Re: Automation

Dan Fabulich (daniel.fabulich@yale.edu)
Sun, 26 Apr 1998 23:32:09 -0400


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Jeremy Ulrey wrote:
>>>>
We've all heard the fears that manual laborers are too resistant to losing
their jobs as a result of technological progress- what do we do with these
people?
<<<<

Stop crushing their opportunity to educate themselves. Pay them their due.
Make the economy grow. You know, stuff like that.

>>>>
How much of a public demand will be required for any given product to make
it worthwhile to produce?
<<<<

Well, a lot of people having read about nanotechnology wonder if one day we
mightn't have something comparable to the "anything box": Put in the
requisite energy and out comes whatever you want. While I'm sure this will
happen SOME DAY, I don't expect to see that particular implementation of
nanotechnology very soon. However, it seems that we are talking about
near/post singularity time scales here, so I'm free to speculate. :)

>>>>
Exactly how much wealth will there be to go around?
<<<<

I'm not certain what you mean by this. More than today. Not enough. :)

>>>>
What new forms of entertainment will arise out of the ashes of the
market-driven archetypes?
<<<<

Considering the degree of control which I imagine posthumans could have
over their mind and their thought processes, it's hard to imagine what
entertainment would be like. I don't think Holodecks could even compare to
what a posthuman might be able to do to their own mind.

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