 12:19:31 AM
Now days there is an overabundance of information. Sure you could look up pretty much anything on the internet these days. Knowledge is easy to acquire. However a lot of people don't THINK anymore. People mindlessly regurgitate ideas without understanding them. Everything is taken at face value.
Intelligence still isn't as well regarded as physical pursuits. I admit, it's hard to make intelligence a sexy thing, however it doesn't excuse the anti-intellectualism. People bathing in ignorance like fat people in butter.
This is something that technology isn't going to fix. It is a social problem. We may know more, but we aren't any smarter for it.
Isn't intelligence just really the ability to solve problems? The more sophisticated the problem, the more intelligence is needed. Well if that's the case, then we are way more intelligent than we ever were.
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: oohhboy on December 04, 2008, 12:48:25 AM
No, we have fewer people doing more of the thinking now days. It's just that with all the infrastructure the benefits of any given good idea spreads out a lot faster. However I admit due to the ever increasing complex of new ideas, you now need teams of people to develop a lot of them and one man band ideas are becoming a more distance possibility.
Just look at how people handle their finances these days. Haven't got cash? I have credit! Credit card bill coming up? Use another credit card. Oh I just have to have it just because it is on sale. The fact that Bush was voted in for 2 terms based on fear mongering and base emotions is damning enough.
However, this is a all a product of how the world works. Stupid people are easier to control. Whether you want to get elected or sell steak knifes. Make enough stupid people, you control everybody else.
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: Stogi on December 04, 2008, 02:31:48 AM
So what you are saying is that we have less people thinking? Where is your proof? We've hit Moore's law every step of the way? Why the sudden lack of faith?
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: DAaaMan64 on December 04, 2008, 04:22:33 AM
Hey ooohboy, forget about the politics ban?
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: oohhboy on December 04, 2008, 07:21:32 AM
Yeah, I am cutting it a bit close. :-X
I don't believe that people are inherently Good or Bad, but as a whole are inherently stupid. Having worked retail, I have seen how stupid people can be. Sure there are smart ones out there, but they are far out numbered. As a former pizza delivery, I have seen things that can't be unseen, some of the worse that humanity has to offer, at least in a civilized setting. The increasing number of people that find blowing themselves up as part of the solution, not part of a problem.
I have done my part in exploiting stupid people as well. It was small time stuff back in school loan sharking and all. But to see it operate and work on such are scale. They come at you through the TV, internet, on trucks. The systematic de-powerment is amazing. I know how easy it is to become like that. When a person becomes a number or dollar sign it's just easy to stripe away their resources.
However as bad as that sounds, humans will and has always found a way to keep going, make progress, good or bad. Throw enough monkeys at a typewriter you very well may get Shakespeare.
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: EasyCure on December 04, 2008, 11:28:48 AM
I don't believe that people are inherently Good or Bad, but as a whole are inherently stupid. Having worked retail, I have seen how stupid people can be.
Oh, i agree ;) (http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/forums/index.php?topic=26795.msg470784#msg470784)
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: Stogi on December 04, 2008, 03:30:17 PM
I don't believe that people are inherently Good or Bad, but as a whole are inherently stupid. Having worked retail, I have seen how stupid people can be. Sure there are smart ones out there, but they are far out numbered. As a former pizza delivery, I have seen things that can't be unseen, some of the worse that humanity has to offer, at least in a civilized setting. The increasing number of people that find blowing themselves up as part of the solution, not part of a problem.
I have done my part in exploiting stupid people as well. It was small time stuff back in school loan sharking and all. But to see it operate and work on such are scale. They come at you through the TV, internet, on trucks. The systematic de-powerment is amazing. I know how easy it is to become like that. When a person becomes a number or dollar sign it's just easy to stripe away their resources.
However as bad as that sounds, humans will and has always found a way to keep going, make progress, good or bad. Throw enough monkeys at a typewriter you very well may get Shakespeare.
Wow. As much as I hate stupid people, it doesn't compare with your loathing. Monkeys, typewriters?! LOL
You need to learn to deal with it. There will always be more stupid people than smart people, but it's the smart ones that rule the world. What's so bad about that? This is getting a little off topic. Still, I do believe that technology may make an even greater rift between the smart and the stupid.
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: ShyGuy on December 04, 2008, 03:38:21 PM
Let's talk about politics in New Zealand. I have a right to say how that country should run itself.
mods lock this thread and temp ban all posters.
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: Stogi on December 04, 2008, 03:47:12 PM
Don't Hate.
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on December 04, 2008, 03:56:50 PM
One could argue technology is creating more "stupid people" (as opposed to simple or unintroduced). A negative impact of today's "conveniences" can be the de-emphasis of critical thinking (not the same as intelligence). Less critical thinking there is to do on a basic level for living life and participating in society, less practice you get.
See game reviews.
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: King of Twitch on December 04, 2008, 04:19:49 PM
WW temples
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: Stogi on December 04, 2008, 04:34:33 PM
One could argue technology is creating more "stupid people" (as opposed to simple or unintroduced). A negative impact of today's "conveniences" can be the de-emphasis of critical thinking (not the same as intelligence). Less critical thinking there is to do on a basic level for living life and participating in society, less practice you get.
See game reviews.
I disagree. If technology can form the basis for people to never work hard labor jobs such as farming, mining, and factory working, then people can focus on creative fields including everything from science to art and music.
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: vudu on December 04, 2008, 05:49:50 PM
Oooboy's right. People are getting stupider. Intelligence isn't being able to spew random facts. It's problem-solving and the ability to create new solutions to existing (and future) problems. Technology is a large part of this. (They don't call it the idiot box for nothing.)
I can't remember the last time I read a book for enjoyment. (Damn you, Faulkner.)
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on December 04, 2008, 06:38:59 PM
One could argue technology is creating more "stupid people" (as opposed to simple or unintroduced). A negative impact of today's "conveniences" can be the de-emphasis of critical thinking (not the same as intelligence). Less critical thinking there is to do on a basic level for living life and participating in society, less practice you get.
See game reviews.
I disagree. If technology can form the basis for people to never work hard labor jobs such as farming, mining, and factory working, then people can focus on creative fields including everything from science to art and music.
I disagree. You'd have to assume there's some amazing economic climate that would support such a utopia. And to shift away from production-labor would imply first shifting to service-labor, as the U.S. has been experiencing since the transition out of the Industrial Revolution. But if service labor was also eliminated, then we'll just have a society of brainy people and consumers? And with technology so good, it sounds like there's much less down-to-earth day-to-day problems to solve, so how are people getting those practical learning experiences (but why bother "learning" when you can Google things or download WiFi data into the memory card in your left buttock)? These conditions sound very inviting for... lazy people.
Maybe you imagine clean-cut living like on Star Trek.
I imagine the usual lasting cycles of economic inequality that leads to piloting a flying taxi cab in The Fifth Element.
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: UltimatePartyBear on December 04, 2008, 06:43:55 PM
And with technology so good, it sounds like there's much less down-to-earth day-to-day problems to solve, so how are people getting those practical learning experiences?
Video games?
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: Stogi on December 04, 2008, 06:51:19 PM
Hmmm....good point.
I'm just arguing for the sake of arguing. Both sides should be brought to the forefront. I'm honestly less interested in how our economy will work and more interested in how technology will shape our future; our health, our skills, our lives.
It's hard to debate against the times. Things have always worked in a "gods and clods" manner. Still, as we become more intelligent, is it at the very least possible for us to change the way the world works? If not, then why are we trying so hard?
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on December 04, 2008, 06:58:05 PM
And with technology so good, it sounds like there's much less down-to-earth day-to-day problems to solve, so how are people getting those practical learning experiences?
Video games?
Hearing about kids running away when their dad confiscates their xbox, kids pulling GTA car theft and assault stunts, people playing online games and dying in 'net cafes, game reviews, WoW, HD Street Fighter... tough to say
EDIT: In light of current events, add Bank Robbering wearing a Triforce Hat to the list.
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: EasyCure on December 05, 2008, 11:39:34 AM
Wow i thought unclebob was kidding when he sent me a text message about just that!
IT WAS HIM HE DID IT!
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on December 05, 2008, 04:09:36 PM
EDIT: add Boys Strangle Kitten with Game Controller after playing GTA to the list.
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: Stogi on February 17, 2009, 03:41:23 PM
Bump
I wish just pondering to myself, while sitting at work watching this video export, about how technology learns from nature. I just read an article about how the light-scattering structures that make butterfly wings so striking could be used to make cheaper, more efficient solar cells. I remember reading earlier last year about how a beatle's shell could divert water using little crevasses and when replicated by nanotubes, water could be transported on the tiniest of scales. It's interesting what we might learn next from seemingly uninteresting sources. Nature always seems to be a step ahead.
Which brings me to my next point. Could technology one day be completely organic in its manufacturing, structure, and ability?
Could we grow computers?
Title: Re: The Dawning of a New Era
Post by: ThePerm on February 21, 2009, 04:42:04 PM
with new robots like Asimo how can we improve space travel? I propose a Pikmin strategy a man with control of 50 robots. Also, is asimo's brains internal or external. I think if they had a larger computer remotely controlling a little robot you could have a more intelligent seeming robot. That remote computer cannot be Hal though
