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Google Glass in 10 years: the view from dystopia

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Re: Google Glass in 10 years: the view from dystopia

#71

Post by bilbo0s »

AndrewKemendo wrote: post #59
bilbo0s wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the "hive mind" can destroy your life. A few weeks back I think, there was a story on HN about a mobile App that would help you in boycotting companies and products by scanning the product's bar code while you are in a grocery store. I immediately thought, "Wow... this would be much better as a Glass app that just puts a big X over every product you reach for whose purchase would support a company which acts…

You are basically making the case that more information is bad. You also assume that humans will not augment themselves to become more rational with this data - which may or may not be true. My take is that the more that is laid bare, the easier it will be for all of us to finally become completely truthful and finally eliminate once and for all the different masks we wear allowing us to all be where we are most comf…

"...You are basically making the case that more information is bad..."

No not at all.

In fact, I specifically mention that having more information readily available works out to one's BENEFIT in many cases. Like the girl who might otherwise be taking a risk on a dangerous guy. Or the grocery shopper who gets immediate feedback that a certain cereal will aggravate her child's allergies.

My only point is that this information cuts both ways, and we should be teaching young people how to operate successfully in this new information context.

The fact is, if you, me or anyone else sees a black guy with a "New Black Panther" label over him... we will deal with him in a different fashion than we would deal with a black guy without that label. And for our own safety... we should. Similarly for "KKK". This is the reality of the information context. It will not change humans at the core... it will only change the amount of information available to... and analyzable by... the human.

In other words... I doubt mores and hangups will go away. Mores, hangups, fantasy and wonder are what make up the Human. And it is important for people to be mindful of all of the potential issues they may run into when dealing with the Human in an age of ubiquitous information.

Re: Google Glass in 10 years: the view from dystopia

#72

Post by AndrewKemendo »

bilbo0s wrote: post #71
AndrewKemendo wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are basically making the case that more information is bad. You also assume that humans will not augment themselves to become more rational with this data - which may or may not be true. My take is that the more that is laid bare, the easier it will be for all of us to finally become completely truthful and finally eliminate once and for all the different masks we wear allowing us to all be where we are most comf…

"...You are basically making the case that more information is bad..." No not at all. In fact, I specifically mention that having more information readily available works out to one's BENEFIT in many cases. Like the girl who might otherwise be taking a risk on a dangerous guy. Or the grocery shopper who gets immediate feedback that a certain cereal will aggravate her child's allergies. My only point is that this info…

>Mores, hangups, fantasy and wonder are what make up the Human

True statement. Hence why a group of us are trying to transcend that humanity.

Re: Google Glass in 10 years: the view from dystopia

#73

Post by linhmtran168 »

This will be the beginning of a world like in the Matrix. Gradually, it's Glass (or Lenses, or whatever) will control what we want to see, to hear and to choose. A world where everything is predictable to the computer and is comfortable to our liking. Well, I don't like that world.

Re: Google Glass in 10 years: the view from dystopia

#74

Post by swombat »

randallsquared wrote: post #36
swombat wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Making choices out of a selection determined by someone else is not freedom. They have this freedom even in places like North Korea...

Choices don't seem be to constrained. Rather, there is more information about the likely outcome of making many of the most likely choices. Seems like a huge win to me. I can still be ignored or turned off. It's still possible to just walk out and go elsewhere.

It's worth considering this dystopia in parallel with this the oft-quoted saying that "In the future, there will be two kinds of people: those who tell computers what to do, and those who are told what to do by computers".

Then throw in this: http://www.economist.com/news/business/21578360-brain-work-m...

Perhaps the first group will dwindle faster than we think.

Re: Google Glass in 10 years: the view from dystopia

#75

Post by weavejester »

swombat wrote: post #74
randallsquared wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Choices don't seem be to constrained. Rather, there is more information about the likely outcome of making many of the most likely choices. Seems like a huge win to me. I can still be ignored or turned off. It's still possible to just walk out and go elsewhere.

It's worth considering this dystopia in parallel with this the oft-quoted saying that "In the future, there will be two kinds of people: those who tell computers what to do, and those who are told what to do by computers". Then throw in this: http://www.economist.com/news/business/21578360-brain-work-m... Perhaps the first group will dwindle faster than we think.

We're all told what to do by computers anyway, it's just that they happen to be 3lbs of squishy biomatter inside our skulls.

Re: Google Glass in 10 years: the view from dystopia

#76

Post by egypturnash »

_b8r0 wrote: post #42
egypturnash wrote: post #32

Suddenly, there are strange things in the hotel bar with you. Cartoon animals, talking monsters. Is that a human-sized preying mantis cuddling with a buxom triceratops girl? And wow, check out that pack of wolf-things. They're flickering with colors and lights, all synchronized to the same beat. They're a walking rave. And none of these strange-looking people have public profiles. Must be one of those freaky avatar c…

Sounds like a normal day in Second Life to me. Just steer clear of the furries.

Too late. I've been one since somewhere in the early nineties.

And I gotta say, they throw the best damn parties.

Re: Google Glass in 10 years: the view from dystopia

#77

Post by _b8r0 »

egypturnash wrote: post #76
_b8r0 wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds like a normal day in Second Life to me. Just steer clear of the furries.

Too late. I've been one since somewhere in the early nineties. And I gotta say, they throw the best damn parties .

This is true. I watched the Great Gatsby the other day and I thought "Baz Luhrman would have a field day if he ever went to a furry shindig".
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