A few days ago my uncle sent me an e-mail that I would consider to be one of the most amazing, interesting, and scary bits of information I have ever come across. To understand what this blog is about you will have to follow this link http://www.scottmcleod.org
Where to start? A $1,000 computer that will be able to outperform the capabilities of the human mind by 2023? 3,000 books published daily? 2.7 billion Google searches monthly? The population/reproduction rates of China and India? Or most daunting, by the year 2049 a single $1,000 dollar computer will be able to outperform the capacity of the human RACE?
If it's not apparent enough from just looking at the differences between you and your parents, or noticing the new technology that has developed in the last few years, Civ IV should be able to apprise you of how technology gains momentum in its development. That's not to say that it can't regress as it did during the Dark Ages, but that it builds upon itself both higher and wider. A good diagram for technological development would be an inverted pyramid, with each new layer moving both horizontally and vertically on the frontier.
I feel that one of the most relevant questions to ask after knowing this is: What will happen to humanity?
Since humanity's beginning the most powerful computer available was simply the human mind. Even modern day computers that my be faster and more precise, can not be programed with all the factors that come into the decision equation. But what if this inverts, what if humans become secondary to machines? I quote Balak from class today, "Any teacher that can be replaced by a machine, should be." How are these changes going to effect our lives, and if not ours then the continuation of humanity? Historically, most technology has had positive effects on humanity, given that it may present some negative externalities. This advance will be like none other before, not like copper to bronze, nor like steam to combustion. Those advances are elements that humans are in control of and use, secondary to human relevance. This, however, could possibly bring humanity within sight of a realizable utopia or terminating dystopia. Will we reach a world with perfect machine slaves that remove the struggle from existence Will economies crumble because all human labor has become inefficient? Will things be better, worse, or the same? Time will tell.
Sorry this blog doesn't relate to Civ IV much, I think it relates to economics well enough to stand alone. Thanks for taking the time to read.
2 comments:
Wow buck that was pretty scary, the bit about education made me fairly depressed. If all the information I am currently learning will be outdated in two years, what is the point of learning it? The future of America as the hedgemon looks bleak. This video got me thinking if technology is really good for the country. Everyone assumes the more advanced technology the better, but in some cases new technology only complicates simple tasks.
That was a wild video. I am absolutely afraid of what this world is coming to. We are in a tough predicament becuase as jstew said, technology may actually be bad for America. On the other hand, technology is that one major thing that makes countries dominant. The US still holds a comparative advantage for technology, so it is that one ingredient that keeps us a step ahead of the world. The question is, should we end doing something that makes us the successful country that we are so that we will not potentially go down the drain in the future?
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