...continued from above (part 2) ...
2019
* The computational capacity of a $4,000 computing device (in 1999 dollars) is approximately equal to the computational capability of the human brain (20 quadrillion calculations per second).
False (though if we're taking FP4 it's only 1 order of magnitude off9
* The summed computational powers of all computers is comparable to the total brainpower of the human race.
False
* Computers are embedded everywhere in the environment (inside of furniture, jewelry, walls, clothing, etc.).
The charitable interpretation is this true. There are plenty of all of those things. Jewelry (apple watch, Oura ring, Walls = LED lighting systems, furniture = message chairs with apps)
* People experience 3-D virtual reality through glasses and contact lenses that beam images directly to their retinas (retinal display). Coupled with an auditory source (headphones), users can remotely communicate with other people and access the Internet.
These special glasses and contact lenses can deliver "augmented reality" and "virtual reality" in three different ways. First, they can project "heads-up-displays" (HUDs) across the user's field of vision, superimposing images that stay in place in the environment regardless of the user's perspective or orientation. Second, virtual objects or people could be rendered in fixed locations by the glasses, so when the user's eyes look elsewhere, the objects appear to stay in their places. Third, the devices could block out the "real" world entirely and fully immerse the user in a virtual reality environment.
False, though all of that has been demonstrated
* People communicate with their computers via two-way speech and gestures instead of with keyboards. Furthermore, most of this interaction occurs through computerized assistants with different personalities that the user can select or customize. Dealing with computers thus becomes more and more like dealing with a human being.
Charitable version is Siri, Alexa. And arguably it's clear it will happen with LLMs so not far off.
* Most business transactions or information inquiries involve dealing with a simulated person.
False in 2019 but seems directionally true in 2026. So many businesses use AI chat and or AI customer service. Even the DMV is now AI.
* Most people own more than one PC, though the concept of what a "computer" is has changed considerably: Computers are no longer limited in design to laptops or CPUs contained in a large box connected to a monitor. Instead, devices with computer capabilities come in all sorts of unexpected shapes and sizes.
True? Most people own a phone and a smart TV or a phone and tablet, or a phone and watch or a phone and video game system.
* Cables connecting computers and peripherals have almost completely disappeared.
Arguably false, otherwise I wouldn't have so many cables.
* Rotating computer hard drives are no longer used.
Directionally true. The average person has a phone, tablet, PC, TV, PS5, Switch, with SSD, not rotating HD. Hard drives are still common in data centers and geek media hubs
* Three-dimensional nanotube lattices are the dominant computing substrate.
False
* Massively parallel neural nets and genetic algorithms are in wide use.
True in 2026, No idea if it was true behind the scenes in 2019.
* Destructive scans of the brain and noninvasive brain scans have allowed scientists to understand the brain much better. The algorithms that allow the relatively small genetic code of the brain to construct a much more complex organ are being transferred into computer neural nets.
No idea
* Pinhead-sized cameras are everywhere.
False, but if you want to be charitable, cameras everywhere (Amazon Ring, Google Nest, etc...) are everywhere.
* Nanotechnology is more capable and is in use for specialized applications, yet it has not yet made it into the mainstream. "Nanoengineered machines" begin to be used in manufacturing.
No idea. It's true it's not yet made it into the mainstream. But there are many "nano-materials"
* Thin, lightweight, handheld displays with very high resolutions are the preferred means for viewing documents. The aforementioned computer eyeglasses and contact lenses are also used for this same purpose, and all download the information wirelessly.
Arguably true. The majority of phones have a very high resolution display and it's where most data is viewed. The 2nd part is false.
* Computers have made paper books and documents almost completely obsolete.
Again, charitably, the majority of text and documents are not digital.
* Most learning is accomplished through intelligent, adaptive courseware presented by computer-simulated teachers. In the learning process, human adults fill the counselor and mentor roles instead of being academic instructors. These assistants are often not physically present, and help students remotely.
False, maybe directionally true. I know lots of people and kids that LLMs, not humans to learn things.
* Students still learn together and socialize, though this is often done remotely via computers.
True. Tons of children socialize remotely. They also learned remotely (COVID)
* All students have access to computers.
True? Does this fail on the word "all" or does it pass because it's mostly true.
* Most human workers spend the majority of their time acquiring new skills and knowledge.
False