Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Something for us oldies to ponder



H/T to Tessa over at Nuts & Mutton for this riveting clip of the state of our world and where we could possibly, maybe, uncertainly be going with it. Unlike some, I'm a little disappointed that I'll more than likely be checking out before we develop an easier relationship with technology.

And the thought of having a computer with a capacity that exceeds the combined intelligence of every inhabitant on the planet does frighten me. So maybe we are heading towards serfdom with artificial intelligence as our supreme being.

8 comments:

  1. That was an impressive video clip. My mind can hardly grasp it. What do we do with all those babies? Hopefully, there are an equal number of people dieing, or we're up shit creek. Earth can't cope with that many people, it will be an overload.

    And you know what? I live in this tiny little country of 16 million people. That's nothing! It's insignificant. Yet somehow we have to matter to the world.

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  2. I'm not frightened by what's happening, I'm just amazed and awe-inspired. The rate at which technology and information is developing is staggering. Human adaptability is obviously the important thing if everything is changing so rapidly that what you're studying is out of date by the time you graduate, and new jobs are replacing familar ones at such a pace.

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  3. impressive stats but are we collectively any smarter by having all this technology stuff?

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  4. Wow! Lots of amazing stats presented there. They're a bit scary when presented in that style.

    We absorb developments gradually, though, as a species, and things don't seem nearly as dramatic as we live through them all in real life as they might if presented as in the video.

    Looking back to my childhood and comparing how things were then to now, seems dramatic, but the changes were gradual as experienced in real life.

    I think these new changes will feel similar to those who have opportunity to live through them all, because this group started at a higher notch on the scale, so to them it'll feel much like the changes in our lives seemed to us -a gradual evolution. They have already become used to faster rates of change, so will not find any further speeding up so worrying.

    We'll probably not be around then, but I wish we could spy on what'll be going on down/up here. ;-)

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  5. Irene:
    Yes, I believe unbridled population growth is one of the biggest threats to humanity.
    And it can only be resolved through the empowerment of women, IMHO.
    XO
    WWW

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  6. Nick:
    Yes, the rate of change is astronomical indeed. But my granny used to say the same thing. She was born before motor cars, radios and saw the birth of TV, planes and paved roads.
    I think there comes a point in later life when we're quite willing to let the young handle the rapidity of new change.
    XO
    WWW

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  7. GFB:
    Not at all, I was particularly riveted by all those honours students in India far outpacing the US students.
    We have become far too reliant on technology.
    XO
    WWW

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  8. T:
    I'm amazed at the adaptability & tech. comprehension of our young people.
    For instance my granddaughter figured out a TIVO here in 5 seconds flat. I'd been playing with the buttons for weeks and was crazy from frustration!
    XO
    WWW

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