This week our teacher wanted us to elaborate on the paradox of any scientific proof and to write 250 words about our semester topic......
Q1) We discussed in class how there is no such thing as a "scientific proof." Explain in your own words.
A scientific proof is implied to prove a scientific theory. However, if one looks more closely to the subject we can logical state that no scientific theory can be proved. We can first start with the inductive versus deductive reasoning. With deductive reasoning we can prove logic statements or mathematical formulas. Three multiplied by three will always give you the product nine. I the law of deduction is when the truth of a conclusion is shown to follow a logical consequence of the premises and its corresponding conditional premises are a necessary truth. Inductive reasoning can be seen as the premises or statements of an inductive logical argument convey a degree of support for the conclusion but do not entail it. As we can see from here science does not take on the deductive process of math. It is a form of inductive reasoning. Like our professor said, if we observe an apple that is thrown in the air will it always fall? One might say yes, but our prefessor brought up the fact that if we through the apple fast enough the apple could potentially escape earth’s gravity. Thus, this observation is not a complete truth. However, we can say that three times three is still nine. That is why scientific observations cannot be transalted to actual truths.. They show tendencies not certainities.
Q2) Write a new part for your project of 250 words or more.
3) Possible Issues and ImplicationsEthics of trans-humanismLike stem cells there will certainly be issues with the ethics of trans-humanism. The main issue I see is conservative people's values of norms. They do not want their culture to drastically change with technology. Would an elderly person accept a woman with a retractable arm and purple skin? I believe that in the future there will be debates on how long people will be allowed to live with integrated mechanical body parts (assuming that these parts will promote human life span.) We cannot let everyone live forever, because of many issues that would arise. I believe it is in our nature to see both life and death. It is and should be inevitable. Besides, how many people could the earth or any system sustain, especially when you are adding people at an exponential rate.
What is ethics? Ethics can be seen simply seen as what actions we judge to be right and wrong. This is a very subjective phenomenon. When we add trans-humanism to the mix, we complete this subjective phenomenon further. It seems that as time passes by, people’s ideas and beliefs change. These ideas and beliefs effect their ethical viewpoints. For example, some people think that it is ethically wrong to allow interracial marriages. Other people believe that it is unethical to not allow different races to marry. After all, how can we say two people are not allowed certain rights because they do not fit the proper or common situation? If we were a white southern whose parents were racist, would we have an open mind to interracial marriage? It is very hard to say, but we can assume that all ethical viewpoints come from experience and perception. This same logic can be applied to trans-humanism. Would some people think that it is unethical for people to have odd colored skin or retractable arms? Another big issue could arise if we could live forever through trans-humanism. Can we deny someone the ability to live forever? What if our population became to high to sustain. What if we took out our brain and somehow uploaded it to a cyborg. Would we be human or machine? How would a devout Christian or Muslim handle that? These are questions that will certainly arise. As we have seen the in past and the present, people will always differ in their viewpoints of ethics. People have formed prejudices and subjective feelings through their experience and perception. I believe that the further we progress into the future, people as a whole have become more tolerable towards difference. So in summary I believe that a person from 2009 will be less accepting of someone with robotic arms then someone from 2100.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Homework Assignment Nine
REPORT OVERVIEW
1) Introduction to trans-humanism
What trans-humanism is?
Trans-humanism is the integration of human and machine. With this integration man is more capable then without it. Trans-humanism could be implanting hearing aids that make us hear as good as dogs or eye contacts that make us see better then an eagle. Trans-humanism has occurred and probably will not cease to occur until we have all deceased.
Earliest scientists who brought attention to phenomena
There have been many proponents of trans-humanism. My favorite scientist would be Enriquez. He has gone as far as calling trans-humanism the new species of man called homo evolutis. A species that is heavily integrated with machine. We can look at many science fiction writers and argue they were the first people to bring trans-humanism to our attention. However, we need credible scientists to research and show what is tangible.
2) What is on the frontier
Possible applications for trans-humanism
The possible applications of trans-humanism are endless. We can only imagine what the future holds for us. It is almost certain that man will be able to see and hear better. Research is currently being done to put nanobots into the human bodies to prevent and correct illnesses. Not only will man's physical attributes change, but also his mental aptitude. What if we had a recording device that recorded everything we have ever heard or seen. What if we could retrieve this information from a mini-hard drive stored and interfaced with the brain. One's mother probably wouldn't scold them for forgetting to do his or her chores.
How long it will take for progress to be made
Progress is already being made on trans-humanism. We can look at many bio-engineering projects and see that they fit right into the category of trans-humanism. Even if we look at today's technology we can argue trans-humanism has occurred. After all, we do have pacemakers that regulate heart beat, and prosthetics that are mechanical.
3) Possible Issues and Implications
Ethics of trans-humanism
Like stem cells there will certainly be issues with the ethics of trans-humanism. The main issue I see is conservative people's values of norms. They do not want their culture to drastically change with technology. Would an elderly person accept a woman with a retractable arm and purple skin? I believe that in the future there will be debates on how long people will be allowed to live with integrated mechanical body parts (assuming that these parts will promote human life span.) We cannot let everyone live forever, because of many issues that would arise. I believe it is in our nature to see both life and death. It is and should be inevitable. Besides, how many people could the earth or any system sustain, especially when you are adding people at an exponential rate.
Health concerns of trans-humanism
There could be main issues with trans-humanism. People are already concerned with radiation from cell phones. How do we know that a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) integrated into your brain will not give you cancer over long periods of time. Also what if someone as strong and vicious at the terminator started killing people at will. Also what if people start to change the entire appearance of their body. Some people have issues with cosmetic surgery. For example, Jane Doe might have had so many rhinoplasties that her nose was no longer functional. People would want to modify their body to such an extreme is might end up killing them or lessening life rather then promoting it.
4)Probability
What will happen and what won't.
Ethics and laws will have to prevent certain things from occurring. I doubt people will be able to launch rockets from their arms or obliterate people with genocide. But as someone in class said, if there is a law someone will try and break it. I don’t believe we will be able to live forever through trans-humanism. We could run out of resources and there is probably an infinite amount of ways to die. Could we bring a person back to life if there was nothing left but dead cells and DNA? What if you body was crushed to pieces, could we bring your brain back to being? Some of these issues are philosophical, but with time we might see the end results.
Potential Roadblocks
Roadblocks will come from law, ethics, political agenda, and religion. What if law prohibits the study of trans-humanism like stem cell research. We have possible ways of saving lives and it is being ignored because of religious and political views. Some people may also argue that the world could become unstable if enough people became powerful through cybernetics. What if we made a nanobot that we thought would promote life, but turned our changing and becoming the new "bubonic plaugue".
5) Conclusion
Trans-humanism has occurred and will occur. That is an essential point we cannot overlook. Obviously, in the future we will see more of a metamorphosis of our species into a new species that will eventually blend into a half human half machine entities. We will then start to raise questions about the ambiguity that will comes from this technological integration.
6)References
REASONS FOR KEY POINTS
1) Introduction to trans-humanism
In order to explain a theory like Trans-humanism, we must give information about the founding credible fathers and a basis for the theory itself.
2) What is on the frontier?
It is important to show that trans-humanism is occurring and will also advance throughout human history. This key point was made to help us imagine where it will go and what might come up sooner then we think.
3) Possible Issues and Implications
If we see this theory as tangible, then we must talk about the effect it will have. There will be a strong affect on society and we need to address people's perception of trans-humanism. Nothing will occur if the masses or influential people do not agree with it. Also, with any modifications to the human body we must be concerned with health issues.
4)Probability
If we believe this theory is tangible we must look at the probability of it occurring. It is hard to assume something has occurred or will occur is the probability is close to zero. This section will also show that limitations that arise from our technology and human interest.
5) Conclusion
The conclusion gives key points from the report and where trans-humanism will eventually go.
1) Introduction to trans-humanism
What trans-humanism is?
Trans-humanism is the integration of human and machine. With this integration man is more capable then without it. Trans-humanism could be implanting hearing aids that make us hear as good as dogs or eye contacts that make us see better then an eagle. Trans-humanism has occurred and probably will not cease to occur until we have all deceased.
Earliest scientists who brought attention to phenomena
There have been many proponents of trans-humanism. My favorite scientist would be Enriquez. He has gone as far as calling trans-humanism the new species of man called homo evolutis. A species that is heavily integrated with machine. We can look at many science fiction writers and argue they were the first people to bring trans-humanism to our attention. However, we need credible scientists to research and show what is tangible.
2) What is on the frontier
Possible applications for trans-humanism
The possible applications of trans-humanism are endless. We can only imagine what the future holds for us. It is almost certain that man will be able to see and hear better. Research is currently being done to put nanobots into the human bodies to prevent and correct illnesses. Not only will man's physical attributes change, but also his mental aptitude. What if we had a recording device that recorded everything we have ever heard or seen. What if we could retrieve this information from a mini-hard drive stored and interfaced with the brain. One's mother probably wouldn't scold them for forgetting to do his or her chores.
How long it will take for progress to be made
Progress is already being made on trans-humanism. We can look at many bio-engineering projects and see that they fit right into the category of trans-humanism. Even if we look at today's technology we can argue trans-humanism has occurred. After all, we do have pacemakers that regulate heart beat, and prosthetics that are mechanical.
3) Possible Issues and Implications
Ethics of trans-humanism
Like stem cells there will certainly be issues with the ethics of trans-humanism. The main issue I see is conservative people's values of norms. They do not want their culture to drastically change with technology. Would an elderly person accept a woman with a retractable arm and purple skin? I believe that in the future there will be debates on how long people will be allowed to live with integrated mechanical body parts (assuming that these parts will promote human life span.) We cannot let everyone live forever, because of many issues that would arise. I believe it is in our nature to see both life and death. It is and should be inevitable. Besides, how many people could the earth or any system sustain, especially when you are adding people at an exponential rate.
Health concerns of trans-humanism
There could be main issues with trans-humanism. People are already concerned with radiation from cell phones. How do we know that a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) integrated into your brain will not give you cancer over long periods of time. Also what if someone as strong and vicious at the terminator started killing people at will. Also what if people start to change the entire appearance of their body. Some people have issues with cosmetic surgery. For example, Jane Doe might have had so many rhinoplasties that her nose was no longer functional. People would want to modify their body to such an extreme is might end up killing them or lessening life rather then promoting it.
4)Probability
What will happen and what won't.
Ethics and laws will have to prevent certain things from occurring. I doubt people will be able to launch rockets from their arms or obliterate people with genocide. But as someone in class said, if there is a law someone will try and break it. I don’t believe we will be able to live forever through trans-humanism. We could run out of resources and there is probably an infinite amount of ways to die. Could we bring a person back to life if there was nothing left but dead cells and DNA? What if you body was crushed to pieces, could we bring your brain back to being? Some of these issues are philosophical, but with time we might see the end results.
Potential Roadblocks
Roadblocks will come from law, ethics, political agenda, and religion. What if law prohibits the study of trans-humanism like stem cell research. We have possible ways of saving lives and it is being ignored because of religious and political views. Some people may also argue that the world could become unstable if enough people became powerful through cybernetics. What if we made a nanobot that we thought would promote life, but turned our changing and becoming the new "bubonic plaugue".
5) Conclusion
Trans-humanism has occurred and will occur. That is an essential point we cannot overlook. Obviously, in the future we will see more of a metamorphosis of our species into a new species that will eventually blend into a half human half machine entities. We will then start to raise questions about the ambiguity that will comes from this technological integration.
6)References
REASONS FOR KEY POINTS
1) Introduction to trans-humanism
In order to explain a theory like Trans-humanism, we must give information about the founding credible fathers and a basis for the theory itself.
2) What is on the frontier?
It is important to show that trans-humanism is occurring and will also advance throughout human history. This key point was made to help us imagine where it will go and what might come up sooner then we think.
3) Possible Issues and Implications
If we see this theory as tangible, then we must talk about the effect it will have. There will be a strong affect on society and we need to address people's perception of trans-humanism. Nothing will occur if the masses or influential people do not agree with it. Also, with any modifications to the human body we must be concerned with health issues.
4)Probability
If we believe this theory is tangible we must look at the probability of it occurring. It is hard to assume something has occurred or will occur is the probability is close to zero. This section will also show that limitations that arise from our technology and human interest.
5) Conclusion
The conclusion gives key points from the report and where trans-humanism will eventually go.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Homework Eight
Minority Report is a science fiction movie that takes place in the future. The movie is essentially a look into a world where homicide is prevented. In this society, police use Pre-crime to arrest individuals who are predicted to perform a murder. Murders are predicted by 3 Pre-coginitive humans. One of the underlying themes of this story is the paradox of fate versus pre-determinism. In this story we see a man (John Anderton) stuck in the middle of his fate, and his struggle to change it. We cannot tell why he is about to commit murder, but that doesn't matter. In this world you will be held liable for your actions. As we see with the progression of the film, he is in fact innocent and part of an elaborate scheme to hide the inconsistencies of Pre-Crime.
We watched this movie to get incite about the future. The future is a place where we cannot know, only predict. A lot of new technology is shown in this movie. How feasible it is, is very debatable. I was extremely interested in the virtual reality rooms in the movie. In one scene, a man pays to "virtually" kill his boss. We also see a large emphasis on retinal scans. It was interesting to see advertisements that were directed to customers using the retinal scan technology. I like the automated cars, but some of the safely features did not seem realistic. For example, how easily Anderton exited the car in a chase scene. The weapons and transportation the Pre-crime police used was very interesting. The eye transplant "healing" scene was exciting. We see what kind of screening processes the future may hold. However, I believe in the future law enforcement will be able to see through walls, because this technology is already in development. The movie did have more weak points, like every other science fiction movies. For example, Anderton's knack for escaping was impeccable. We see even now, that it is very hard for anyone to be discrete. One could only assume that the advancement in technology would make it impossible for someone to hide in the future.
All in all, this is an interesting movie that combines philosophical implications of the future with high tech gadgetry.
I will see Dr. Berleant this week about the presentation of semester topic.
We watched this movie to get incite about the future. The future is a place where we cannot know, only predict. A lot of new technology is shown in this movie. How feasible it is, is very debatable. I was extremely interested in the virtual reality rooms in the movie. In one scene, a man pays to "virtually" kill his boss. We also see a large emphasis on retinal scans. It was interesting to see advertisements that were directed to customers using the retinal scan technology. I like the automated cars, but some of the safely features did not seem realistic. For example, how easily Anderton exited the car in a chase scene. The weapons and transportation the Pre-crime police used was very interesting. The eye transplant "healing" scene was exciting. We see what kind of screening processes the future may hold. However, I believe in the future law enforcement will be able to see through walls, because this technology is already in development. The movie did have more weak points, like every other science fiction movies. For example, Anderton's knack for escaping was impeccable. We see even now, that it is very hard for anyone to be discrete. One could only assume that the advancement in technology would make it impossible for someone to hide in the future.
All in all, this is an interesting movie that combines philosophical implications of the future with high tech gadgetry.
I will see Dr. Berleant this week about the presentation of semester topic.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Homework Assignment Seven
For this assignment, our teacher wanted us to organize our semester topic.....
I took all the information I could find from my blog that dealt with trans-humanism. I wish I had more information, but this a compilation of the material I could find from my blog.
2) Homo Homo Sapiens dominance of world population. (I looked at a new form of human evolution. This evolution would be a integration of technology with the human body. This new "species" would eventually replace the Homo Homo Sapien race.)
* a) http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/SmallBiz/story?id=6854658&page=1 (This article gives vague information on the pursuit of Homo Evolutis by Jaun Enriquez, CEO of a biomedical company)
* b) http://hplusbiopolitics.wordpress.com/2009/02/09/homo-evolutis-the-backlash/ (This article talks about backlash Enriquez has experienced because of his definition of human Evolution. This provides a rare and interesting perspective that brings about more questions of Homo Evolutis.)
* c) http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20090305-tows-oz-live-longer/2 (This article gives detailed information on ways to prolong life with state of the art technology.)
There is a second part to our homework. We needed to apply TRIZ to our semester topic. My topic is trans-humanism. Trans-humanism is only on the verge of its emergence. We can use a hearing aid as a prime example. Hearing aids now help people who cannot hear well. One day we will be able to branch out hearing aid capability with the advancement of technology. We could eventually give people who do not need hearing aids better hearing ability. This could play an advantage when hunting (you could hear the game from further distances),etc. We could also make regenerable body parts. This could help a person who has a depletion of certain cells that are pivotal to maintaining a healthy life.
We then had to take ten TRIZ items and apply them to our topic.
Universality: make one thing do more than one thing. Our ears could implanted with a device that could not only make us hear better, but receive wireless signals that our brain could interpret.
Anti-weight: counter heaviness with flotation. We could implant artificial life vests into our body to stay afloat on water.
Preliminary action: do something to an object before it is needed. We could have a sensor that tells us if our heart rate was abnormal.
Partial or excessive action: Do a little too much or too little, then fix. We could make our hands faster for typing purposes by implanting a mechanism in the hand.
Cheap short-lived objects: throw it away afterwards. We could make cheaper prosthetics. Any amputee could have a throw away arm.
Color changes: change color or transparency of object or environment. We could modify the color of our skin to match our environment.
Phase transitions: We could make our skin warm up in cold temperatures or cool down in hot temperatures.
Pneumatics and hydraulics: use gas and liquid instead of solid parts. We could use hydraulics to make us some jump higher.
Self-service: something serves itself. We could program our body to do certain things that our mind might find strenuous. Like mowing the yard.
Continuity of useful action: elimination of break. We could wire our bodies to stay up longer then what our body and mind are used to. For example, we could have someone stay up the entire day so they can monitor a security system
Homework Assignment One Excerpt:
I started to read the various topics. First and foremost transhumanism stuck out to me right away. I had previously watched a video on TED.COM that was about this exact subject. A brilliant scientist named Juan Enriquez hypothesized that humans would evolve into a new species. A species that was heavily integrated with machines. He called this new species homo evolutis. These species would be better then modern day man to adapt to their environment. For example, with the improvement of hearing aid technology, humans will probably be able to hear better then we can now. The link for this lecture is: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/juan_enriquez_shares_mindboggling_new_science.html
I searched everyone blog I could find from my fellow classmates. The only excerpt that I found pertinent was the Triz application performed by Doug Ulrich. ( These possibility expansions of trans-humanism will give me more incite into what the future may hold.)
Different finger configuration (4-fingers? 3?)
-Weaponized (claws, spikes, etc.)
-Cloaking technology
-Internal Harddrive (USB in finger)
-Utility fingers (interchangable at will for different functions) (keys, tools, showy occasions)
-Advertising
-Storage compartment
-Programmable Fingerprint (can change fingerprint at will to avoid detection or trick locks)
-Installable macros in hand (to perform automated tasks)
-Custom fingernail growth (color, texture, growth pattern)
-Detachable & Remote Controllable (think Thing from The Addams Family)
-Wireless syncing with electronic devices (use hand movements as a remote control)
-Add new senses (sense composition of material, echolocation, etc.)
Part 2)
Our teacher wanted us to create an outline for our topic....
Outline for trans-humanism report:
1) Introduction to trans-humanism
5) Conclusion
Part 3)
Our teacher wanted us to try to categorize our blog information to fit our outline.
1) Introduction:
I started to read the various topics. First and foremost transhumanism stuck out to me right away. I had previously watched a video on TED.COM that was about this exact subject. A brilliant scientist named Juan Enriquez hypothesized that humans would evolve into a new species. A species that was heavily integrated with machines. He called this new species homo evolutis. These species would be better then modern day man to adapt to their environment. For example, with the improvement of hearing aid technology, humans will probably be able to hear better then we can now.
2)What is on the frontier?:
Universality: make one thing do more than one thing. Our ears could implanted with a device that could not only make us hear better, but receive wireless signals that our brain could interpret.
Anti-weight: counter heaviness with flotation. We could implant artificial life vests into our body to stay afloat on water.
Preliminary action: do something to an object before it is needed. We could have a sensor that tells us if our heart rate was abnormal.
Partial or excessive action: Do a little too much or too little, then fix. We could make our hands faster for typing purposes by implanting a mechanism in the hand.
Cheap short-lived objects: throw it away afterwards. We could make cheaper prosthetics. Any amputee could have a throw away arm.
Color changes: change color or transparency of object or environment. We could modify the color of our skin to match our environment.
Phase transitions: We could make our skin warm up in cold temperatures or cool down in hot temperatures.
Pneumatics and hydraulics: use gas and liquid instead of solid parts. We could use hydraulics to make us some jump higher.
Self-service: something serves itself. We could program our body to do certain things that our mind might find strenuous. Like mowing the yard.
Continuity of useful action: elimination of break. We could wire our bodies to stay up longer then what our body and mind are used to. For example, we could have someone stay up the entire day so they can monitor a security system
Doug Ulrich's Contribution:
Different finger configuration (4-fingers? 3?)
-Weaponized (claws, spikes, etc.)
-Cloaking technology
-Internal Harddrive (USB in finger)
-Utility fingers (interchangable at will for different functions) (keys, tools, showy occasions)
-Advertising
-Storage compartment
-Programmable Fingerprint (can change fingerprint at will to avoid detection or trick locks)
-Installable macros in hand (to perform automated tasks)
-Custom fingernail growth (color, texture, growth pattern)
-Detachable & Remote Controllable (think Thing from The Addams Family)
-Wireless syncing with electronic devices (use hand movements as a remote control)
-Add new senses (sense composition of material, echolocation, etc.)
3)Possible Issue and Implications:
http://hplusbiopolitics.wordpress.com/2009/02/09/homo-evolutis-the-backlash/ (This article talks about backlash Enriquez has experienced because of his definition of human Evolution. This provides a rare and interesting perspective that brings about more questions of Homo Evolutis.
6)References:
* a) http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/SmallBiz/story?id=6854658&page=1 (This article gives vague information on the pursuit of Homo Evolutis by Jaun Enriquez, CEO of a biomedical company)
* b) http://hplusbiopolitics.wordpress.com/2009/02/09/homo-evolutis-the-backlash/ (This article talks about backlash Enriquez has experienced because of his definition of human Evolution. This provides a rare and interesting perspective that brings about more questions of Homo Evolutis.)
* c) http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20090305-tows-oz-live-longer/2 (This article gives detailed information on ways to prolong life with state of the art technology.)
I took all the information I could find from my blog that dealt with trans-humanism. I wish I had more information, but this a compilation of the material I could find from my blog.
2) Homo Homo Sapiens dominance of world population. (I looked at a new form of human evolution. This evolution would be a integration of technology with the human body. This new "species" would eventually replace the Homo Homo Sapien race.)
* a) http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/SmallBiz/story?id=6854658&page=1 (This article gives vague information on the pursuit of Homo Evolutis by Jaun Enriquez, CEO of a biomedical company)
* b) http://hplusbiopolitics.wordpress.com/2009/02/09/homo-evolutis-the-backlash/ (This article talks about backlash Enriquez has experienced because of his definition of human Evolution. This provides a rare and interesting perspective that brings about more questions of Homo Evolutis.)
* c) http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20090305-tows-oz-live-longer/2 (This article gives detailed information on ways to prolong life with state of the art technology.)
There is a second part to our homework. We needed to apply TRIZ to our semester topic. My topic is trans-humanism. Trans-humanism is only on the verge of its emergence. We can use a hearing aid as a prime example. Hearing aids now help people who cannot hear well. One day we will be able to branch out hearing aid capability with the advancement of technology. We could eventually give people who do not need hearing aids better hearing ability. This could play an advantage when hunting (you could hear the game from further distances),etc. We could also make regenerable body parts. This could help a person who has a depletion of certain cells that are pivotal to maintaining a healthy life.
We then had to take ten TRIZ items and apply them to our topic.
Universality: make one thing do more than one thing. Our ears could implanted with a device that could not only make us hear better, but receive wireless signals that our brain could interpret.
Anti-weight: counter heaviness with flotation. We could implant artificial life vests into our body to stay afloat on water.
Preliminary action: do something to an object before it is needed. We could have a sensor that tells us if our heart rate was abnormal.
Partial or excessive action: Do a little too much or too little, then fix. We could make our hands faster for typing purposes by implanting a mechanism in the hand.
Cheap short-lived objects: throw it away afterwards. We could make cheaper prosthetics. Any amputee could have a throw away arm.
Color changes: change color or transparency of object or environment. We could modify the color of our skin to match our environment.
Phase transitions: We could make our skin warm up in cold temperatures or cool down in hot temperatures.
Pneumatics and hydraulics: use gas and liquid instead of solid parts. We could use hydraulics to make us some jump higher.
Self-service: something serves itself. We could program our body to do certain things that our mind might find strenuous. Like mowing the yard.
Continuity of useful action: elimination of break. We could wire our bodies to stay up longer then what our body and mind are used to. For example, we could have someone stay up the entire day so they can monitor a security system
Homework Assignment One Excerpt:
I started to read the various topics. First and foremost transhumanism stuck out to me right away. I had previously watched a video on TED.COM that was about this exact subject. A brilliant scientist named Juan Enriquez hypothesized that humans would evolve into a new species. A species that was heavily integrated with machines. He called this new species homo evolutis. These species would be better then modern day man to adapt to their environment. For example, with the improvement of hearing aid technology, humans will probably be able to hear better then we can now. The link for this lecture is: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/juan_enriquez_shares_mindboggling_new_science.html
I searched everyone blog I could find from my fellow classmates. The only excerpt that I found pertinent was the Triz application performed by Doug Ulrich. ( These possibility expansions of trans-humanism will give me more incite into what the future may hold.)
Different finger configuration (4-fingers? 3?)
-Weaponized (claws, spikes, etc.)
-Cloaking technology
-Internal Harddrive (USB in finger)
-Utility fingers (interchangable at will for different functions) (keys, tools, showy occasions)
-Advertising
-Storage compartment
-Programmable Fingerprint (can change fingerprint at will to avoid detection or trick locks)
-Installable macros in hand (to perform automated tasks)
-Custom fingernail growth (color, texture, growth pattern)
-Detachable & Remote Controllable (think Thing from The Addams Family)
-Wireless syncing with electronic devices (use hand movements as a remote control)
-Add new senses (sense composition of material, echolocation, etc.)
Part 2)
Our teacher wanted us to create an outline for our topic....
Outline for trans-humanism report:
1) Introduction to trans-humanism
- What trans-humanism is?
- Earliest scientists who brought attention to phenomena
- Possible applications for trans-humanism
- How long it will take for progress to be made
- Ethics of transhumanism
- Health concerns of trans-humanism
- What will happen and what won't.
- Potential Roadblocks
5) Conclusion
- Summary
- General description of the direction of trans-humanism.
Part 3)
Our teacher wanted us to try to categorize our blog information to fit our outline.
1) Introduction:
I started to read the various topics. First and foremost transhumanism stuck out to me right away. I had previously watched a video on TED.COM that was about this exact subject. A brilliant scientist named Juan Enriquez hypothesized that humans would evolve into a new species. A species that was heavily integrated with machines. He called this new species homo evolutis. These species would be better then modern day man to adapt to their environment. For example, with the improvement of hearing aid technology, humans will probably be able to hear better then we can now.
2)What is on the frontier?:
Universality: make one thing do more than one thing. Our ears could implanted with a device that could not only make us hear better, but receive wireless signals that our brain could interpret.
Anti-weight: counter heaviness with flotation. We could implant artificial life vests into our body to stay afloat on water.
Preliminary action: do something to an object before it is needed. We could have a sensor that tells us if our heart rate was abnormal.
Partial or excessive action: Do a little too much or too little, then fix. We could make our hands faster for typing purposes by implanting a mechanism in the hand.
Cheap short-lived objects: throw it away afterwards. We could make cheaper prosthetics. Any amputee could have a throw away arm.
Color changes: change color or transparency of object or environment. We could modify the color of our skin to match our environment.
Phase transitions: We could make our skin warm up in cold temperatures or cool down in hot temperatures.
Pneumatics and hydraulics: use gas and liquid instead of solid parts. We could use hydraulics to make us some jump higher.
Self-service: something serves itself. We could program our body to do certain things that our mind might find strenuous. Like mowing the yard.
Continuity of useful action: elimination of break. We could wire our bodies to stay up longer then what our body and mind are used to. For example, we could have someone stay up the entire day so they can monitor a security system
Doug Ulrich's Contribution:
Different finger configuration (4-fingers? 3?)
-Weaponized (claws, spikes, etc.)
-Cloaking technology
-Internal Harddrive (USB in finger)
-Utility fingers (interchangable at will for different functions) (keys, tools, showy occasions)
-Advertising
-Storage compartment
-Programmable Fingerprint (can change fingerprint at will to avoid detection or trick locks)
-Installable macros in hand (to perform automated tasks)
-Custom fingernail growth (color, texture, growth pattern)
-Detachable & Remote Controllable (think Thing from The Addams Family)
-Wireless syncing with electronic devices (use hand movements as a remote control)
-Add new senses (sense composition of material, echolocation, etc.)
3)Possible Issue and Implications:
http://hplusbiopolitics.wordpress.com/2009/02/09/homo-evolutis-the-backlash/ (This article talks about backlash Enriquez has experienced because of his definition of human Evolution. This provides a rare and interesting perspective that brings about more questions of Homo Evolutis.
6)References:
* a) http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/SmallBiz/story?id=6854658&page=1 (This article gives vague information on the pursuit of Homo Evolutis by Jaun Enriquez, CEO of a biomedical company)
* b) http://hplusbiopolitics.wordpress.com/2009/02/09/homo-evolutis-the-backlash/ (This article talks about backlash Enriquez has experienced because of his definition of human Evolution. This provides a rare and interesting perspective that brings about more questions of Homo Evolutis.)
* c) http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20090305-tows-oz-live-longer/2 (This article gives detailed information on ways to prolong life with state of the art technology.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)