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"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." - Arthur C. Clarke

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Technologically Teaching Vol. 4

Technologically Teaching Vol. 4

Jan. 7, 2009
Happy New Year All!
Well, with the passing of another year it would seem a good time to remember some past very serious quotes about technology that have bit the dust:
"Email has no place at work" (1994)
"Internet access has no place at work" (1996)
"eCommerce is too high a risk for our company" (1998)
"Instant Messaging has no place at work" (2002)
"Social Software has no place at work" (2005)

I got these quotes at the last T.I.E.S conference I attended in Minneapolis just before Christmas and they seem to make clear that technology marches forward with or without the naysayers. So what to do? Hmmm.... Persevere I suppose and continue to give technology the human face it needs, for that human face as we know it may disappear.

One of the featured speakers pointed out that the ultimate technological situation would be one where everyone has a handheld computer (see iPhone, Blackberry) and ubiquitous access to the internet. Seems like we're already there.

Want more exciting/scary stuff? Check out this quote from Ray Kurzweil

The Law of Accelerating Returns
by Ray Kurzweil

"An analysis of the history of technology shows that technological change is exponential, contrary to the common-sense "intuitive linear" view. So we won't experience 100 years of progress in the 21st century -- it will be more like 20,000 years of progress (at today's rate). The "returns," such as chip speed and cost-effectiveness, also increase exponentially. There's even exponential growth in the rate of exponential growth. Within a few decades, machine intelligence will surpass human intelligence, leading to The Singularity -- technological change so rapid and profound it represents a rupture in the fabric of human history. The implications include the merger of biological and nonbiological intelligence, immortal software-based humans, and ultra-high levels of intelligence that expand outward in the universe at the speed of light."

Did he say "merger of biological and non-biological intelligence"? Did he use the word "immortal"? Sounds good to me, but I suppose for many it sounds a bit frightening.

Want to read more about it?
Click here: http://www.kurzweilai.net/articles/art0134.html?printable=1

Well, I just wanted to throw a few curve balls at you to think about in 2009. Enjoy!

And keep checking out my blog I'm adding new stuff all the time. See you in the real world (for now)...

"Tech Keith"

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