I thought singularity was an idea…
Mike might be referring to a singularity as a black hole
Whether it be technological singularity which is what we were referring to all along or that having to do with the physics of a black hole, it’s still a concept. As in the statement, singularity occurs when…(something else occurs)
The term singularity can be used in more then one topic…but it’s still a concept. Generic sources like Wikipedia, really don’t make that clear if they are one’s source for info. You really have to read the specific references to which I referred for the defined topic area that started the “singularity” reference.
It’s a pretty normal occurrence around here for all of us to jump onto a comment, cretique it and take it out of context having not read previous posts.
Right now it’s only an idea/theory. But many people (including myself) think it’s possible at some future date. Even if Moore’s law stays in effect for the next 100 years I think it’ll take at least that long.
And the point I was making about the singularity is that…a computer that’s aware can’t really do much locked in a stationary box. May be self aware, but NOT self sufficient.
How about a self aware computer in a mobile device like we have now ? How about the device has artificial limbs ? How about Dick Cheney as a robot who can never die. A “computer that’s aware” is the “leap of faith” that we have to take. But, if you are on your death bed and some one offers you this opportunity, and you can be vice president…again; just maybe ? I agree the actual application will be long after the theory is realized …
I have no doubt that intelligent and self-sufficient artificial beings will ultimately exist, beings capable of creating artificial beings greater than themselves. After all, look how far we’ve come in the last century alone. And now we’ve developed the ability to creat circuits in the lab one atom wide by one atom thick, atom by atom. We now have nanotechnology, and “graphine”, the surface of whhich is a virtuallly resistance-free electral plane (like a ground plane). We’ve now “cracked” the language of the human genome, and are just barely beginning the quest to understand it all.
in the early 1970s it too us 15-16 “sorties” to take out a speceific target, and there was lots of collateral damage. Today we can launch a smart drone with a smart weapon from hundreds of miles away, pilot it from thousands of miles away, and take out a specific target with one shot.
We used to watch scifi shows and movies with people talking to computers and thought it was impossible. We used to think that video phones would be a conventional-type phone connected to a computer with a CRT and a video camera. Who would have imagined I-pads?
And all of this is just in the last century, much of it in the last 50 years. It’s been illustrated that if the history of the earth was the length of your arm, man’s entire existance here could be eliminated with one swipe of a fingernail file. What lies ahead is sure to exceed our wildest dreams.
And who can predict Kim Young Un? I was in a disussion recently with a guy who suggested that is truely is a possibility that humankind will destroy itself. Ultimately, nothing lasts forever, even humankind. He suggested “would the moneys take over?”. I pointed out that Kirk Douglas had already starred in that movie…Planet of the Apes.
Kirt Douglas…hmm, was that Charlton Heston’s alias ? I like the Mark Wahlberg version too.
I refuse to think about this stuff but I’d suggest early retirement just in case.
Ummmmmmmmmm…
make that Charlton Heston. Oops. I knew that didn’t souond right when I wrote it.
I’ve never seen the new version, but the old version is in my “classic scifi” collection.
The new version is more entertaining, if you like glitz…which i do… …but I like Walberg better then Heston so I’ m prejudice. The monkeys look great and are the real stars. I miss Kim Hunter. Both have their place. The original of the series with Heston was still the best and is the only ( monkey movie) one I really liked.
How about a self aware computer in a mobile device like we have now ? How about the device has artificial limbs ?
That’s a several magnitudes HARDER then a computer that’s powerful enough to be a singularity. The problem is creating a self contained object that isn’t tethered to a 100’ electric cord. It’s very useful if it just sits in a room and has no access to the outside.
One of the precepts to this ( technological singularity) occurring and the justification for turning over the development of artificial intelligence to artificial intelligence; is finding ways to rid yourself of that 100 ft. power cord. It’s very tempting to think of the exponential growth of artificial intelligence being accelerated without being encumbered by man. This is one of the delemas facing us. Do we take that, perhaps, irreversible first step.
This is one place that is set up to deal with the inevitable decisions facing us.
Wouldn’t it be funny to find out that we can’t make a decision that would not make our existance problematic…and come to the realization that….the Amish had it right all the time.
Heard a npr story today, about diet. 3 groups, 1 given a robot, 1 given a computer, 1 given paper. The people with the robots wanted to keep them, and went to the car to say goodbye, there was an emotional attachment. Not so for the computer or paper sheets. stuff happens, I get tired of news being latest dancing with the stars etc. when our elected government cannot balance a budget without disastrous consequences, but more time is devoted to justin beaver collapsing on stage. It is wrong to the enth degree
And who can predict Kim Young Un? I was in a disussion recently with a guy who suggested that is truely is a possibility that humankind will destroy itself
Something tells me that Un isn’t really in control of the country, probably one of the more senior military members. Maybe I’ve seen too many conspiracy movies or something, but that’s my opinion on the NK thing.
Even China is telling them to back off. Though it’d kill their economy if the US wasn’t around to buy their products, so that’s probably one of the big deciding factors there.
I wonder if they’d lift any gun/ammo ban if NK threatened to invade or country.
I get tired of news being latest dancing with the stars etc. when our elected government cannot balance a budget without disastrous consequences, but more time is devoted to justin beaver collapsing on stage. It is wrong to the enth degree
Couldn’t agree more. When other TV shows are making news channels, you know something is wrong. Unless one of their celebrity guests dies of a heart attack on air, I don’t see why they need to go on for 10+ minutes about last night’s American Idol
Also, it’s hard to balance a budget when you haven’t had one for 4 or 5 years. Hell, tax payers have ponied up $1.5B for the Obamas to take their vacations last year alone. How can they even think to have a budget when they’re treating our tax money like they won the lottery?
1.5 billion for Obama vacation, really, show me the facts, Then compare and contrast to the Clinton budget surplus and effects of Bush war costs, to the nearest trillion.
Some people won’t be happy until there are pay toilets for the Obamas and they travel stand by tourist class.
Did Ronald Reagan ever use his personal bank account to reimburse the expenses involved with his Secret Service detail?
@barkeydog
It’s a losing battle with those who recite Hannity tripe…
Oh, don’t forget, Obama isn’t even a citizen. Some how when he was elected the first time, that slipped by the CIA, the FBI, the Bureau of Immigration and all those entities under the control of the then president Dick Cheney.
Weapons of mass illusion and Obama the foreigner. They were a big 0 for 2…
@bscar2
The budget proposals for all administrations are found on their website. It’s up to congress to pass on it…waiting on majority leader to bring it up…wonder who that is. They did approve Ryan’s budget…the one that increases the debt more and privatizes Medicare, your Medicare…
For any who are unaware of the true situation regarding the poor being “too lazy to pick the selves up by their own boot laces,” please consider this’
It is a common problem.
It’s Commendable The Way That Woman Is Taking Classes And Seeking Work. This Problem Of No Jobs Goes Beyond The Holmeless Unemployed.
There Will Soon Be More Jobs Available And Employers Looking For Workers.
Many businesses and schools (K-12 and higher learning, both) are already cutting full time positions to 28 - 29 hours ahead of January, 2014. When (if) ObamaCare kicks in, many, many more will follow suit.
To cover hours previously taken by 40+ hour workers, employers will need more hands. Full-time employees and overtime are in jeopardy. The good news is that if you don’t earn as much money, you’ll get tax credits for healthcare (medicaid if available in your state) or get it for free (well, free to you, that is).
On the other hand, to avoid having to buy healthcare for full-time workers many employers are/will opt for part-timers and some will opt for fewer workers, cutting as necessary.
However, looks to me that ObamaCare will be on the ropes in January (states not setting up market places, not adding to Medicare roles, passing laws striking down some of Obamacare, budget cuts delaying the Feds in meeting deadlines, etcetera) and I doubt very much it will begin at that time, except perhaps the IRS penalties part of it.
CSA
I sympathize with the problem but if you are not mobile and only looking at fast food places for employment, I dunno, hard not to be on losing end.
I’ve always owned a car and been mobile. My job searches covered a 200 mile radius, most not accessed by bus. Also commuted 100 miles a day to increase income and opportunity. A car would be one of the last things I’d give up before the nursing home because in So Minnesota, its pretty well a necessity for health and happiness.
Now just in the recent news, North Dakota is paying $16 an hour for fast food workers on the spot but of course bring your own housing. Reported in the paper today that So. MN is graduating only 22 people a year for farm related jobs but need 170 per year. Includes tractor service, computer systems on tractors and so on. Just losts of high paying opportunities but you have to have more than a GED and need to be mobile. Sadly though, some people have never ventured out of the city they were born in and have no idea what the rest of the country is like or what’s available there.