My dad and I were talking in the car on the way to harp practice today about technology advances, and what we'll probably be doing in about 50 or 60 years.
It's pretty scary when you think about it. Pretty soon, we might have computer implants to just watch a video whenever we want. Plug it into the back of our head and just start a video.
Implants are next, though. Scientists are already starting on memory implanting. It's just a hop, skip, and a jump to memory changing. Want to go on a vacation without the hassle? Just go down to the local clinic and order a $1,000 Hawaii memory implant. You'll get all the feelings, memories, tastes, and smells of a real vacation without all the hassle.
Next, they'll have computer processing chips implanted in us. We'll process like a computer, but unlike computers, we'll have feelings and emotions. Of course, then you've got the problem of the richer people becoming smarter and getting all the good processers, but that's nothing new, really. You wouldn't have to sit in a classroom all day for school--just buy a Master's Degree Processing Chip. Doesn't sound bad does it?
But it is.
Why is this bad? Because you're messing with life. As soon as scientists are able to put memory into you, they'll start working on personality changing. They'll say it's for criminals to change their way of thinking. That's imposing on free will. Here's an example:
Jim doesn't want to join the army. He's just an average guy. But over here, we have Robert, who want's Jim to join the army. He pays a scientist to implant a chip in Jim when he's in for his next check-up. The chip erases Jim's thoughts on not joining the army and changes them to say he DOES want to. And Jim doesn't know the difference. Free will is erased.
Now think of the possibilities if processers could be changed out. You could literally change identities at school. A body is really just a holding tank for your brain. Change out the brain into a new body, and you're still you with all your memories. You just have a different host. Pretty bizzare, huh?
We talked about a whole lot more than this, but this is just a taste of what we discussed. Think about it. Scary stuff.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
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2 comments:
Its a scary thought, technology taking over and scientists playing God. Even for the right cause, it will always be twisted eventually. Cloning humans becomes a reality but illegal in most situations. Doesn't mean people don't practice it for selfish means. Then the government learns what the illegal people have accomplished, and start to incorporate similar methods. Eventually, you have the government cloning armies for wars so true human troops don't die. What comes after that, is just unnecessary.
But as for the implants, I find the most scary. The successful use of it means that scientists have figured out the brain once and for all. Probably the greatest mysteries of life that God has created is cracked. Right now, we don't truly understand how we only use a portion of the brain's capabilities. Nor how to utilize the part we don't use.
I guess its like a code, eventually crack given enough time. But part of me seriously doubts that it will happen. In my mind, the moment humanity understands how the brain works completely, is the moment that Job looks down on us with pity.
You know that the two of you are quite a bit off the mark, right? There isn't really a problem, at least that I can see, with transhumanism (augmenting humans technologically, like implanting a computer into a human brain to make them smarter). The real problem comes from the possiblity of manipulating memories and all the thorny philisophical issues that that would entail.
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