tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700356050861143952.post6494722086851593506..comments2023-10-31T07:53:44.687-04:00Comments on Interactive Rams: I Wish I Were A Digital IInteractive Mediahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03208727324325385779noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700356050861143952.post-63482239026197295282008-01-29T12:48:00.000-05:002008-01-29T12:48:00.000-05:00The concept of artificial life has been around for...The concept of artificial life has been around for a while, as an alternative to artificial intelligence. AI is a top down approach, AL is bottom up, incorporating the idea of evolution--artificial life forms in cyberspace coded to change and evolve in response to their environment.<BR/><BR/>Interesting point about feelings, but I'd have to ask whether a virus or an amoeba has feelings? Does an insect? I think the problem that comes up is not so much whether computer programs can be considered alive or not, but that the possibility makes us think about and question what we mean by the term <I>life</I>, how we define it. If a virus is alive, would an artificially constructed molecular chain that functions just like a virus be alive?<BR/><BR/>I do feel that there is some essence that cannot be transferred from a brain to a computer, however. There may be a way to clone a mind technologically as well as biologically, but the original mind is not actually transferred. Consider that if you could create one copy, you could create more than one, and all of them would be you in one sense, and not you in another.Lance Stratehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700356050861143952.post-87611965322162692942008-01-28T21:11:00.000-05:002008-01-28T21:11:00.000-05:00I am all for a digital life, Ted. Just wait until...I am all for a digital life, Ted. Just wait until they can figure out how to create quantum computers, which would then be able to solve complex logic problems, such as the traveling salesman. (Quantum Computers would theoretically be able to assign a value of 1, 0 or both so a piece of information and work in the realm of Quantum Mechancics.)<BR/><BR/>And in response to Teri's comment: isn't real life just as pointless as living in a computer program? Or to put it another way, wouldn't the only difference between cyber and real life be one of perception?<BR/><BR/>If advanced enough, you would be able to "feel" things or "move" them, however these things would be moved in a digital environment. It would be just as real as your current perception. While standing, if you don't look down at your feet you really don't know they're there. It's similar to the philosopher Berkley who believed that something only exists as long as you perceive it.Brian McNamarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02284395296499925810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700356050861143952.post-23267967757159656672008-01-28T11:04:00.000-05:002008-01-28T11:04:00.000-05:00Thank's. I'll definitely try to check it out! Mayb...Thank's. I'll definitely try to check it out! Maybe it will give me a little more "food for thought."Teri Stolarzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17692267935621959034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700356050861143952.post-88374731772388650862008-01-27T21:03:00.000-05:002008-01-27T21:03:00.000-05:00That's a good point. I would say, when this techno...That's a good point. I would say, when this technology does come around, digital beings could have true feelings and appreciation for what they are. I mean, we have these abilities only because little electrons are shooting through our brains. All we'd need to do is replicate that same idea (granted it will take many years) and conceptually an organic brain would think no differently an a digital brain.<BR/><BR/>The point of course is digital things can be reproduced without much cost. Imagine backing up every experience you've ever had with the ability to view or even "relive" them whenever you wanted. I think that would be pretty cool.<BR/><BR/>Of course this opens up the potential for abuse, so we as a society will need to weigh the pros and cons when such technologies actually take shape.<BR/><BR/>FYI, if you haven't seen it already, check out the movie Blade Runner. In it, robots identical to humans are created and through experience learn human emotions. The protagonist, played by Harrison Ford, is a police officer whose job it is to "retire" aka kill such replicants once they start showing human emotion. It really explores the issue that Barnes brings up in a very cool setting.Ted Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06155391346554165024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-700356050861143952.post-31172165469173545442008-01-27T20:11:00.000-05:002008-01-27T20:11:00.000-05:00What's the point of a completely digital existence...What's the point of a completely digital existence if they have no true feelings or appreciation for what they are. May be they will surpass human intelligence, skill, efficiency and mortality but without an appreciation or understanding for livelihood I can not feel as though it's a worthwhile existence. They will still just be a computer program. So, what's the point?Teri Stolarzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17692267935621959034noreply@blogger.com