Few things seem more pathetic than a science fiction writer who pines for the “good old days.” Just a whiff of that sort of crippling nostalgia sets off a red alert in the crackling mind of William Gibson, the novelist who coined the term “cyberspace” and is known for his piercing insights into what the future might look like.
http://www.wired.com/underwire/2012/02/william-gibson-geeks-guide/all/1
Russian/American scientist and author, Isaac Asimov, once wrote: Individual science fiction stories may seem as trivial as ever to the blinder critics and philosophers of today — but the core of science fiction, its essence, has become crucial to our salvation if we are to be saved at all.
Big science thinker John Brockman asked scientists around the world one question: what breakthrough will change everything? We’ve got their answers.
The march of computer technology continues. But as silicon chips and search engines become faster and more productive – can the same be said for us?
The creator of Wolfram Alpha describes how his new “computational knowledge engine” is changing – and improving – how we process information. Meanwhile, suffering from data and distraction burnout? Find out what extremes some folks take to stop their search engines.
Also, the Singularity sensation of humans merging with machines… and, why for the ancient Greeks all of this is “been there, done that.” A deep sea dive turns up a 2,000 year old computer!
Guests:
Jo Marchant – Freelance science journalist and author of Decoding the Heavens: A 2,000-Year-Old Computer—and the Century-Long Search to Discover Its Secrets - Stephen Wolfram – Mathematican, computer programmer, and founder of Wolfram Research and Wolfram Alpha - Fred Stutzman – PhD student at the University of North Carolina School of Information and Library Science - Peggy Orenstein – author and contributing editor to the New York Times Magazine, which is where we found her article “Stop Your Search Engines” - Ray Kurzweil – Inventor, futurist and author, most recently, of The Singularity Is Near: When Humans
The World Transformed, Part 9
What is the Singularity? Is it the biggest transformation of all or wishful thinking on the part of nerds looking to have their very own "geek rapture?"
Phil Bowermaster and Stephen Gordon welcome futurist and entrepreneur Ray Kurzweil to discuss how accelerating technological change will soon alter our world beyond recognition…and why that’s a good thing!
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/fastforwardradio/2009/08/19/The-Technological-Singularity
Tagged with singularity ray kurzweil future futurism innovation change ai intelligence
Tagged with singularity cory doctorow future futurism innovation change
Tagged with author:name=michio kaku singularity kurzweil seti ai science space future futurism
Prof Freeman Dyson of Princeton has long been a critic of climate change orthodoxies. Here he talks of his life as a daring proposer of ideas - such as the genetically modified trees to soak up carbon dioxide and kites flying in Antarctica to cause more snowfall and abate sea level rise.