How to Circumvent a Pandemic in the Name of Love
What struck my near-epiphany is that these people (and company) just created a disease and virus free world. A group of 30+ young, attractive, wealthy people (and all those involved in cast and crew) are all living in an enclosed space where they get to experience life and joys, and if they do not want to talk about it, never have to think about the suffering going on outside their walls.
The Complexities of Human Existence
I typically do not like to think about the existence of aliens. The idea of another intelligent species inhabiting another planet somewhere in this galaxy or universe stretches my imagination too far. I am still unsure if our existence is even real. We may be a large-scale simulation as a part of a young being’s science fair project.
The Implication of Technology in a Profound Loss of Self
The emphasis on actual human contact underscores our highly virtual world we have today. Often times, I find that physical contact is limited with how we have technology to stay in touch.
The Undefined Limits of Tampering with Nature
In “L’ntrus” (“The Intruder”), Jean-Luc Nancy calls to question the worth of medical intervention and the philosophical implications behind prolonging death. By experience of his own transplant and medical journey, Nancy claimed humanity has tampered with nature (creating “intruders” in the natural body) and has never been prepared to answer the question, “which life should be prolonged, and to what end?” Nancy leaves questions unanswered, but he provides the basis for an excellent philosophical inquiry: the meaning and implications of extending life through medicine.
To Be Human: When Advancements in Technology Redefine Humanity
At the beginning of every The Technically Human podcast episode Dr. Doing always describes the podcast as a journey of answering “what it means to be human in the age of tech”, and I have just accepted this as some abstract question that is too large to reflect on. However, I think the “Biotechnically Human” podcast episode and Nancy’s Intrusion made me start to reflect on how we really define ourselves as human.
Public Interest Technology and the Intersection of Tech and Writing
Due to the fact that there is no direct pipeline of technologists to the human sector, there is a lack in that arena. This is of course, no surprise. Within the capitalist structure of our country (where money talks), who would naturally choose the less glamorous route of public sector technology when they could land the epically cool job at Google?
The Incremental Normalization of Being Tracked
I’ve become so desensitized to the concept of being tracked and logged for every digital footprint I make, I don’t even care anymore. Take my location, take my email, send me all those targeted ads - it’s so normalized now
Google is Always Watching Me: When Tech Can Read Minds
It’s quite possible that mind-reading technology was not a consideration in the late 1940s when the novel was published. However, it is mentioned that “The scientist of today is either a mixture of psychologist and inquisitor, studying with real ordinary minuteness the meaning of facial expressions, gestures, and tones of voice” in an attempt to weed out thoughtcrime, perhaps a precursor of sorts to actual mind-reading technology.
Ethical Tech In The Time of Covid-19
When the old maps are no longer available to us, when the busy-ness of our daily lives are put on pause without our consent, when the familiar is taken from us, our first impulse is to want it back, all of it. I think, however, that if we truly learned to read the stars that shine in our souls, we might find something guiding us toward something different.
We Are the Product
We see the internet as revolutionary in regards to a new age of knowledge. In fact, the internet and its potential to inform people scares some leadership so much that in certain countries specific sites are banned or regulated. Requiring a purchase for online services would effectively regulate the internet in a way that greatly favors a specific societal status, creating an alarming opportunity for inequality.
Death of an American Consensus
A Meditation on Translation
I've seen articles written on all sides of the political spectrum detailing on the downfalls and invalid arguments of a speech from the other side, and when I go to listen to that speech, I'm surprised to hear something completely different than what I've read.
One-Sided Discussions in Quarantine
I have been struggling to communicate with others via social media due to fear of judgment, but I think that podcasts and video platforms such as YouTube have created a new way to get that conversation without the judgment or criticism that comes with social media.
When Science Turns Fairy Tale
Hollywood has made the genetic-engineering side of science fiction as shocking as possible for an audience, like the accomplishment of reviving dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, which covers the fact that such shocking and terrifying genetic experiments have already occurred in society.
The Power of a Single Civilian
I do not think that Forster's imagined world is too different from our own, or what our own may begin to look like. With current technologies, people are able to isolate themselves from other individuals, all while still staying in contact with friends and family through the usage of smartphones, computers, tablets, and many more prominent technologies.
More Than an Android
What I enjoyed most about this episode is how much it relates to what our near future could entail. With the quick advancements of artificial intelligence and machine learning, we are going to have to face a similar situation as shown in this episode.
Sentient Robots are Not Disposable Creatures
I believe Maddox’s open-mindedness to learn is essential in building an inclusive environment that is adaptive to robots in our society, as there has been increasing debate on the topic of robot rights, some see it as absurdity, while others a necessity.
Invisible Disability
I think that having migraines is a part of who I am, and these experiences have helped shape my personality. Besides the pain, the only negative that comes along with migraines is the stigma or disbelief in the invisible pain of a migraine or headache.
Finding Yourself in Virtual Reality
Making the “authentic experiences” virtual reality and totally based on the expectations falsely portrayed in movies shows how people want to believe what they want and suppress reality.
The Character of AI
The Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Measure of a Man brings to light some important questions about artificial intelligence, robots, and how the ethics of technological innovation must be monitored.