Re: The Future


Charles Hottel <chottel@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:IkVUh.4970$3P3.2819@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

What worries me is that humans are a mixture of both good and
evil potential and the million times faster processing will amplify both.
Despite the rosey projections and optimistic senariors I think nobody knows
what the consequences will be. For every positive picture presented you can
imagine an equally powerful negative picture. I think implementing it
without some idea of what will happen is irresponsible. Techology always
seems to result is some unintended consequences. As it gets more powerful
those consequences could result in the end of us all.



Charles, this is the most important point that can possibly be made on the
subject. I don't think that there have ever been many implemetations of new
technologies done purely for altruistic reasons, and I doubt if there are
any that haven't been taken over for commercial reasons. Commercial reasons
invariably imply getting the technology into the market asap. Consequences
are never thought of - although I suppose that there might be trouble with a
new luncheon meat that causes people to explode (as in Philip Wylie's "End
of the Dream")! Still, it has to be disturbing that the immediate
commercial viability of a product is allowed to be the overriding
desideratum for its launching.

PL


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