When trying to decide on a topic for this weeks blog I was left with stumped. So I started my search for an idea by typing cyborg into the Wikipedia search column. It returned some very interesting comment, but there was one item that caught my attention, it was a short story written by Edgar Allen Poe titled, "The Man That Was Used Up." I have enjoyed reading other Poe short stories and thought this could be my ticket to an okay Blog topic, and it was.
I will not try and explain the entire story but its main character is an Army hero, that through stories has become a mythical-like figure. When the narrator of the story eventually meets the hero he sees that the man is a collection of robotic parts. I would suggest atleast reading the summary of this story, if not the entire thing.
The story got me thinking, when is a human not a human anymore. If a man is made out of entirely robotic parts, like the character in Poe's story, is he still human? Or, how much Artificial Intelligence does it take to make a robot a human.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Thank goodness for my third arm
Hey fellow 201ers,
The discussion around Natural Born Cyborgs has generated alot of conversation on the development/need of the third arm. I myself think a third arm would be very "handy" throughout all task performed during the day. One example brought up in small groups the other day was the ability to hold the morning paper with two arms and eat your cereal at the same time. I think whether you have a third arm or not you are more than likely a cyborg walking down the street. Anytime you walk down the street people have some kind of technology hanging from them, whether it is a cellphone, an ipod, sunglasses, or even a pacemaker. Having anyone of these items you would be considered a cyborg in the eyes of the author Clark. The third arm is simply the result of the natural progression of developing newer technologies to make our lives easier. Some technologies that we use are not used to make our lives easier but instead are used simply to one up the person next to us.
Also discussed in this past week were the ideas of opaque and transparent technologies. I believe someone commented in class that opaque techs become transparent over time. I would like to second this thought. When computers first came out I am sure there were just as opaque as the video-boards ( not sure if that is what they are called, I am looking for what was talked about in class and used during election day by CNN). But, computers today are much more transparent, and to some people may even be considered see-through.
That's about it, have a good weekend.
Ryan
The discussion around Natural Born Cyborgs has generated alot of conversation on the development/need of the third arm. I myself think a third arm would be very "handy" throughout all task performed during the day. One example brought up in small groups the other day was the ability to hold the morning paper with two arms and eat your cereal at the same time. I think whether you have a third arm or not you are more than likely a cyborg walking down the street. Anytime you walk down the street people have some kind of technology hanging from them, whether it is a cellphone, an ipod, sunglasses, or even a pacemaker. Having anyone of these items you would be considered a cyborg in the eyes of the author Clark. The third arm is simply the result of the natural progression of developing newer technologies to make our lives easier. Some technologies that we use are not used to make our lives easier but instead are used simply to one up the person next to us.
Also discussed in this past week were the ideas of opaque and transparent technologies. I believe someone commented in class that opaque techs become transparent over time. I would like to second this thought. When computers first came out I am sure there were just as opaque as the video-boards ( not sure if that is what they are called, I am looking for what was talked about in class and used during election day by CNN). But, computers today are much more transparent, and to some people may even be considered see-through.
That's about it, have a good weekend.
Ryan
Thursday, February 12, 2009
I want the Truth!.....You can't handle the Truth!
This past week we have discussed the concept of "truth." According to Rorty, "truth" is determined by the people. I disagree with Rorty on this idea, and I believe that truth exist whether we as people aknowledge it or not. The idea that I use to back up my position on this is the fact that every once in awhile new species are found and added to the animal record. Now, just because we did not aknowledge these species as existing doesn't mean they were not there.
Role of Technology?
I follow the idea of social constructionism, I believe that technology is advanced and also used on a basis of necessity. For example, the telephone was created because the need or the want was developed to talk to someone in a different area without having to send a letter.
Finally, I thought our discussion on "Ipod culture" was not only interesting but somewhat humorous. I believe that Ipods have drastically changed the way we interact in society. We no longer live in an "Andy Griffith Show" society were people happily carry on conversations with strangers and have no fear in doing so. Now we find solace in our ear-buds as we walk down the street tuning out society, whether it is a kind stranger or a moving car.
Take it easy,
Ryan
Role of Technology?
I follow the idea of social constructionism, I believe that technology is advanced and also used on a basis of necessity. For example, the telephone was created because the need or the want was developed to talk to someone in a different area without having to send a letter.
Finally, I thought our discussion on "Ipod culture" was not only interesting but somewhat humorous. I believe that Ipods have drastically changed the way we interact in society. We no longer live in an "Andy Griffith Show" society were people happily carry on conversations with strangers and have no fear in doing so. Now we find solace in our ear-buds as we walk down the street tuning out society, whether it is a kind stranger or a moving car.
Take it easy,
Ryan
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Paradigm Shiftin
The discussion this past Wednesday was very interesting, and even after 24 hours I still don't think it has all set in for me.
I think Thomas Kuhn has some very intriguing ideas and for the most part I believe in most of his ideas. I believe that the paradigms that have existed in the past must be viewed within the context and era they existed in. As for "paradigm shifts", I believe that they are the result of advancements in technology. So, technology has the effect of both breaking paragdigms and creating them. A great example of this was brought up in class with the "Copernican Revolution".
A question I would like to pose to the class is: "What existing paradigms will experience shifts first?"
Finally, a little fun fact I got from wikipedia concerning Thomas Kuhn.
"Kuhn interviewed and taped Danish physicist Niels Bohr the day before Bohr's death. The recording contains the last words of Niels Bohr caught on tape."
I think Thomas Kuhn has some very intriguing ideas and for the most part I believe in most of his ideas. I believe that the paradigms that have existed in the past must be viewed within the context and era they existed in. As for "paradigm shifts", I believe that they are the result of advancements in technology. So, technology has the effect of both breaking paragdigms and creating them. A great example of this was brought up in class with the "Copernican Revolution".
A question I would like to pose to the class is: "What existing paradigms will experience shifts first?"
Finally, a little fun fact I got from wikipedia concerning Thomas Kuhn.
"Kuhn interviewed and taped Danish physicist Niels Bohr the day before Bohr's death. The recording contains the last words of Niels Bohr caught on tape."
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