What Happens When...
Mantrid
Lockpick Join Date: 2003-12-07 Member: 24109Members
Lockpick Join Date: 2003-12-07 Member: 24109Members
in Discussions
...Technology reaches a level of complexity in which no person can understand it any longer?
Is there a "technological ceiling", in which we can not advance any further simply because of our own mental limitations?
If so, what happens to civilization? Do we delve into purely artistic and philosophical endeavors?
Is there a "technological ceiling", in which we can not advance any further simply because of our own mental limitations?
If so, what happens to civilization? Do we delve into purely artistic and philosophical endeavors?
Comments
I don't have to understand/do it all since someone else allready made tools for me to use so I can concentrate on what I want to do or what I want to study kind of thing.
At this point, it will no longer be something like "Computer Science", it will be more like "Computer Theory" since people literally won't have time to go back all the way to the grass roots of how it works.
The other major flaw in this question is that it assumes similar lifespans to our own in a future that is still quite far away, and obviously quite advanced at its point anyways.
Personally I'd try the latter and use the former as a last resort.
To quote Arthur C. Clarke, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
(Good thing I checked; I had thought it was Carl Sagan who said it.)
So as technology gets more and more complex, the ease of use will still have to be simple so most can use the product.
heh j/k <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I say as technology develops, the state of mind develops with. For example: your grandma wouldn't have a clue how to use the <cliche> VCR </cliche>, but you wouldn't have a clue how to make ammo for the war.
Most people these day and ages do not understand the actual logistics of how certain technologies work, and how they are applied. Sometimes I look at certain objects, zoom out into a different perspective, and marvel at the greatness of human invention. For example: "Who creates which part?" "Where does this come from?" "How 'exactly' does it work?" I feel as if there is a secret society of creation robots on the prowel.
I still feel, however, that there may be a "technological ceiling". It is possible that at some point in the future the body of knowlege about technology, and science for that matter reachs the point where connecting enough specialists to actualy be able to prooduce something new becomes a problem. At that point there would be a slowing down of advancement, that could possibly lead to a complete cessation of our race's "advancement".
I guess you didn't get the point from that thread about human evolution, which ironically noone has posted in since my post. Humans aren't going to evolve in response to "technology getting too complex for us". Unless of course we start a policy of eugenics and only breed smart people. However, intelligence isn't directly linked to genes, so even that wouldn't work.
Besides, it's impossible to create something that you don't understand. It's possible to <u>discover</u> something you don't understand, but it's impossible to utilize it - otherwise known as technology - without someone comprehending it. And if someone somewhere can understand this new technology, it can be simplified and taught to other people. However I also agree that eventually the basics will become less and less important, and will basically fall into the realm of common knowledge. A split atom releases energy; where the energy comes from and what form does it take won't be as important as what you can do with the energy.
Not directly related, but still I made the mental link when reading this.
But that's not what you said.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->...our brains will evolve (alternatively , we'll be replaced by purely artificial life forms) to gain better learning abilities.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
What you describe isn't evolution. I'm sorry to be nitpicky, but I just hate the misconceptions people have about evolution, just throwing the word around like it's some magical process that makes everything better. ty for being my target, no personal offense was intended.
And I still believe that either humans will continue to learn and just leave the basics alone, or we will become a society of specialists as stated before - "predestined" to one career path or another, or alternatively we will learn until we come upon a technology that is impossible to use safely, such as tearing wormholes in space-time, and we will destroy ourselves. Nukes won't do it though, I'm sure of that.
[edit] Dear God I kill discussion threads... [/edit]
There not your fault any more.
Serioulsy, were talking about a whole lot of what ifs here. You can't assume that AI will take over the pursuit of science before humans develop imortality. For all we know we could be using cerebral implants that give us the processing and memory powers of a computer in 50 years. Use of an undiscovered scientific development as the backbone of a point is really not a fair way to work through this argument.