Extropy Online magazine has just published a multi-author discussion of Vernor Vinge's concept of a technological Singularity.
The Technological Singularity is a very interesting extropian concept, and also highly controversial, with arguments ranging from the definition of this expected dramatic event, projected by some to be imminent in as little as 30 years from now, to its nature, meaning, and possible consequences. Suggested in the 1980s by Vernor Vinge, the concept of "the Singularity" gave rise to a range of interesting ideas, but still remains a matter of controversy - "a black hole in the Extropian worldview whose gravity is so intense that no light can be shed on what lies beyond it." Will the development of the world reach an infinite speed around 2030, or "just" speed up beyond human comprehension, marking the threshold between humanity and posthumanity?
In an attempt to collect the latest thinking about the Singularity, Robin Hanson asked several authors to comment on the original essay by Vernor Vinge. Thirteen submitted comments, with detailed replies by Vernor Vinge and selections from subsequent open discussion on the extropian mailing list have now appeared in the Extropy Online. <http://www.extropy.org/eo/articles/vi.html>
Extropy Online also features other articles, reviews, and references to materials related to frontier technological and scientific topics, grand-scale future scenarios, and social and personal transformations. The editorial team invites you to join the community of Extropy Online readers and submit your own opinions, essays, and reviews on these topics.