As computers become more like us and as we purposefully program our computers to reflexively behave as if they are us — instead of us — are we risking the loss of autonomous thought?
How soon will we begin to cogently acquiesce our daily decision making to our computers?
How fast will our computers take over the active management of our triglycerides, thyroid, BMI and involuntary muscle twitches?
Once our computers can mind meld with us — and with each other — will there be any private refuge left for contemplating, dreaming and imagining unpopular thoughts and outlawed wonderings?
LOS ANGELES, California (AP) — Here’s a mind-bending idea: The U.S. military is paying scientists to study ways to read people’s thoughts.
Scientists use electroencephalography, or brain wave-reading technology, to measure brain activity.The hope is that the research could someday lead to a gadget capable of translating the thoughts of soldiers who suffered brain injuries in combat or even stroke patients in hospitals.
But the research also raises concerns that such mind-reading technology could be used to interrogate the enemy.
Armed with a $4 million grant from the Army, scientists are studying brain signals to try to decipher what a person is thinking and to whom the person wants to direct the message.
How close are we to the precipice where one, small, movement will press us over the edge and into the nothingness of being told how to exist and where both pain and pleasure are managed, metered and meted out to keep us in line and behaviorally inactive?
Hi David,
The day we started having “robots as our friends” our fate was sealed -
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/robot-companions/ghost-in-the-shell-robot-will-be-your-new-best-friend-310369.php
No wonder the day is coming when the technology is going to control us instead we control it!
Good point, Katha! The “kid-friendly animal robots” are especially cunning in their “realness” and friendliness.
Pleo immediately comes to mind:
http://www.pleoworld.com/
Wow David!
This is really something!!!
I remember playing with Lego blocks when I was a kid – those don’t even come close to this Pleo!!!
Katha! I know! The Pleo is truly amazing and they’re expensive and you really need at least TWO of them to really see the magic of the computers in action and learning from each other.
The Sony Aibo dog is put to shame by those dinosaurs!
http://support.sony-europe.com/aibo/
I want to be a kid again!!!
Me too! That’s one of the joys of parenting, I’m told — you get to relive your childhood by buying all the cool toys for your kids that your parents never bought you… so you can play with them! Ha!
Interesting!
Relieving childhood by buying toys for kids, grandkids, great grandkinds…
Ha!!!
Sorry, I missed a sentence after the second line -
“…and staying a kid forever!”
That’s the idea, Katha! So much fun!
Right David! Fun!
And the great part is… you can buy what you want to play with… without worrying if the kids will enjoy it or not. Ha!