The future is scary as hell, and here's why!

[belfpala]

I think there are many things, especially in combination, that are at least as scary as a robot that can do stuff cows, pigs, sheep, humans, and other species have done for thousands of years.

None of these items alone scare me very much, but we'll see how that works out. Let's get started...

Threat: Ubiquitous networked devices.
Fear Factor: Uh oh.

Playstation Network hacked, Apple and Google tracking your location at all times. Now look at Apps that let you check the location and status of your car at any time, as well as lock/unlock it or start it. Google technology that allows cars to drive themselves.

Threat: Automated spacecraft.
Fear Factor: What the...

http://www.af.mil/information/factsh...asp?fsID=16639

It apparently obeys ground-based commands to land from space, but it does so on its own without further intervention. We've had automated spacecraft for 40+ years, but this is a bit different. The others have been the probes sent out on specific trajectories to catapult themselves further into the solar system or beyond (taking the amazing pictures we have of Jupiter, etc., on the way). The automation in those was simply their ability to point their transmissions at Earth.

Combine this one with the Google cars above, or with predator drone technology we're already using... hmm.


Threat: Neural interfaces.
Fear Factor: Getting scared now.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/29/science/29brain.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxIgdOlT2cY (with a monkey).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppILwXwsMng&NR=1 (with a human).

Cool stuff, right?

I have plenty of ways to make this one scary, but I'll leave it to your imagination.


Threat: Computer wins Jeopardy.
Fear Factor: I welcome our...

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/17/sc...dy-watson.html

Bing is billed as a decision engion, but Watson really is one, and is capable understanding natural language and mastering a difficult non-algorithmic game.

Watson is intended to continue in a similar capacity. For example, as a medical diagnosis tool. In its current implementation it isn't so scary. But it's proof of concept that a computer can do things thought impossible. Chess is one thing, Jeopardy is another.


Threat: Human organs grown from spare parts.
Fear Factor: I guess this sounds good.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/ar...akthrough.html

Can it be? Might we be able to stay alive forever?

Oh wait, then there's this...

Threat: Kinematic power supplies.
Fear Factor: This doesn't seem so bad...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technolog...man-heart.html

Now human hearts alone can power electronics. One step closer to the Matrix and...


Threat: Simulated brains.
Fear Factor: What is this, I don't even....

http://www.popsci.com/scitech/articl...mplex-patterns
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology...20/research.it

Enough said.

[Bluey111]

naa world is gonna end next year just have fun while you can

in all seriousness though that is one f***ed up machine they have built

---------- Post added 2011-04-27 at 07:29 AM ----------

EATR is giving me nightmares already...
I mean, a semi-sentient robot that eats plants and creates more of itself. And its sole purpose is to kill? Why?!?

its like they want robots to enslave us