Fantasist’s Scroll

VR in spaaaaace!

Well, another theme from recent science-fiction seems to be the next step in actual science. At least, according to this article on Space.com. It seems the journey to another star might prove to be a little stressful on humans, so scientists are proposing to send AI (artificial intelligences) instead of, or in addition to, human astronauts. It could be a good thing, considering that it would make it easier to get a craft further faster, but I saw Star Trek the Motion Picture, so I’m leary of a V’Ger coming home to wipe us out! Seriously, there are still a lot of issues to work out, like the intelligence part of AI, but it’s a promising start.

Here’s an interesting idea.

According to this article on the Japanese Times, the Japanese government is going to sponsor a five-year plan to build a robot with the “functionality” of a five-year old.
First, this is a pretty big challenge. Not only do they have to overcome the physical problems, but the mental and emotional problems as well. I mean, robots that walk are relatively new and they mostly have to be guided. This robot would walk and be totally autonomous. There’ll be a lot of processing power in that sucker. And, quite a bit of AI work will need to be done for it, too.
Second, there’s the time-scale. Five years, in my opinion, is pretty aggressive for this kind of project. Especially considering the state of the world economy in general and Japan’s economy in particular.

But, their thought is that this project would be like the US Apollo project. It was a giant challenge that cost a lot of money, but it also produced some amazing technologies that changed our world. Those new inventions, of course, changed the US economy tremendously. That change effected the world economy in ways that we’re really still feeling.
I, for one, hope that they succeed. The spin-offs alone will be worth it!

I don’t really think so…

R.U.R. was the play written by Karel Câpec that first mentioned “robots” and, ironically, it was in an industrial context. That’s where most robots are today, of course, but, in this article on his website, Marshall Brain speculates that we’ll see them in a lot more areas. The article says that he expects humanoid robots to take at least half of all jobs by the year 2050. Of course, people have been saying this for quite some time and it has yet to actually happen.
Personally, I don’t think we’ll ever get the necessary artificial intelligence stuff worked out so that such a scenario is possible. Though, I have to admit, computer technology advances at a ferocious rate. Still, the dream of a “robo-servant” has been around for literally decades and we’re only now getting remote-controlled robots that look vaguely like a human.

Of course, science-fiction is a lot more interesting if Mr. Brain is right and I’m wrong!

I didn’t even know they were oppresed already!

Here’s a fun little article from The Village Voice about the World Transhumanist Association. In reality, they’re about a lot more than just cyborgs, but that’s what we’re closest to right now. But, should they get their say, bioengineered life and artificial intelligences would get similar protections. These folks are really forward thinking, in my opinion, since you’d have to define “cyborg” pretty loosely to even get close with current technology. And, as for AI or “genenginered” beings, well…. But, at least they make good fodder for science-fiction! Either way, enjoy the article.