Pre college presentation - singularity

Carpe Cras (Seize Tomorrow)
Jim Isaak
Audience: Pre-college students
Action Sought : Entering STEM education & Careers
Messages :
Change is accelerating => what you will be doing does not exist today
Engineering => Innovation => Real Value
Life long learning & networking are essential tools for success

Who is this character?
My “adult” bio: 30 years in the computer industry (Digital, IBM, Intel and a few smaller companies)
Lead the IEEE POSIX/UNIX standards effort for 15 years
Six years teaching at SNHU & Nashua NHCC
Multi-disciplinary degree from Stanford in Computer Studies (+MSEE)
And I write some Sci-Fi – and volunteer in the IEEE Societies
My “kids” bio: NASA launch syndrome & watched the moon landing in 1969
There were only 200 dinosaur genera identified & 20% are no longer valid
But we had 9 planets … (I was pretty sure the asteroid belt was a smashed one)
Eagle Scout & Six times exhibitor at the Greater San Diego Science Fair
[email_address]

Discovery -Dinosaurian genera http://palaeo.gly.bris.ac.uk/macro/naming/discoverycurve.html

My great grandfather helped homestead this spot in Colorado in 1908.
My grandmother traveled there by train to Denver, then stage coach to Estes Park and buckboard the last 15 miles.
Indoor plumbing was provided in 1925, and most of the electrical work done in the 1940’s
Since my grandmother’s birth (1890s) electricity, phonograph, radio, TV, cars, airplanes, space shuttles, home, computers, Internet, web

Change
Hawking, Stephen;
Universe in a Nutshell ;
Bantam Books, 2001; p. 158
This rate has continued. IEEE alone is publishing 20,000 technical papers per year as of 2010
You cannot keep up by yourself
Every time I ask “what else has been happening? “–
the answer is “lots”.

During your lifetime
Technology will advance exponentially
Scientists will be ‘discovering’ new aspects of biology, physics, cognition, etc.
Engineers will be constructing new devices, robotics, software, travel devices

Your future
You will change jobs 10+ times Probably employers, but at least roles
You will change careers 3+ times
It is likely the job you hold in 2025 does not exist today
Be willing to ask “what next?”

Engineers solve problems
How can we get the information to people that they want when they want it? (Google)
Can we get into Earth orbit efficiently? How can we colonize Mars? (SpaceX)
Can we build an artificial arm? Or provide clean water anywhere? (DEKA)
“ Technologists” span engineering & other areas

What it means for you?
Solid, and broad educational base Much of the future is “fusion”, combining ideas from diverse disciplines & sources
You will need to keep learning – for life
Your “network” of friends & colleagues will be essential to your successes

A Few Interesting Fields
Devices & medicine to help people Augmented Humanity
Fixing DNA flaws Genetic Engineering
Duplicating aspects of the brain in software or hardware Brain Emulation

Augmented Humanity
Compensate: hearing aids, glasses
Assist: pacemaker, laser lenses and chemicals – if steroids increase athletic performance, what about ??
Replace: hip, legs, arms, lungs, heart
Implant: wireless, memory, sensing …

Genetic Engineering
Fix genetic “errors”
Reduce/eliminate disease factors
Improve health components
Increase capabilities: IQ, vision, etc.
Augment from other species
Reduce aging

Brain Emulation
IBM is developing a neuron/synapse like semiconductor – “Cognitive computing”
Henry Markram, Brain-Mind Insititute at Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne Developing a virtual brain (using Blue Gene cpu)
Also see: Jeff Hawlkins “ On Intellegence ”

Where might this lead?
Might machines become intelligent?
Or more generally: might a more intelligent “life” form emerge on Earth?
And if so, might this being assume control over it’s own evolution?

Term: “replicator”
Things that get replicated, either self replicating (life forms) or leveraging other mechanisms (virus, ideas/memes, genes, devices)
See Dawlkins – The Selfish Gene & Blackmore – The Meme Machine

Term: Trans-human
Think: sentient beings which compare to us as we might compare to a chimp
Disease & defect free (genetics, diet,…)
Augmented capacities/senses Range of sight, hearing, strength, IQ
Leveraging biology, mechanical engineering, new materials, computation

Singularity

Key points re: singularity
We can’t “see” beyond the event (horizon)
These entities will direct their evolution
Some of ‘today’s’ humans may be carried forward in this direction
It is unlikely they will seek to destroy us

Some final thoughts
Keep in touch with friends, build your network – who you know counts
Learn Mandarin – China is important
Plug into many information sources/ideas
Become and stay professionally involved - IEEE, ACM, AMA, AIP, etc

Questions?
What’s it like to be an engineer? (or geek or …)
How can I get rich?
You don’t really believe in the singularity do you?
Do technologists have to wear a tie?
I can’t [spell/add/think/…] can I still be an engineer?

Suggested “Reading”
Videos: TED.com Nova Now (PBS.org)
www.JimIsaak.com (magic or technology Syllabus has links)
Science Fiction
Rainbows End , Vinge
The Mind’s I ; Hofstadter & Dennett
Blackmore, Susan; The Meme Machine
Dawlkins, Richard; The Selfish Gene
Christian, Brian; The Most Human Human
Kelly, Kevin; What Does Technology Want?
Kurzweil, Ray; Spiritual Machines; The Singularity is Near

Pre college presentation - singularity

by Jim Isaak on Dec 07, 2011

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