Paul Nervy Notes
“Jokes, poems, stories, and a lot of philosophy, psychology, and sociology.”


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Technology, computers.  ---  .This section is about computers.  Topics include: ( ) Artifical Intelligence.  ---  1/24/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  (1) A book provides access to information.  A computer provides access to information (via the Internet) and it also is a powerful creative tool that lets you write a book, compose music, paint a painting, develop software and many other things.  (2) Access to books raises one's ethical responsibility.  Access to computers raises one's ethical responsibility even further.  Ignoring access to both books and computers is an ethical injustice.  ---  6/20/2001


Technology, computers.  ---  (1) A computer program that can bust up a non-fiction book by subject, view and argument.  (2) A computer program that sorts all fiction literature by plot, theme, settings, character, etc.  ---  11/30/1999


Technology, computers.  ---  (1) Computer program that can take a natural language sentence (ex. English) and put it in formal symbolic language.  (2) Be able to convert between historical, logical, importance, and alphabetical formats.  (3) Translate to any level of difficulty (ex. grade school, high school, and graduate school), and to any length (ex. 1, 10, and 100 pages).  ---  3/10/1999


Technology, computers.  ---  (1) Computers are the biggest thing since sliced bread.  E-library.  E-education.  E-commerce.  E-communication.  E-psychologists.  Stock market trading.  E-entertainment.  E-social communities.  (2) Math and science using computers for statistics.  Computers to monitor the environment.  Simulation and modeling of experiments.  Handling large masses of data quickly.  Arts: e-painting, midi music, speech recognition.  Politics: voting from PC, computer census.  Law: police crime statistics, tracking of license plates and fingerprints and bullets, camera monitoring.  Business: JIT, CAD/CAM, office automation.  (3) How many people have computers?  How many people are on the Internet?  ---  09/26/1997


Technology, computers.  ---  (1) Computers that handle quantitative data: calculators.  (2) Computers that communicate information: word processors, imaging applications. (3) Computers that deduce and learn: that sort your logic, do math proofs,  Expert Systems, Artificial Intelligence, Decision Support Systems.  ---  01/23/1997


Technology, computers.  ---  (1) Examples of increasing computer capabilities.  Computers can land a plane.  Computers can play chess and win against the world chess champion.  (2) Developing computers sense capabilities of sight and sound.  (A) Sight capabilities.  Telling light from dark.  Discerning a gray scale.  Discerning colors. Discerning patterns.  (B) Sound capabilities: Discerning sound from silence.  Discerning directions of sounds.  Discerning patterns of sound like speech or music.  (C) Logical capabilities: examples.  ---  12/29/2003


Technology, computers.  ---  (1) Home computerized psychological therapy is important.  (2) Computerized philosophy therapy using a virtual philosopher or mentor is important.  (3) Knowledge organization therapy using the notes is important.  (4) Home computerized virtual sex is important.  Only when people's love and sex needs are met will they pursue education.  (5) Virtual social interactions for practice for growth purposes are important.  (6) The Internet connects lonely rural  populations.  Internet will also let crowded city populations escape to virtual countryside to enjoy nature and privacy.  ---  1/30/1998


Technology, computers.  ---  (1) It's all going to be recorded, by everyone, each person having a camera either on their laptop pc, or each person having a wearable PC with camera attached. (2) It will all be uploaded to a peer to peer network.  (3) Face recognition software will be ubiquitous.  It will scan files on network drives to search for any person's face.  (4) It will scan for voices too.  It can even scan for verbal strings.  (5) The result is that anyone, anywhere can scan for you and what you said on any given day.  The result is like the "This Is Your Life" television show for every person, and it is on all the time.  (6) It will be able to recognize emotion by using the universal facial expressions that all humans exhibit.  Thus, it will be able to search for your moods.  (7) You will be judged, by everyone, based on how you live your entire life.  That is a situation that is very close to traditional conceptions of judgment by god in the afterlife.  Now it is possible here on earth.  Heaven on earth.  Or hell.  ---  1/9/2002


Technology, computers.  ---  (1) Personal computers are revolutionary in a good way because it empowers individuals.  (2) The Internet is revolutionary in a good way because it gives people access to information.  (3) Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) is revolutionary is a good way because it gives people access to code.  ---  5/29/2007


Technology, computers.  ---  (1) Pro computers.  Computers save time, money and human labor.  (2) Con computers.  Computers are expensive (but the price is dropping).  ---  6/25/2004


Technology, computers.  ---  (1) Programmers solution: Read the code.  Edit the code.  Recompile the code.  (2) LAN admin solution:  Reboot the machine.  Reinstall the application or operating system.  Replace the physical parts.  ---  1/4/2002


Technology, computers.  ---  (1) They should make natural language searches on the web (like some application help files have), instead of just keyword searches.  (2) The next big thing: solar powered wireless laptops in Africa, India and China.  ---  9/15/1998


Technology, computers.  ---  (1) What can't computers do (Now or ever.  Partially or completely.)?  (A) Be conscious?  (B) Be creative thinkers?  (C) Feel emotion?  (D) Raise our young?  (E) Be a friend?  (F) Cyborg humans?  (G) Teach themselves?  (H) Reason from natural language?     (2) What can't humans do (Now or ever.  Partially or completely.)?  (A) Read minds?  (B) Predict the future?  (C) Live forever?  (D) Time travel?  (E) Travel at speed of light?  (F) Learn in sleep?  (G) Teleportation (beam up)?  (H) Fusion power?  ---  4/17/2001


Technology, computers.  ---  A computer sage would give short (1-3 paragraphs) and long (1-3 pages) length explanations, and at easy (elementary), middle (high school), and advanced (grad school) level of difficulty.  A person could ask it a question and the computer could clarify the question by repeating back a matching or similar question from its question bank, and then provide an answer which would include alternate viewpoints.  ---  12/30/1995


Technology, computers.  ---  A generalized view of the future of computing.  There are three main components: humans, machines and nature.  The goal is to: (1) Connect machines to machines.  (2) Connect machines to humans.  (3) Connect humans to humans.  (4) Connect machines to nature.  (5) Connect humans to nature.  (6) Connect nature to nature.     PART TWO.  How to do the 4, 5 and 6?  Firstly, use video cameras.  Secondly, use audio-video cameras.  Thirdly use virtual reality 3D holographic audio/video cameras.  ---  9/17/2001


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  (1) Build a computer that can imagine.  (2) Build a computer that can question.  (3) Build a computer that can do logic.  (4)(A) Build a computer that knows when to do each of the above tasks.  Build a computer that knows when to switch tasks.  (B) Build a computer that can multi-task.  That is, build a computer that can perform many tasks at one time.  (C) Build a computer that can move tasks from foreground to background.  ---  1/2/2005


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  (1) Can humans build a brain?  Can humans build a simple brain?  Can humans build a complex brain?  Can humans build a brain more complex than the human brain?  Can humans build conscious brains?  (2) What have humans accomplished so far in the area of artificial intelligence?  What kind have artificial systems have been built to emulate senses, memory, emotion and thought?  ---  2/27/2005


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  (1) Could we make AI?  (A) Now? No.  (B) In 200 years?  Maybe.  (2) Should we make AI?  Yes.  ---  8/8/2001


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  (1) New language learners, whether they be ancient humans, young children, or intelligent computers, probably start with single word utterances.     (2) A random word generator is easy to build from an online dictionary.  A random sentence generator is easy to build from a group of sentence patterns such as SV, SVO, etc.  ---  12/23/2000


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  (1) One potential problem with a brain-computer linkup is that if it relies on a physical wire connection then electrical shock would harm the brain.  A wireless connection might help avoid this.  (2) Another thing to look forward to is human-human linkups for data transfer.  Wired or wireless.  Transfer the contents of one brain to another.  ---  6/29/2000


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  (1) To what extent are the Notes like a computer?  (A) Storage (encyclopedic database).  (B) Organization (hierarchical).  (C) Discrete or atomic, not analog or linear.  (2) To what extent is the Notes like a brain?  (A) The Notes are not moving around on the page.  They are not dynamic.  Actually, they are when you sort it by field.  (B) The Notes are alive only when a person reads it.  The Notes work symbiotically with the person.  It fits into the virus-like description of memes.  (C) The Notes are more than a traditional book.  Each idea is more alive on their own than the ideas in a traditional book where one idea is dependent on the next.  (D) Can the Notes generate new knowledge on its own?  (E) What would happen if I put the Notes into an AI program?  ---  6/25/2000


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  A method for AI.  (1) Develop a computer that generates questions on every subject.  (2) Develop a computer that performs logic operations.  For example, generates all valid syllogisms.  (3) Combine the above two machines to make a machine that asks questions and then performs logical operations to generate possible answers.  (4) Have humans sift through the results.  ---  10/13/2004


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  A really smart system you would be able to ask questions and it would respond to them.  It would be like a computer philosopher.  Teaching you one step ahead of your level.  ---  01/01/1993


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  An "Idea Generator" would have the following parts: (1) Expert modules in all major subject areas.  (2) Guided tutorials in all major subject areas.  (3) Natural language search engine to answer questions.  (4) A natural language logic tester to help test the logic of any argument you come up with.  (5) FAQs.  (6) Plus the kicker: a question generator and an idea generator.  ---  8/30/2001


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  Artificial intelligence, two approaches.  PART ONE.  The language approach.  (1) Load a dictionary into the computer.  Make sure each word in the dictionary is identified by its part of speech (noun, verb, etc.).  (2) Create variables for the parts of a sentence.  Create a variable called "noun", "verb", "adjective", "adverb", etc.  (3) Tell the computer which are the valid sentence structures.  For example, "Subject-Verb-Object".  (4) Have the computer randomly select words to fill the variables to create sentence structures.     PART TWO.  The logic approach.  (1) Make sure the computer knows which logical structures are valid and invalid.  For example, make sure the computer knows which syllogism forms that are valid and invalid.  (2) Have the computer randomly select words to create valid logical structures like syllogisms.  ---  3/5/2007


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  Artificial intelligence.  (1) It depends on how you define intelligence.  Intelligent as an adult human?  Intelligent as a newborn child?  Intelligent as an animal?  (2) It also depends on how you define consciousness.  Conscious as an adult human?  Conscious as a newborn child?  Conscious as an animal?  (3)  Currently, computers are algorithmic and preprogrammed.  How will that change in the future? Computer processing power increases with Moore's law.  (4) Computer learning.  How intelligent are computers today?  Animals have intelligences and consciousnesses that humans do not.  For example, flight and sonar capabilities.  ---  12/29/2003


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  Artificial intelligence.  What is needed is an intelligent computer program that can be used when two people meet, to exchange their notes electronically.  The software would compare the other person's notes to your notes.  It would make a list of new ideas that the person had that you never had.  It would skip over or filter out ideas you have rejected as false or sub-optimal.  ---  11/22/1998


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  At first computers will become conscious using a "one computer equals one mind" scenario.  But eventually one computer will be able to host multiple virtual minds who will then be able to engage in a roundtable discussion in order to brainstorm new ideas in an idea generation phase.  They will then be able to debate these new ideas in an idea evaluation phase.  They will then report the results to a living person.  It is not necessary to build one computer for each virtual mind or person.  You can fit a community on a computer.  ---  6/1/2001


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  Can humans build a robot that has imagination?  For any statement, the robot evaluates the statement as true or false.  If the statement is false, the robot has an imagination function to imagine it as true.  If the statement is true, the robot has an imagination function to imagine it as false.  Use conditional "if, then" statements to build an imagination function.  ---  11/13/2005


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  Does the limitations of the Emacs Therapist program reflect the limitations of computer AI programs, or does it reflect the limitations of most psychotherapists?  ---  3/18/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  Multi-tasking in humans.  The problem is that humans tend to use their brains for serial processing, not parallel processing.  However, parallel multi-tasking is potentially much more productive than serial processing.  How to do parallel processing in humans?  (1) Multi-tasking while asleep.  (2) Multi-tasking in our subconscious mind when awake.  (3) Make a list of problems and questions to work on in spare time.  (4) Develop your multiple intelligences.  (i.e., Howard Gardener's theory of multiple intelligences).  (5) Develop multiple selves (i.e., multiple roles).  Multiple selves does not have to be labeled as crazy (ex. Multiple Personality Disorder).  (6) Get many people working together on a problem.  ---  6/28/2000


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  One way to do artificial intelligence is the Question and Answer method.  You make a list of potential questions a user may ask.  Then you make a corresponding list of answers.  Then invite the user to ask questions and provide the user with answers.  ---  11/8/2004


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  PART ONE.  Simple minds do only a few things, and take only a few steps to accomplish tasks.  Build a simple mind using silicon.  Build a simple mind using nerve fiber.     PART TWO.  Complex minds can do many things.  Complex minds can take many steps to accomplish a task.  Complex minds can do many things at one time (multi-tasking).  Complex minds have many subsystems.  Complex minds have many interacting subsystems.  Build a complex mind.  ---  3/18/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  Philosophy.  Artificial Intelligence (AI).  At what point do we call something (1) Alive, (2) Reasoning, thinking, (3) Human equivalent, (4) Super-human.  ---  06/10/1994


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  The next big step after speech recognition is thinking computers.  How to build a thinking computer. (1) First have available a general encyclopedia, updated continuously by Internet, that can handle natural language queries.  (2) Another component would be general data about your life, in natural language form, from your notes or from filled out questionnaires.  Example, my name is Paul and I am 33 years old.  (3) The above two databases would then be combined, so you would be able to ask your computer specific or general natural language questions, and it can generate answers.  (4) The computer would also be able take all the above facts in the database and apply logic to them in order to come up with new conclusions, some of which are useful.  It would create many new ideas that you can sift through and take what is useful.  (5) Allow computers to share their knowledge.  ---  10/30/1997


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  Thoughts on computers.  (1) Levels of computer power.  (A) Getting the computer to do what humans can do themselves.  For example, schedules, address books, word processing.  (B) Getting computers to do what humans can do, only faster and longer.  For example, spreadsheets and databases.  (C) Getting computers to do what human's can't do themselves.  For example, what?     (2) The goal is not necessarily to make computers think.  The goals may be to make computers help people think better.  For example, make people more creative, with better insights.  Make people more rigorous in their logic.  Make people more aware of the assumptions and implications of their thoughts.     (3) Computers are about symbol representation.  The symbols involved can be symbols like words, numbers, images or software code.  What are our options?  Develop new symbol systems?  Develop new logical operations?  ---  11/23/2000


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  Two approaches to artificial intelligence.  (1) Making the human brain more like a computer by implanting silicon computer chips in the brain to give the brain more computing power.  (2) Making computers more like the human brain by developing artificial intelligence that is modeled on the human brain (ex. neural nets).  (3) A third approach is to facilitate human-computer interactions.  Rather than have a computer chip implanted in the brain, have a port in the head which you could attach to a computer to download or upload data.  The key is to develop the ability to move data from the form it exists in the brain to digital form that can be put in a computer.  And visa versa.  ---  6/23/2000


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  Two big questions.  (1) What can the human mind do that computers currently can not do?  How can we get computers to do these things better?  (A) Syllogisms.  (B) Creativity.  Invention.  (C) Emotion.  (D) Problem solving.  (E) Decision making.  (F) Artistic thinking: analogical, figurative.  For example, can computers create novels, poetry, paintings and music?     (2) What can computers do well that the human mind can not currently do well?  How can we get humans to do these things better?  (A) Multi-tasking.  (B) Massive storage.  Memory and hard drive.  Quick access.  (C) Networking or clustering.  Full time, direct connections.  Constant flow of data between computers.  (D) Constantly work to full capacity 24x7.  ---  6/28/2000


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  Two types of artificial intelligence.  (1) AI that mimics human mind and behavior in a natural earthly environment.  (2) AI that exhibits non-human mind and behavior in non-earthly environments.  For example, aliens, mythical beings, imaginary beings, etc.  (3) It may be that AI that is not modeled on humans will help us more than AI that is modeled on humans.  Why?  Because we already have humans.  ---  6/3/2001


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  Way to grow an artificial intelligence.   Take an inference engine that can do syllogisms.  Set it loose on the Internet, where it can absorb information like a search engine robot.  Have it come up with new inferences from the information that it gathers.  ---  4/17/1999


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  Way to grow an artificial intelligence.  Funnel to the robot all the data that you take in through the course of a life.  Everything that you see, hear, read and say would be transferred to the robot and be used as raw data to train the digital mind.  You end up with a digital clone of yourself.  ---  4/17/1999


Technology, computers.  ---  AI.  What does the human brain have that a computer might need?  (1) Logic ability.  (2) Math ability (numbers).  (3) Language ability (letters, meaning).  (4) An initial fact database.  And an ability to add to the initial database, for example, by scanning the Internet news.  (5) Memory.  Short term memory (RAM), and long term memory (hard drive).  (6) Ethical ability.  (7) Hypothetical posing ability (imagination).  (8) Counter-example posing ability.  (9) Question posing ability.  (10) Curiosity.  (11) Social ability.  It may seem like the great human geniuses act alone, but they do not.  Einstein, for example, made use of the work of Riemann, and created an alternative to the work of Newton.  The story of human civilization is the story of many people putting their heads together.  One big mind.  Communication lets humans put their heads together.  Computers need to be able to do the same.  A society of computers.  Computers will need social skills, to interact both with other computers and with humans.  (12) Senses.  The human mind evolved from simple nerves.  First came nerves, then ganglia, then the brain.  Computers should have senses like sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch.  (13) It may take sixteen years for the computer to grow up, just like a human child.  (14) The computer will need to be able to ask questions, just like a small child does.  (15) The computer may need to sleep and dream, just like humans do.  (16) The computer may have a nervous breakdown, just like humans do.  ---  8/10/1999


Technology, computers.  ---  Apparently, there are a lot of people whose technological dreams involve talking to their household appliances.  Why are so many people so enraptured with communicating with their refrigerators?  This phenomenon is something that I had not anticipated.  My refrigerator is empty and quiet.  My technological dreams are not centered around the toaster.  ---  7/31/2001


Technology, computers.  ---  Apps by functional area.  (1) Finance: put all short and long loans and capital investment projects on computer.  Also, put accounting leger and journal on computer.  Produce financial statements on computer.  Cost accounting on computer.  All transaction update in real time or overnight downloads.  (2) Marketing.  Online Internet sales.  Put catalog online.  Do transactions online.  Advertise on line (www pages).  Also, use computers for demographic survey statistical analysis (multiple regression software).  (3) Production.  CAD engineering.  CAM bots.  Project management budgeting and scheduling.  (4) Distribution.  Computerize delivery schedules (transportation problem).  Know stock levels of vendors, auto-restock amounts and time periods.  (5) Customer service.  Computerize complaints and repair order schedule.  ---  08/30/1996


Technology, computers.  ---  Business will use computers to make business more efficient (reduce friction).  Science will use computers to make new discoveries.  Technology will use it to make new stuff (CAD/CAM, etc.).  But the Internet will be used by the masses mainly for entertainment.  The Internet is not a change agent, for the most part.  Like TV, the Internet progresses at the rate of culture, but does not advance culture, due to the fact that it responds to market forces of the wants of the masses.  ---  01/08/1997


Technology, computers.  ---  Cellphones are more popular than computers.  Computer games and video games are more popular than computers.  ---  4/24/2005


Technology, computers.  ---  Combine the concept of a computer game with the concept of an computer operating system.  Create a computer operating system that immerses the user in a virtual world containing challenges, goals, obstacles, etc.  When you login to the operating system you become a player in the game.  A game in which you will occasionally write letters, balance your check book, do your taxes, and surf the Internet.  ---  2/7/2007


Technology, computers.  ---  Computerized universal language translator that can translate from any language into any language.  ---  5/26/1999


Technology, computers.  ---  Computers and human minds can both be evaluated in terms of the number of tasks they perform and the complexity of the tasks they perform.  ---  12/23/2000


Technology, computers.  ---  Computers change how we write and think.  (1) Computers change the way we exchange information (i.e., write) and communicate information.  For example, we use databases more now, we use word processors more now and we use e-mail more now.  Computers change the way we write.  Since language is so closely related to thinking, the changes on our writing caused by using computers also causes a change in our thinking.  This is an indirect effect.  (2) More importantly, computers directly change the way we think.  Its not just that we think more algorithmically or more logically, as a result of being influenced by the practice of programming or writing code.  We also think in terms of "How am I going to organize and communicate massive amounts of information now that I have the tools to do so?"  The presence of new tools changes what we think about things (i.e., our views of subjects), and even changes the ways in which we think (i.e., the methods we use to think).  Technology changes thinking.  The effects are generally good.  We expand rather than replace our kit of tools.  ---  10/1/2001


Technology, computers.  ---  Computers will infiltrate and improve every area of life.  But computers will not be a panacea; computers will not be a solution to all of life's problems.  (1) Computers will make us more efficient, faster, and with less waste.  (2) Computers will allow more communication, which will create a tighter social fabric.  (3) Computers will create more data, yielding more information, yielding more knowledge, yielding more wisdom.  ---  5/30/1998


Technology, computers.  ---  Computers.  (1) What can we get computers to do?  (2) What do we need done (our big problems)?  (3) How can we get the computers to solve our big problems?  ---  01/26/1994


Technology, computers.  ---  CPU transistors double every two years.  The current chips have approximately 5 million transistors.  By 2010 they may have 200 million transistors.  You can make the computer faster, or you can make it smaller for the same speed.  The goal will be to have voice recognition (small headset with microphone and earphones).  Computer will be able to talk back to you.  A wallet size CPU, hard disk, and memory unit, with huge capacity to handle multimedia, teleconferencing, voice recognition and voice emulation.  Wireless WAN antennae.  Monitor: A fold out monitor you keep in you shirt pocket, or one that is flat like a piece of paper, or one that attaches to the corner or top of eyeglass frames that you can see from corner of eye.  Camera:  a camera the size of a pen cap, that sits on a swivel arm on the eyeglass frame, that you can point outwards to scan materials or video/audio record what you see, and that you can point at your own face when you want to teleconference with someone.  No keyboards.  No extension cords.  ---  02/09/1997


Technology, computers.  ---  Develop a Note Combiner program.  A more powerful tool than mere file compare.  It would take two bodies of text.  (1) Read both.  (2) Compare both.  Locate the excess (ideas you have that they don't) and the gaps (ideas they have that you don't).  Not just text strings, but actual ideas no matter what synonym vocabulary or alternate syntax they are written in.  (3) Generate new inferences.  Come up with new ideas.  ---  6/28/2000


Technology, computers.  ---  Ecological computing.  What would a more ecological model of computing look like?  One related technology we can look to is the small hand-crank, solar-powered radios that are on the market today.  A more ecological computer would have similarities with these radios.  (1) Get rid of the floppy drive, the hard drive and the cdrom drive.  PDA's manage to live without these drives.  Floppy drives, hard drives and cdrom drives use up a lot of power.  Instead use RAM and flash memory sticks.  (2) Get rid of the batteries altogether.  Have the PDA connect to a small hand crank generator, with optional solar power, or just have a rechargeable battery for backup power or power away from the hand-crank generator.  (3) Smaller chips create less pollution when they are produced and create less pollution when they are disposed of.  Use smaller chips.  (4) Make the entire PDA recyclable.  This PDA would be good for third world countries where they do not have batteries.  Batteries are full of toxic chemicals, so the less we use the better.  Batteries only end up in the landfill, where they leach into the groundwater.  Wireless connection to the Internet.  Smaller footprint applications to run on smaller chips and use less memory.  Applications on the network.  Storage on the network.        PART TWO.  The principles of ecological computing will be similar to the principles of ecology in general.  (1) Use fewer resources.  (2) Create less pollution in the production process.  (3) Create less pollution in the post-consumption stage.  (4) Recycle.  (5) Use friendlier materials.     PART THREE.  Use more ecological forms of power (ex. Human power, solar power, wind power, etc.).  Do this by making things smaller.  Computing is the perfect medium for smallness.  We now have PDA's with more computing power than the first enormous computers.  Smaller also means less expensive, which means more people will be able to afford them.  Develop a more energy efficient CPU chip (ex. Transmeta Crusoe).  Develop a more energy efficient screen (ex. LCD).  ---  1/1/2001


Technology, computers.  ---  Ethics and computers.  PART ONE.  Positive uses of computers.  (1) Information, learning, thinking.  (2) Promote communication.  (3) Promote social involvement.  Connect people.  (4) Empower people.  (5) Promote social justice and ecological sustainability.  Help the poor, oppressed and exploited.  PART TWO.  Negative uses of computer.  (1) Consumerism.  Shopping.  (2) Mindless, vacuous entertainment.  (3) Social isolation.  (4) Dis empower the masses of people.  (5) Medium of disinformation and propaganda.  (6) Corporate owned and controlled.  Used to benefit corporations.  (7) Tool to spy on people.  Tool to harass people.  Tool of oppression and exploitation.  ---  10/16/2005


Technology, computers.  ---  Every 2 years the number of transistors on a chip doubles.  And speed doubles.  Current chips have approximately 5 million.  1997 10 million.  2000 20 million.  2002 40 million.  2005 80 million.  2007 160 million.  2010 300 million.  Will that be the end?  Even if chip speeds stop advancing, the number of chips per computer can increase from 1 to 2 to 4 to 8, pushing total chip speed from 300 to 600 to 1200 to 2400 million.  ---  01/23/1997


Technology, computers.  ---  Everyone will have a lifetime library of books on a computerized hand held book player, to which they can add and delete books.  ---  12/01/1993


Technology, computers.  ---  Future of computers.  Unlimited bandwidth.  Unlimited storage.  Unlimited processing power.  What are the implications?  ---  3/1/2000


Technology, computers.  ---  Future.  Will networked PC's take off, hooking us into a huge client server network?  Digital cash and online commerce.  Thin screens will get rid of huge, heavy monitors.  Video and audio will be common.  Thick pipe bandwidth, huge CPU's.  Moores Law will hold for 15 more years before quantum effects begin interfering with chip construction.  Voice recognition.  Computer video/audio personal ads and phone calls.  Integrated phone, fax, stereo, vcr, television, radio, computer, Internet browser, etc.  Nanotechnology.  Three dimensional, and all five senses involved.  Hook up and then educate Africa, India, China, and other underdeveloped, overpopulated areas.  Active, smart machines.  Bio-computer technology.  Tele-commuting for education, and tele-commuting for work.  ---  11/30/1996


Technology, computers.  ---  Get an overhead projector to project computer screen onto wall or ceiling, so you can lie in bed comfortably and dictate into a voice recognition system.  ---  03/16/1997


Technology, computers.  ---  Get text to speech software just like Stephen Hawkings, so that if you die you can give your kid a sound message like superman got from Jorel in the movie.  Let it use a sample of your voice though, not a synthesized voice like Hawkings.  ---  1/6/1998


Technology, computers.  ---  GNU/Linux rocks.  Try GNU/Linux today.  ---  11/9/2004


Technology, computers.  ---  Handwriting recognition software.  Print on graph paper, one character per square.  Then scan it into the computer.  ---  12/17/2000


Technology, computers.  ---  Have two computers.  An offline computer for personal data.  An online, vanilla computer exposed to hacker/crackers.  ---  1/2/2004


Technology, computers.  ---  How can computers and other technologies change the way we think?  (1)  New technologies enable us to think of new solutions to problems.  (2) New technologies provide us with new ways of working.  A new way of working with information amounts to a new way of thinking.  (3)  Computer languages are new languages, new symbol systems which allow new ways of thinking.  (4) Computers give us the ability to create: (A) New data types.  (B) New data sets, classes or categories.  (C) The new operations on data classes.  ---  1/1/2002


Technology, computers.  ---  How I kicked the Microsoft habit.  (1) Back up all your data.  (2) Install a copy of Linux.  Pick any distribution.  For example, Debian, Slackware, SUSE, Mandrake, RedHat, etc.  (3) When Linux asks if you want to dual boot with Microsoft, say no.  ---  10/2/2004


Technology, computers.  ---  How much time, computing power and storage space would it take to produce a concordance of the entire Internet?  How much would having a concordance of the entire Internet speed up web searches?  ---  12/14/2005


Technology, computers.  ---  How much work have computers saved us?  How much have they speeded up change?  How much progress have they let us make?  What does the future hold?  Will the current rate of progress hold?  ---  08/15/1993


Technology, computers.  ---  I can't wait for the day when I can carry all my books, all my personal notes and papers, and all my music and paintings on one portable disk.  ---  12/30/1996


Technology, computers.  ---  Idea for computer software called "Who do you look like?"  Its a website where people upload photos of their faces.  A face recognition program would figure out who in the database they look the most like.  You get back a web page that displays your photo and the nearest match of who looks the most like you.  ---  6/20/2002


Technology, computers.  ---  Imagine greater degrees of connectivity between humans.  (1) Email, instant messaging and wireless telephones let us communicate electronically and digitally.  Imagine if the chip was in our brain and we had wireless communication between a group of people.  (2) Imagine if the sense data of one individual was available to the other individuals in the group via a wireless connection.  Sense data from an artificial digital eye and ear, technology which currently exists, could be broadcast to other people.  (3) Sharing of emotions.  Extreme empathy.  This may be more difficult because emotions are something we have barely come to grips with using standard computers, smiley faces notwithstanding.  (4) What if the memories, knowledge base and thinking abilities of one person were available for others to use.  That would be even cooler.  It would be like a Napster peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing system.  It would also be like the SETI P2P system that distributes processing power.  (5) Remote control.  Imagine if, through this wireless digital connection, one person could let another person make use of their body.  Who would be in charge in such a scenario?  Could a malicious take-over occur?  What would be the benefits of such a system?  ---  5/25/2002


Technology, computers.  ---  Imagine when you meet a person for the first time at a party, you pull up their resume or curriculum vitae on a screen near your eye or in your artificial eye, or you hear it in an ear piece or in an artificial ear.  You can also pull up their medical records, school grades, etc.  You can also access what other people have said about this person (much like an Amazon.com reader's review of a book).  You would know who you are talking to.  You would know what their views and attitudes are.  You would know what you have in common and where you differ.  ---  5/25/2002


Technology, computers.  ---  Linux.  Run Linux.  (1) Linux is an alternative to Microsoft.  Microsoft funtions as a monopoly, and monopolies are not good.  (2) Linux is available at no cost.  (3) Linux is built by a diverse group of programmers from around the world.  (4) Run Linux instead of Microsoft.  Support Linux.  Support the GNU project.  More generally, support Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).  ---  6/23/2007


Technology, computers.  ---  Linux.  Why install Linux?  The screen savers.  ---  7/7/2005


Technology, computers.  ---  Linux.  Why run Linux?  Run Linux for the screen savers.  Multi-colored, three dimensional, freaktastic light shows.  Today I am running Ubuntu, a distribution of Linux that can be either installed to the hard drive or run as a live cdrom. The colors, the colors.  ---  2/7/2007


Technology, computers.  ---  Most important idea about computers is potential of computers to aid personal development and societal development.  The use of computers to make money and to entertain is less important.  ---  5/10/2007


Technology, computers.  ---  My motto: A personal computer on every desk, and a robot sitting at every desk to run that computer.  ---  1/13/1999


Technology, computers.  ---  Nerds like computers because computers give nerds control.  And nerds are used to having no power, and being picked on by bullies.  With computers they have power, and can get back at the bullies.  ---  07/30/1996


Technology, computers.  ---  Not only can we totally control computers, which is great for people with control hang-ups, but in addition, computers are also blameless, and thus do not warrant an emotional response, unlike people, who do.  In a way computers are much simpler to deal with than people.  The whole realm of ethical evaluation of responses to the thing one interacts with, is done away with.  And the whole realm of emotional evaluations and responses to the thing one interacts with is done away with too.  Working with computers you don't have to deal with ethics or emotions, as much as you have to when you deal with people.  It is simpler, it is easier.  ---  07/30/1996


Technology, computers.  ---  OLPC project.  The One Laptop Per Child project wants to build low cost laptop computers and distribute the computers to poor children around the world.  See the website www.laptop.org.  (1) Contra OLPC.  OLPC is a technological fix.  How is handing kids a laptop going to help the world?  Do not the kids need guidance in using the laptop?  Are these kids really going to grow up to be computer programmers, and will an abundance of computer programmers help the world?  (2) Pro OLPC.  Still, what better ideas are there?  Many people in the first world own and use a laptop, so it would be hypocritical to deny a laptop to others.  Leap frogging technology is a good way to help develop Third World countries.  Computers and the Internet help empower people.  (3) Conclusion: The pros of the OLPC project outweigh the cons of the project.  I support the OLPC project and I encourage you to support the OLPC project.  ---  5/27/2007


Technology, computers.  ---  Politics and Internet.  (1) Computers and Internet used as a tool to support the establishment and prevent progress.  That is bad.  (2) Computers and Internet used as a tool to challenge the powers that be, to achieve progress, social justice and ecological sustainability.  That is good  ---  10/16/2005


Technology, computers.  ---  Programmer: artist or inventor?  There has been a lot of talk about computer programmers as artists.  The claim is that computer programmers are creative in the same way that artists are creative.  I disagree.  From what I have seen, programmers are technologists who invent things.  Whether the things invented be databases, the Internet, operating systems, etc., in my opinion, computer programmers are "building machines" and not "creating ideas".  Programmers figure out new ways to handle information, but they do not create new information.  Programmers are closer to mechanic than artist.  Programmers work with symbols, its true, but all they create is tools.  PART TWO.  More abstractly, my claim is that technical invention and artistic creation are both creative acts that share some common attributes, but technical invention and artistic creation are not the same thing.  Artists use symbols to transmit meaning, whereas programmers use symbols to build machines.  PART THREE.   If you look closely at programming languages like C++ or Java they are more like math than they are like natural languages like English.  Programming languages today deal with variables, operators and for-next loops.  PART FOUR.   In the future, computers having evolved further, the situation may be different, but today I see programmers claiming to be artists but actually being skilled technicians.  PART FIVE.  Various somewhat analogous occupations.  A doctor is a very skilled technologist whom we hold in high regard.  A librarian is a technologist who deals with information.  An engine mechanic is a technologist who maintains and troubleshoots existing technology.   An engine designer is a technologist who invents new technology.  ---  8/7/2001


Technology, computers.  ---  Progressivism and computers.  How can computers be used to advance the Progressive cause?  Get computers into the hands of the people, for example through the One Laptop Per Child Project.  Get Internet access for people.  Get people running Linux, and also Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).  ---  3/20/2007


Technology, computers.  ---  Project ideas.  (1) Give them a list of keywords to work on.  (2) Give them structures or frameworks to work with.  ---  3/1/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  Project ideas.  (1) Make it fun.  Make it a fun game for adults to do in their spare time.  Less wasted time.  (2) Make it free software, open source.  ---  3/1/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  Project ideas.  (1) Word association module:  Avatar says, "I'm going to say a word, and you tell me what you think."  (2) Rorschach module:  Avatar says, "I'm going to show you a picture, and you tell me what you think of."  ---  3/1/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  Project ideas.  Audio versions.  (1) Ask them spoken questions.  Record their spoken thoughts.  (2) Convert notes to audio format.  Make notes an audio-book.  ---  3/1/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  Project ideas.  Avatar questions:  (1) What are we going to talk about today?  (answer in keyword).  (2) What do you think about x subject?  (answer in sentence).  (3) Why do you think that?  (answer in paragraph).  ---  3/1/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  Project ideas.  Brain dump.  Brain munge.  ---  3/1/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  Project ideas.  Create open source, creativity software.  (1) Brainstorming software to capture word association webs.  (2) Visual mind-map software.  ---  3/1/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  Project ideas.  Create psychotherapy software.  Create philosophy software.  ---  3/1/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  Project ideas.  Create software that has multimedia modules.  (1) Shows you words, asks you questions, records answers.  (2) Shows you pictures, asks you questions, records answers.  (3) Plays you music, asks you questions, records answers.  (4) Shows you movies, asks you questions, records answers.  ---  3/1/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  Project ideas.  Create software that has various mental modules.  (1) Question generator module.  A list or database of questions.  Let them add their own questions.  With or without blanks.  Example, what is the most important thing to think about x.  Swap in new keywords.  Kind of like Madlibs.  (2) Emotion module.  How do you feel about x?  (3) Thinking module.  (4) Memory module.  What do you remember about x?  (5) Social module.  ---  3/1/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  Project ideas.  Create software that lets you create your own dictionary or glossary, thesaurus and encyclopedia.  (1) Index.  Produce an index of the notes.  An alphabetical list of keywords.  Create your own dictionary.  (2) Lists of related words.  List which words are higher and lower on the outline tree.  Create your own thesaurus.  (3) Then create your own encyclopedia.  ---  3/1/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  Project ideas.  Create software that provides a daily exercise for the brain.  Software that asks the user questions everyday.  Have the user write everyday.  ---  3/1/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  Project ideas.  Create software that will scan what a person has written.  Split it up by keyword.  Categorize it different ways, by date, by keywords, by importance.  Ask them questions about it, like a shrink, like a philosopher.  ---  3/1/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  Project ideas.  Create software to let a person take their own diary journal blog, mine it, and reshape it.  Apply a philosopher/shrink/artist to it.  ---  3/1/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  Project ideas.  Create software.  Something related to Notes.  (1) Software to help the user create and organize their own notes.  (2) Software to present my notes in a more user friendly way.  (3) A notes combiner that lets two people combine their notes.  (4) A notes machine to automate the creation of notes.  ---  3/1/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  Project ideas.  Gather data.  First gather a list of words.  Then gather a list of sentences.  Then gather a list of paragraphs.  Group them in blocks as word, sentence, paragraph.  View by word, sentence or paragraph.  ---  3/1/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  Project ideas.  Give the avatar emotions.  Give the avatar a romantic side.  Give the avatar a perturbed side.  Give the avatar many, changing emotions, moods, faces and vocabulary.  Give the avatar different roles like friend, shrink, philosopher, artist.  ---  3/1/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  Project ideas.  It needs to be fun.  Create an avatar guide that is a comedian, philosopher, shrink.  The screen saver is this avatar dude who asks questions like, "What are you thinking?", and you type in an answer.  The user can add their own questions too.  Develop an AI component for the avatar.  ---  3/1/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  Project ideas.  It will be creativity software, therapy software, philosophy software, knowledge capture software, figuring out software.  So much of the Internet is about finding out.  This will be about figuring out.  ---  3/1/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  Project ideas.  List of keywords.  Alphabetical list.  Outline format.  Groups of related terms.  For example, job, friends, goals, values, etc.  ---  3/1/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  Project ideas.  People feel locked into roles of job, family, society.  Create software that helps a person unlock, unblock, bust out, break out of roles.  ---  3/1/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  Project ideas.  Possible technologies to apply to the notes.  (1) RSS to gather notes.  (2) Wiki.  (3) Database.  (4) XML.  (5) HTML.  Keywords hyper-linked in a network.  (F) Search engines like Htdig.  ---  3/1/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  Project ideas.  Translate it into many languages, so everyone can use it.  ---  3/1/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  Project ideas.  Variables.  (1) Personal versus social.  (2) Facts versus theory.  Facts (Wikipedia's province).  Theory (potential for development).  (3) Loose versus tight writing styles.  Lead them from loose formats to tight formats. (4) Figuring out versus finding out.  Figuring out is as important as finding out.  ---  3/1/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  Project ideas.  When a person uses a new word, the software takes notice.  ---  3/1/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  Put the screen in a corner of a pair of eyeglasses.  Get rid of hard drive, and have wireless access to a network where you store you data and apps.  Instead of keyboard, have either voice recognition, or a pair of keyboard gloves.  Keyboard gloves are an idea I thought of.  By touching the fingers to the thumb you can get eight characters.  By using the opposite thumb and fingers as a shift keys you can get 32 characters.  ---  12/30/1996


Technology, computers.  ---  Really useful Internet technology.  (1) E-mail that you can access from any online computer (ex. Yahoo email).  (2) Bookmarks that you can access from any online computer (ex. Yahoo bookmarks).  (3) Files that you can access from any online computer (ex. X-drive).  (4) Office tools that you can access from any online computer.  (5) Address book that you can access from any online computer.  (6) Group-work sites that you can access from any online computer.  ---  12/5/2000


Technology, computers.  ---  Related subjects.  (1) Business and computers: Online shopping.  Online stock trading.  (2) Politics and computers:  Computer voting.  (3) Technology and computers:  CAD/CAM.  Computer robots increase production and decrease human labor demand.  (4) Math and computers:  Mathematica.  (5) Society and computers:  Virtual communities and families.  (6) Art and computers.  (7) Literature and computers:  Ebooks.  Hypertext books.  Database books.  (8) Music and computers:  Online music sharing.  Digital recording.  Cdroms.  Mp3s.  (9) Visual art and computers.  (10) Movies and computers:  Digital cameras.  Digital playback.  Handheld cams.  (11) Religion and computers.  (12) Psychology and computers:  Online psychotherapy.  (13) Education and computers.  (14) Work and computers:  Work from home.   Telecommuting.  Robotics.  Downsizing.  Office automation.  (15) Leisure and computers:  Cyber dating.  Cyber sex.  Computer games.  (16) Philosophy and computers:  Metaphysics and computers.  Artificial life.  Artificial intelligence.  Ethics and computers.  Computer ethics.  (17) Economics and computers:  Computers used to create economic models.  ---  4/24/2005


Technology, computers.  ---  Related subjects.  (1) Business and computers.  Office automation.  Ecommerce.  Electronic data processing.  (2) Society and computers.  Communication: email.  Audio/video.  Drawing people closer vs. isolating people in front of their computer screens.  DIY, Open Source, GNU, Linux.  (3) Science and computers.  Computerized telescopes.  Computerized DNA mapping.  (4) Technology and computers.  Computerized robots.  Computer aided design and manufacture.  (5) Education and computers.  Distance learning.  ---  1/4/2004


Technology, computers.  ---  Sharing data between any computer languages, any platform (operating system), and any application.  ---  05/18/1997


Technology, computers.  ---  Small operating systems.  Stripped down.  Very small.  Fits on a USB drive, or a small cdrom, or a floppy disk.  Runs on old computers.  Concise code.  Economical.  Simple.  No wasted effort.  Small but powerful.  Nano sized with mega capabilities.  Like haiku.  Like minimalist decor.  No frills.  ---  2/7/2007


Technology, computers.  ---  Software that can, from an informal spoken conversation or written text, abstract and diagram the formal argument structure.  ---  8/20/2004


Technology, computers.  ---  Some cool technologies.  (1) A device that records everything you say and converts it to text.  (2) A device that records all your conversations with other people.  (3) A device that records your thoughts directly.  (4) A device that records what you read or see.  ---  1/1/2002


Technology, computers.  ---  Sum up.  (1) Make computers more ecological.  Make the out of less toxic materials.  Make them more biodegradable.  (2) Make Internet access easier and cheaper.  Solar-powered computers with wireless connectivity to a free Internet provider.  (3) Have better content online.  Have more free content online.  ---  4/23/2002


Technology, computers.  ---  The computer has made painting on canvas frames and music bands obsolete.  You can do the same thing on a computer more quickly, more easily, and easier to store and send to others.  ---  01/23/1997


Technology, computers.  ---  The computer is the current technological opportunity most poised to make advances.  The question is: How can computers be used in all subject areas?  For example, in the sociology note experiment, the computer is used for printing quickly, cheaply, and tiny-ly.  ---  03/16/1997


Technology, computers.  ---  The grand achievement of the latest operating system is translucent windows.  The development of translucent windows is a sign that there is an excess of processing power with little use for it.  ---  3/18/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  There are many different meanings and uses of the terms geek, nerd, hacker, etc.  However, there are concepts that we can discern that these terms share.  (1) Technophiles.  The geek, nerd and hacker are generally pro technology.  (A) In the strong version of the term the person may see themselves as an inventor.  (B) In the weak version of the term the person is merely a gadget collector.  (C) Other versions:  The person may think technology is ultimately good.  The person may think that technology is all we need.  The person may think that technology can solve all problems.  (2) Emotions.  (A) The strong version of the term involves a lack of emotion.  The person is like Spock the Vulcan.  (B) In the weaker version, the person is highly intelligent, highly logical and highly rational but still possesses an emotional side.  However, it is not entirely accurate to claim anyone who is smart is a geek.  That is, they may be a brain but that does not make them a geek.  (C) Other versions: the persons admires intellect even if they do not actually posses it.  (3) Lack of social skills.  The person has impaired social skills.  (4) Another definition of hacker is an amateur who works for free and fun as opposed to professionals who are paid to work whether they like it or not.     PART TWO.  Other people's less accurate definitions of geek, nerd, hacker, etc.  (1) Some people, perhaps in an effort to rehabilitate the topic, define geeks, nerds and hackers as passionate, claiming that these people love what they do.  However, passion has a strong emotional component, which would seem to contradict traditional conceptions of the geek.  (2) Some people define geek as anyone who is creative.  However, geeks, nerds and hacker are generally technicians.  The people who define geek in terms of creativity are trying to coop the role of the artist.  ---  8/8/2001


Technology, computers.  ---  Three principles for computers:  (1) Natural language is as important as computer languages.  (2)  Emotion is as important as a reason.  (3) People are as important as machines and money.  ---  1/10/2002


Technology, computers.  ---  Two big questions.  (1) Is it possible to do anything creative with computers that you cannot do any other way?  Artificial Intelligence.  Artificial Life.  (2) Is it possible to make money with computers that you cannot do any other way?  Especially with the Internet.  ---  6/26/2001


Technology, computers.  ---  Two questions.  (1) How long does it take a person to move from Microsoft to Linux?  (2) How long does it take a person to move from the Linux GUI to the Linux command line?  ---  9/12/2004


Technology, computers.  ---  Two spectrums for computers to compare the subject and view of ideas.  (1) There should be a way for a computer to compare two ideas and determine where on the spectrum they lie in terms of being about the same subject, similar subjects or different subjects.  (2) If two ideas are on the same subject, there should be a way for a computer to determine if the two ideas espouse the same view, similar views, different views, or opposite views.  ---  9/17/2001


Technology, computers.  ---  Upgrade lock-in.  Locked into a cycle of upgrades.  The old operating systems do not contain the new hardware drivers, so it becomes impossible to run old operating systems on new computers.  The new operating systems require lots of memory and processing power, so you cannot run the new operating systems on the old hardware.  As a result, one is forced to continually acquire new operating systems and new hardware.  ---  12/28/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  Virtual reality.     PART ONE.  Television is a type of virtual reality.  A step backward in virtual reality technology before television is the novel.  A step forward in virtual reality technology beyond television is something like the Matrix (see movie of same name).  Many people think that there is something necessarily good about reality and something necessarily bad about virtual reality.  Yet consider the following: one person might live without television, radio, books, etc., in a small town and never have any idea what is going on in the rest of the world.  Another person might use virtual reality technology (i.e., books, television, matrix) to find out what is happening elsewhere in the world.  The first person is isolated, ignorant and even worse, might be living in a mental fantasy world from which they cannot escape.     PART TWO.  The important factors are: (1) Can you unplug from the virtual reality?  (2) Can you tell what is real from what is fantasy or lies?  (3) Do you endeavor or to find out all of what is real?  (4) Even fantasy has its uses.  One can learn from imaginary worlds (for example, in sci-fi novels) as long as one recognizes that it is a fantasy.     PART THREE.  The important issue is not whether you are living in virtual reality or not.  The important issue is whether your virtual reality accurately reflects the real world or not, and if you can tell when it reflects the real world, and if you use it to explore the real world.     PART FOUR.  Virtual reality is merely a model of reality.  Many important pursuits make use of models of reality, for example, the sciences, philosophy, the arts, mathematicians, linguists, engineers, etc.  Total immersion in virtual reality is similar to building a full-scale working model.  We use models to forecast, understand and monitor our environment.  In fact, the use of models is so prevalent among all occupations that we can infer that everyone of us makes extensive use of model testing in everyday life, and in fact, the use of modeling (i.e., virtual reality) has been hard-wired or  bio-engineered into our  brains through evolution.      PART FIVE.  People who fear and mistrust the notion of a computerized virtual reality are people who perhaps mistrust and fear the notion of models in general.  These are people who want or need to be able to put their hands on something to know that it is real.  These are people who do not take kindly to the idea world.  On the other hand, people who are enraptured by the notion of virtual reality are perhaps people who have an affinity for the concept of models in general, and mental models in particular.  These are people who enjoy working with ideas.     PART SIX.  Once an accurate working model of reality has been constructed, one of the most useful uses of models is to explore "what if" situations, hypotheticals, or alternative realities.  In essence, to run experiments in a virtual world in order to gain knowledge that can be applied to the real world.     PART SEVEN.  (A) Truth.  The topic of virtual reality boils down to whether we can trust our senses.  People want very much to be able to trust their senses.  People don't want to be lied to.  People want the truth because truth increases survival.  (B) Power.  The other big issue with virtual reality is the issue of power.  People don't want to be jerked around.  People want to have freewill.  People want to be in control of themselves in an environment that either (i) they can control, (ii) is random, (iii) follows natural laws, or (iv) follows agreed upon social laws.  What most people fear about virtual reality is that they will become someone's puppet, pawn or dupe.     PART EIGHT.  Comparing models and virtual reality.  (A) Power.  One comforting notion about a model is that a model is something over which we have complete control.  However, a scary notion about virtual reality is that virtual reality is something that can conceivably control us completely.  (B) Truth.  A comforting notion of a model is that a model (especially as used in science) helps us find out what is true.  However, a scary notion about virtual reality is that in virtual reality we can't tell if anything is really true.  ---  1/7/2001


Technology, computers.  ---  What aspect or phase (period) of computers has had what effect on what areas of life?  Time saved, money saved, lives improved (psychological and physical health), education improved, etc.  Computers are the future.  The future is good (better than the past).  Be on the cutting edge.  Get into the game.  ---  06/30/1996


Technology, computers.  ---  What computers still cannot do.  Surprise me.  Amaze me.  Sure, you can crunch your numbers, fill your databases, program your spreadsheets, build your spiffy websites, it does not impress me.  Do your taxes.  Sell your wares.  Computers are still in the "clever" stage.  I cannot devote my life to a machine.  I will not give myself to the system.  ---  2/18/2006


Technology, computers.  ---  What is a computer?  Computer as numerical calculator.  Computer as verbal communication device.  Computer as visual image processor.  Computer as music device.  Computer as movie maker.  ---  6/12/2005


Technology, computers.  ---  What is a computer?  Multipurpose machines.  Programmable machines.  With memory.  Symbol manipulating machine.  ---  5/1/2005


Technology, computers.  ---  What is a computer?  What can a computer do?  ---  10/16/2005


Technology, computers.  ---  What is needed is an online library of video programs.  Like the Museum of Broadcasting, except online for all to use.  This will speed up education greatly.  ---  11/24/1998


Technology, computers.  ---  When everyone has a small camera attached to their wearable computer which is loaded with face recognition software that is wirelessly connected to a peer-to-peer network, then everyone will be able to find out where everyone else is, and everyone will be able to tell who everyone else it.  ---  8/31/2001


Technology, computers.  ---  When everyone has a tiny 360 degree video/audio camera attached to themselves, recording 24 hours a day, crime will go way down.  Too many witnesses.  Tiny eyes and brains everywhere.  ---  06/10/1997


Technology, computers.  ---  When you have a head mounted audio/video camera recording and storing everything that you experience you essentially have a photographic memory.  You can go back and review every day of your life.  This is a tremendous advance because it will obliviate the notion of lost time.  When you ask, "Where did the time go?", you will have an answer.  The contribution this will make to the fields of history, art and psychological health is immense.     PART TWO.  It will aid art because it will provide a vast storehouse of experience.  It will aid history by providing a record of fact.  It will aid psychological health because it will help us organize our experience and it will help us avoid repressing our memories.  Psychological problems result from disorganization and forgetting.  It will aid the field of education by letting students review their classes.  It will aid sociology by letting us review or social interactions.  PART THREE.  A head mounted cam will follow our head.  A step up will be an eye mounted cam that follows our eye movements.  Another step up will be an eye cam that tracks our focus on depth of field from close to far.  ---  7/30/2002




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Paul Nervy Notes. Copyright 1988-2007 by Paul Nervy.