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A Layperson's View of Future Technology and Society    

Technology and Society

They're Just Not That Into Us Image (not a real alien) is licensed from istock.com SETI (Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence) research projects have scanned the sky for over 40 years looking for an intelligent signal. Could our level of intelligence be unique in the universe? This is one of those thought provoking questions that I have real difficulty grappling with, because I know so little about the subject. The same thing happens when I shop for my wife's birthday, so I've opted to apply the same marginally successful method of reaching a conclusion: make a list of everything relevant I can find, then take a shot in the dark as to which one of them is right. Why is there no scientific evidence of extraterrestrial intelligent life? Possible answers: We are the only intelligent life forms. We are the first, or one of the first, intelligent life forms. More of the universe needs to be searched. We are not searching correctly. Intelligent life exists, but they choose not to be known to us. Governments are hiding the evidence. Evidence exists, but is not accepted by the public. Aliens use a different form of communication we cannot detect. Unfortunately, I feel the most likely reason that we have not located an alien presence (or Eileen's presents), is that we simply have not looked long enough. I hope there is space at the mall.  I would like to give a shout out to the people at The SETI Institute for having the foresight and diligence to be listening. Related Articles: Where are they? The Law of Accelerating Returns. Scientists tune in to 'radio message from the aliens' Search for alien engineering comes up dry – so far Telescopes poised to spot air-breathing aliens What I Have in Common with Raymond Kurzweil At first, it would appear that futurist Raymond Kurzweil and I are not much alike. He excelled at MIT, I achieved a GED. He invented usable OCR¹, I invented the adjustable IOU. Nevertheless, set aside higher education along with any measure of success and you are left with two good looking guys that like to think about the future. My point is that it doesn't take a great mind to envision the future, just an imagination. Choose a burgeoning technology from this site and imagine how it could change the world in 20 years. Now go 50, 100 years ahead. Think about what the future will be like for you, your children and for their children. In my 2050 future, medical science has cured most diseases, biotechnology has eliminated hunger and Grandma is a controversial (but popular), Olympic speed skater sporting bionic hips. Will all of those things happen? Probably not, weak ankles run in my family. But it is fun to think about. By imagining what is possible, I feel better prepared for the future.  ¹Ray Kurzweil was the principal developer of the first omni-font optical character recognition (OCR) and many other inventions. Ray's books include "The Age of Intelligent Machines", "The Age of Spiritual Machines", and "Fantastic Voyage: Live Long Enough to Live Forever". Ray Kurzweil's new book is entitled "The Singularity is Near, When Humans Transcend Biology". KurzweilAI.net, is a leading resource on artificial intelligence.   Approaching the Singularity Thinking about the Singularity gives me a headache. No doubt a reaction to asking my brain to think of ways of replacing itself. Both intriguing and frightening, my approach to the Singularity is to treat it like a dessert tray, the further it is away, the less I am infatuated by it. Through the exponential growth of computer processing power, biotechnology or other means, futurists have predicted that the Singularity could arrive as early as 2030. Here are a few reasons why the Singularity might arrive later than expected.  Brain Frees Powerful lie detection tools may someday surpass the accuracy of the polygraph and permanently change how suspects are convicted -- and freed. Future of Lie Detection Society's not ready for personal genome mapping, scientists warn Many scientists are predicting that affordable personal genome mapping will be a reality in as little as five years, bringing with it the promise of health care tailor-made for individuals. But are we ready as a society?  'Technology Is at the Center' Ronald Bailey interviews entrepreneur and philanthropist Peter Thiel on liberty and scientific progress. Reason Magazine Automated decision-making The death of expertise The sheer quantity of data and the computer power now available make it possible for automated processes to surpass human experts in fields as diverse as rating wines, writing film dialogue and choosing titles for books.   Ethics in the Future "Ethics is the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group." The power to make and shape life, to create machines that outthink humans. Will some scientists rush blindly into the future without regard to the implications to society?  Here are some of the web sites I found that address ethics and technology. Unesco.org Online Ethics Center The Institute for Business, Technology and Ethics Center for Genome Ethics Ethical Issues in Nanotechnology In my opinion, the morals of those in the scientific community will play an increasingly important role in shaping our future. Top scientists and researchers throughout the world are already cloning animals, manipulating genes and building intelligent machines. "... unbridled scientific progress is not always ethically acceptable. Unesco.org" In the near future, too many will have the knowledge to create globally dangerous technologies. Driven by good intentions or by greed, the race to be first will push the pace of technology to unsafe limits. As a society, we must be diligent in protecting our values, rights and safety, by ensuring responsible and socially beneficial scientific research.  "We must do more thinking up front if we are not to be similarly surprised and shocked by the consequences of our inventions." From "Why the future doesn't need us.", by Bill Joy, cofounder of Sun Microsystems, for Wired.com.

I Didn't Even Know You Had Kids

Some of the smartest individuals I know, suddenly remember their kids have soccer practice when I mention the latest technological breakthrough. I am amazed at the number of people I have encountered, that are completely uninterested in advanced technology and the effect it will soon have on almost every aspect of our society.

I asked six of my friends for an honest answer to why they gave me the techno-snub.

Here are their replies...

Carol (45, Logistics Manager)
"When the topic is about a technology I do not understand, I look ignorant and you appear condescending."

Jeff (24, Auto Sales)
"Predictions of a technological revolution are just hype."

Jim (66, Retired Fireman)
"Why should I care? I will not be around to see many of these technologies. Have you seen the remote control for the TV?"

Dave (35, Shipping Manager)
"I don't want to look like a nerd."
[Uncomfortable pause in conversation]
"No offense intended."

Veronica (53, V.P. Human Resources)
"I'm too busy in the present to be concerned about what technology will look like in the future. What will be, will be."

Jennifer (Niece, 14 years old)
"Technology is boring. (as she tunes me out with her matchbook-sized media player)"

Well, I received my answers and my friends made some valid points.

Learning about the technologies that are shaping our future does takes some effort, but it is well worth it. Understanding the basics, means that you can rely less on what other people tell you, regarding the benefits, risks or morality of a complex technology.

Jim is also right, a man of 65 may not see all of the mind-blowing technology that is predicted, but his children might and his grandchildren most certainly will. The decisions we make today, can have a great effect on the world our grandchildren will inherit.

I believe that Jeff's answer was the furthest off track. A technological revolution has already begun. Scientists are creating new life in the lab, nanobots are taking their first steps, and the foundations of many more world changing technologies are well into development.

If more people took the time to understand the ABCs of NBICs, technology could be made less dangerous now and its future guided more by the public.

NBIC is an acronym for Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Information technology and Cognitive science

Small Thinking

Merging Technologies

A micrograph is a highly magnified image taken through a microscope or similar device.

When I searched the internet for high quality micrographs, I found very few in the public domain. Some of the most spectacular images can be licensed, but there is a hefty fee. A decision had to be made by the owner of this site (me), do I show a really cool scanning electron micrograph with this article or buy a big screen tv?

Why is it that I can share views from the Hubble telescope, but not from an earth bound microscope? One reason is that it is difficult to market what you catch in the Crab Nebula. I think it is safe to say that the majority of images captured by advanced microscopes today are not available at any price, as these pictures are developed for a competitive edge, not a community calendar.

A stem cell, like a distant star, would be impossible to see without the collective achievements of humanity. In my opinion, views of the otherwise invisible should be available to everyone, not just those who are fortunate enough to have access to the necessary equipment. 

The future would look brighter if inner space was as visible as outer space. And though I may not understand everything I see in a cluster of atoms or galaxies, I feel more connected with the universe when I do.

Here are some web sites I found with public micrographs

Public Health Image Library
NIAID
MRS Desktop Images

If you know of any sources for public micrographs that I missed, (I can't see a thing without my glasses), please send them and kindly disregard this article.

Flying Friends or Privacy Pests?

Merging Technologies

Fitted with cameras, sensors and microphones, robot insects are flying--climbing--crawling--jumping at the chance to assist humans in search, rescue and other hazardous operations.

Robotic insects could also be used for spying.

Could our privacy get stung by robot insects?

In my opinion, it is only a matter of time before a robotic bug is caught spying. Future technologies like flying robot insects, that offer great benefits to humankind, can often be equally detrimental.

Are robotic flying insects secretly patrolling the air right now?

It has been reported that robotic dragonflies were seen hovering over protesters in New York. Is it possible that the technology necessary to enable such an event has been developed? 

The flying insect in the picture above being developed by the Harvard Microrobotics Lab, does not have a processor, camera or a battery (it receives power from a wired tether). If it had any of those items, it would be to heavy to fly. Now add the electronics and hardware to remotely control the craft. Then tack on some more electronics to transmit or store video images and the idea of a flying surveillance insect, even one as large as the average dragonfly, seems unlikely using current technology.

How will you know when flying robot insects have left the lab?

As a one-time flyer of remote control aircraft, (and by one-time, I mean I flew RC planes only once), I can tell you that sometimes the little buggers just don't come back. Mechanical breakdowns, hungry birds and clean sliding glass doors are just a few ways to bring down a flying robot insect. So keep an eye on the ground for an oversized dragonfly with a broken wing, cameras for eyes and a retractable antenna sticking out its backside.

Speaking of cameras, didn't any of the protestors who witnessed these dragonspies have a cell phone? What were they protesting, the high price of text messaging? Considering the number of video capable devices that are available today, if there are flying spies buzzing around, we'll catch them on video eventually.

Protecting our privacy and other inalienable rights will become increasing difficult as technology advances. Emerging technologies like flying robotic insects, can have a significant impact on society. We need safeguards in place to protect our rights before these high flying technologies are fully debugged.

Resources and Related Articles

Robot Insects Gallery
Dragonfly or Insect Spy?
Are We Being Watched by Flying Robot Insects?
Long Island Hawk Attacks WowWee Dragonfly

Neuroethical Challenges

Advances in neuroscience accelerate the potential for cognitive enhancement to become as ordinary and everyday as a cup of coffee. This may benefit society enormously—by accelerating learning, for example. But it also raises moral and ethical concerns, such as who has access to the benefits of the technology.

The New York Academy of Sciences

More links on Technology and Society

Immoral advances: Is science out of control?

A Chat With a Futurist

Center for the Study of Technology and Society

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Five minds for the future

Wealth gap creating a social time bomb