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Future Extreme Magazine - from a slightly different angle

New technologies are entering the world scene, challenging us and creating an environment for restructuring of society. Future Extreme is an online magazine dedicated to observe and discuss the implications.

Robots with a hot-line

Access to the human brain

Paul Marks, a technology correspondent wrote the article, Packs of robots will hunt down uncooperative humans. He is concerned about how this technology will end up, and rightfully so. The Pentagon looking for contractors able to deliver a "Multi-Robot Pursuit System", should raise some eyebrows.

Future technologies on how to "search for and detect a non-cooperative human” at the present time in the research and development stage, might outdo any of our imaginary ideas. However, it is easy to envision how non-human lifeforms with humanlike intelligence can be used for police operations.

 

The human race has always sought rational and irrational ways to become well fitted for the purpose as responsible and progressive intellectual beings. Always strived to improve it's living conditions and heighten the survival rate. Research and development of connecting technologies has become a big resource of benefit. Big money is involved in the shared vision of where the industry is heading and the complementary roles each company may want to play or fight for market control. This means that some people unwillingly have to pay a high price for progress to become reality- a progress that is withheld from general circulation or full disclosure.

Lack of factual information creates a naive conception of the development process of technologies sanctioned as safe to use, clouding the public debate and undermining sufficient grounds for government decision making. Securing human rights and safety when testing and implementing safe-to-use technologies demands access to more specialized and accurate knowledge than today's global political, military and industrial climate permits.

Rigorous monitoring by government ministries and committees, human rights organizations, and the public is an essential tool to secure against abuse and violation of human rights. Brain and body (non) invasive technologies represents new opportunities for manipulation and control and should be addressed in proper foras.

Euthanasia and the right to choose

"The euthanasia debate requires us to confront the most basic of human concerns- the mortality of self and loved ones - and to balance the interest in preserving human life against the desire to die peacefully and with dignity ... This controversy may touch more people more profoundly than any other issue the court will face in the forseeable future." - Ninth Circuit Court judge Stephen Reinhardt. 1996 decision on the right-to-die-case: Compassion in dying et al. v. State of Washington.

Imagine, yourself or a loved one suffering from an incurable degenerative or disabling condition, terminal or non-terminal, requesting help to end life. A situation we all hope to never experience, but many of us will have to face. Personal references to belief systems, and life experience might guide us in the process leading to the final decision making of ending or prolonging life. What feels right for one person, might seem unacceptable to another.

On The Subject Of Creativity In Engineering

Along with the concept of man-in-the-computer loop, the difficulty that crops up most often for the practicing engineer, is that of converting a given problem or subsystem into a mathematical model.

Along with the concept of man-in-the-computer loop, the difficulty that crops up most often for the practicing engineer, is that of converting a given problem or subsystem into a mathematical model. One may appreciate the mathematical significance, but the translation of the actual system into an abstract system can be troublesome. A system approach where needless ambiguities have been discarded or thoroughly weeded is a means of solving the difficulty. It is far too easy to formulate lengthy and complicated, resulting in lost excitement and value of the experience. An inquiry with optimum approach related to short-type-problems, the most difficult to devise, may produce the most economical and effective true information.

China - The Ultimate Challenge

The danger this shortage of skilled scientific engineering and mathematical talent poses to the industry, and to the U.S. space prowess in general, is second only to a weapon of mass destruction in a U.S. city. - Joanne Maguire, Executive Vice President Lookheed Martin Space Systems.

Scientific knowledge is a power equally for good and evil. In peace and in war our survival as independent countries of the West rests on our ability to keep pace with changing circumstances. It is now certain that China is training more scientists and engineers than all the Western countries put together. It is equally certain from the appearance of the space race that the quality of the work being done in China is such as to ensure success in fields where we supposed we were supreme.

The Injustice of Governance

We the people

There has been a longstanding tug-of-war between those wanting to make leadership more scientific and those who want to make it more practical. We could restrict the scope to establish a regulatory policy ad hoc. However, a better solution would be to have a public debate first, reach a consensus, and then institute the regulatory process through the legislative branches of our governments.

The way to balance conflicts of interest is to include proponents of all major interest groups in the debate, which is desirable if not mandatory, before the regulatory policy is cast in concrete. Governments should use scientifically sound recommendations and establish a bipartisan law.

Richard Dawkins on our fantastic universe

Video thumbnail for Richard Dawkins on our queer universe

Richard Dawkins holds a speech about how the human brain interpret it´s interaction with the universe.

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