[LeafStew]

Hey, I've came across a really cool article about a university professor explaining his theory on how the human beings and the internet are two separate systems systems with many advantage. For instance the human system allows us to take actions, interact, and communicate in a form to each other. On the other hand the internet is fast, multiple source database/communication device that allows us to gather information and connect with practically humanity as a whole. Basically the Internet would become our common nervous system.

He states that human have limitations since we evolve quite slowly while technology (see Moore's law) evolves at quite a rapid pace. Being a deaf person, he already has some hearing implants with transistors connecting both of his ears to in his brain. So for him it isn't too far fetched to theorize about human being able to communicate in real time through a brain connected to the Internet. Our physical features allows us only to send so many text messages in a day, while an enhanced brain could allow us to be connected in real time and make better decision base on a greater amount of information.

To be honest I haven't read to whole article yet as I was too excited to post this (lol) and it's quite long. But I find it quite imaginative and you can see the author as put a lot of thinking into this as it encompass at lot of concept, examples and information.

So here's the article:
The World Wide Mind » OWNI.eu, News, Augmented

So yea I do realize this is the debate forum but this article isn't really news or scientific discovery per se. Still I think it's a fertile ground for discussion either on possibilities or possible downfall/negative aspect for a new human reality. We already have some kind of enhanced reality/virtual reality through smart phone but that's an external device it's not yet a part of what we are and how we act fundamentally.

[Jazzercise]

Oh my, there's so much crap on the internet and I can only handle so much of the bullshit as it is. But seriously, I'm not really into the whole Borg/hivemind thing. Kind of scary.

[Cover3]

against(x)


I kind of put this on the same shelve as a fully electronic cashless society, I'm not ready to turn over my mind to anyone just yet..

[Angelic Gardevoir]

I think that sounds kind of cool. It would certainly be different, and combining the power of the brain with the power of computers would be mind-blowing. Still, I would hope to be in control of everything and not have the machine become me. Of course, there's the possibility of the singularity and all that...

[Mutatio NOmenis]

If I connected my mind to the internet, I'd instantly try to mindrape everyone who I contacted. Of course, being the internet, it may come across as normal.

[Kilgore Trout]

I'm uncertain.

There seems to be an accelerating amount of information over each generation and a difference in the level of technology to distribute this information, depending on certain societies, businesses, sponsors, investors, organizations, individuals, etc.

What we must understand is the source of the information, who's receiving the information, who has the access to the information, what can we do with the information we receive, how is the information being filtered, distinguished and disguised.

Will the internet act as another extension of humankind, will we become overwhelmed by the accelerating amount of information, will we develop future technologies to help filter the information, and how will the information be filtered.

What are be our so-called freedoms versus our privileges when potentially hooked into an ever increasing, realistic, digital realm? Who will give us more control over these privileges? Will we notice a control similar to television, radio, and so on? Are we not already being given an emphasis of some types of information over others due to the power of whomever wants their information more accessible or other information less accessible?

I'm not really making a point; only speculating about the future.

[Cheveyo]

I'm reminded of a scene in the first Men in Black movie. The mind reading gadget thing.
K explains that in some of the "greater" galaxies, human thought is considered an infectious disease.

That's how I view it. I don't want my brain anywhere close to anyone else's. Stupidity might be contagious and I'd prefer not to catch it.

[Daenad]

Spam comes to mind.

[Matis]

Spam comes to mind.

Literally!

What about viruses? Will there be a Norton AntiBrainVirus to download into our brains?

[Daenad]

As for the viruses, they sit in the background doing their thing so I don't notice them (aside from the slowdown in my mental faculties). It's the bloody popups that keep flashing up telling me I don't have a 14" cock and should buy this pill to rectify it that does my head in.