Hope & Hype from Apple


Technologies provide new ways of relating to one another. Technological change is cultural change, so we need to examine technological change and look to the future with a holistic perspective, taking into account all levels of culture (infrastructure, social structure, superstructure, etc.).

A ubiquituos network of things and information



Here is some imagery from Microsoft - building a vision for 2019:


What does it all mean in terms of how our culture and society will change?
Computers will effect our way of life and enable us to be somebody you're not.

Technologies that may have a substantial effect on our lives...
RFID
2D barcodes
augmented reality
virtual reality
semantic web

Adding it up? The enternet double's time every 12 months.
Processors double in speed every twelve months.
Computers have decreased in size every ten years.

Examples of what is possible now:

Breaking down the real/virtual divide:


MIT students & "The Sixth Sense"


We then looked at nanobots & nano-manufacturing:


Example of possible product using nano-technology (Morph Phone from Nokia):


This leads us to a discussion of Kurzweil's idea of the Singularity.

We then left electronic/digital/communications technology and looked at bio-tech.

First, Designer Babies:


Then anti-aging:


This leads to a discussion of Transhumanism:

the quest to enhance human capabilities and overcome disability, disease, and death. Criticisms and Concerns:
	Crisis of Significance and Meaning
	Genetic Divide (Gattaca)
	Existential Crisis (literally)

How will we find significance and meaning in the future? How do we find it now?

Kevin Champion, a former student & later TA of this class, produced the following video reflecting on these questions: