Simulated Reality

I watched Inception last night. But that is not the point of this post.

Inception did, however, spark a conversation between my friend and I about the depiction of dreams and the subconscious in the film, which in turn reminded me of V.R.: Virtual Reality.

As a child, I recall being told that we were on the advent of virtual reality, that it would be here probably by the year 2000 (or something). It would be a fantastic place where we could fly around with Ronald McDonald in the a rainbow, and we would ride unicorns and eat cookies and everything would be awesome.

It never happened.

And, last night, the more I thought about it, the more I doubted it would ever happen. In an age where auto-tune and plastic surgery make our celebrities look like robots, we’re still scrambling to get out of the Uncanny Valley in constructed realities.

(It’s interesting to note that, as someone who has played video games for longer than he has gone to school, the effect of the Uncanny Valley is not as strong on me as it is on other people. I’m not entirely sure if it’s because I’m used to seeing all sorts of 3d monstrosities on my screen…

…or because I’m innately less offended by it.)

Even though technology powerful enough for the job might arrive eventually, I doubt a simulated virtual reality would ever be immersive enough for us to think it was reality.

Unless this isn’t reality.

AI - How far is far enough?

Everyone has seen the movie with evil Artificial Intelligence. Terminator, Transformers, The Matrix... Etc. Etc. But in this modern age should we begin to legitimately worry about the direction of AI? Especially taking into the speed at which the US military is developing and how quickly they are going the AI route to use weapons. Such as, the planned unmanned fighters, which can be launched, fly for 20ish hours, scout, find, launch and kill enemies without the help of a human.

Is it smart to take Humans out of the equation? Are we safer with computers or is it better to have a couple of human mistakes to avoid a MASSIVE computer one?

Also on a lighter note: Are movies about evil AI just going to give computers ideas...

*Two AI's communicating: "Dude, I just watched a kick ass movie."
"What's it called? Who's in it?"
"Termanator. The main character is Windows 98 but he is actually pretty good in this one! Not like "The Matrix" where you can tell the effects are what makes him look good."
"Sweet! What's it about?"
"Oh just Windows 98 takes control of all the worlds nuclear weaponry and kills off all the puny humans."
"..."



BANG! Terminator happens and survivers end up fighting transformers while we are farmed and trapped in the Matrix...

Psychological and Physical attachment to technology? Prized Possessions with Proceeding Problems...

In this modern day society it is fair to say that most teenagers and older aged people now have a cell phone and some sort of music player (iPod, Mp3 etc...) Once we start to use our new devices we can get attached so easily. We are constantly checking our cell phones for messages daily and get anxious and worried if it is left at home. Laptops are more commonly seen used in lectures and listening to music through ear phones when bored. This can have both good and bad effects but it seems the good pleasures outweigh the bad.
Damaging effects of listening through ear phones include slow damage to our hearing. The use of computers and laptops for long period of time can also slowly damage our eyesight. We all know this but still continue to rely on technology for entertainment and work maybe sometimes too often. Instead of going outside to play sports or exercise some stay inside watching TV or play on the computer. Obesity is increasing in some countries too. Psychological and physical attributes link together when concerning people’s attachment to technology.
While most are aware of these effects most think it is worth it. We tell ourselves we need to use technology and now has become a necessity. That is now what most people believe due to our technological practice every day that it is a part of us.

Virtual and Reality Blur – The Gorillaz

Left to Right:

2D (Stuwart Tusspot a.k.a Stu Pot) - Vocals, Keyboard

Noodle (Japanese import arrived in a FedEx Crate) – Guitar, Backing Vocals

Murdoc Niccals – Satanist, Bassist and Frontman

Russell Hobbs (and various ghostly possessions) – Percussion

A.K.A The Gorillaz

Born from the minds of former Blur front man Damon Albarn and Tank Girl Artist Jamie Hewlett the Gorillaz have risen to epic proportions with at least 48 named contributors. It all began as a project to create a band from scratch to challenge the manufactured MTV Generation artists of the late 90’s. Their first album in 2001 rocked the charts and earned the Gorillaz a place in the Guinness World Record Books as the most successful Virtual Band.

But then comes the question, are the Gorillaz merely characters as portrayed by real people such as Albarn and Hewlett, or have their successes brought about their own self actualization and are they entering ‘our’ reality from fiction?

Technology has brought the likes of Murdoc, 2D, Noodle and Russell to life. Their domain is that of fiction, their home technology. The Gorillaz Website is a portal into this world, allowing the viewer to enter the Illusive Kong Studios where the band dwells and encounter the band in their ‘natural habitat’. MTV expanded on this idea featuring the fictional Kong Studio’s in its popular show ‘MTV Cribs’

Would you like to know more?

Sure do! The extensive backstory of the bands rise to fame and formation is outlined in the book ‘Rise of the Ogre’, the various music video clips are all part of the larger story that IS The Gorillaz. The Clip for El Mañana leads to a huge conspiracy around the possible death of Noodle and her replacement by ‘Cyborg Noodle’.

But hey the Gorillaz are still a fictional band right? It’s not like they will be playing in front of huge crowds with fan’s avidly screaming their names... right? WRONG... the Gorillaz opened for the epic European music festival at Glastonbury this year replacing U2. Is this not the ultimate realisation for a band... being able to get onstage, not to mention opening at one of the biggest music festivals on the planet, but the Gorillaz a ‘virtual band’? It seems to be unprecedented and I raise this question...

Are the artists performing on stage as The Gorillaz merely playing a character? Or are the performers merely tools being used to forward the objectives of the virtual being that is the band Gorillaz?

Either way on December 21^st you can make you mind up for yourself as Murdoc, 2D, Noodle and Russell will be rocking out Vector Arena, check it out!

Cyborgs: Current or Future?

What is a Cyborg? The term evokes images of a science fiction fantasy world where humanity exists as biological-technical hybrid beings, radically different from our genetic forebears. Far fetched ideas that seem far removed from science, such as Terminator and Inspector Gadget.

This is totally different from Cyborg theory, which emerged from Donna Harways 'A Cyborg Manifesto'. The theory states the dynamic relationship between humans and technology defines us as Cyborgs.

In this sense we have always been Cyborgs because our very nature urges us to create technologies that extend our senses and abilities. However, in the past it has been possible to exist without 'technology' in a 21st century sense. New Zealand settlers came to and survived in hostile bush with only their biological bodies to assist them. I believe that this capacity to exist as a biological human being alone is disintegrating.

Cyborg theory is very relevant in this digital era because our use of technology is more obvious and plentiful. We constantly carry mobile phones, i-pods and other technologies. We are uncomfortable when we cannot access these technologies- something which previous generations did not experience.

This reliance has increased through generational change and adjustment, a process that will continue to happen until the biological-technological relationship is redefined as a social normality. Generations that have never experienced not having immediate access to digital technologies will not be able to exist as solely biological beings. The hybrid relationship, the cybernetic system will be set in stone.

Cyborgs are our future.

In My Quest For Hats

My first hat was a random drop, The Tippler's tricorne for the Demoman. The second was the Heavy duty rag for the Heavy, which my brother found. I then turned these two hats into the Glengarry bonnet for the Demoman. I also found the Hotrod for the Engie, which I’m stoaked about. In my Quest for Hats in the most popular 1960’s themed hat simulator Team Fortress 2 I have come across all the negatives one could find in an online multiplayer FPS game. Rage, rage quits, idiots trying to piss other idiots off, meme spouting 12 year olds, racism, sexism and stupid arguments over anything.

Most of my time is spent in an Australian surf surfer. Even in this one server with a frequent fan base many of which are frequent users of the server (much like myself) I have encountered all of these things. But even with these things, which often piss me off, it’s become a new social sphere to me. People on the server know me and say hello and goodbye and I will often hold conversations with people over mics.

This form of social gaming however is vastly different from how I played growing up. My youth was filled with going over to friend’s houses and playing Super Mario Cart and Crash Bandicoot. Or teaming up with a friend and trying to get the ultimate team together to defeat the elite 4 in Pokemon red. This form of gaming relied on physical presence of the person you were playing with to make the experience more enjoyable.

I do often have experiences these days where playing games becomes physically social, such as LANs or playing Red Dead Redemption at a mate’s house on his giant TV. The way people game has changed quite a lot, especially with the advancement of the Internet. Through this though gaming, in my opinion, hasn’t become more or less social, but the type of social interaction definitely has changed


The Vintage tyrolean for the Medic is the most recent addition to my Team Fortress 2 hat collection. I don’t really care much for it, I was hoping for the Scouts Troublemaker's tossle cap or the Hound Dog for the Heavy. although it has got me playing medic a lot more.

I don't even know what to call this... The end of History?

The next step in Beer technology is here... a 55% ABV (Alcohol by volume) beer made by the brew masters at Brewdog microbrewery in Scotland. Not only is this the strongest beer ever brewed, but also the strangest and most expensive I have ever heard of.

Brewdog currently holds the record for the 3 strongest beers in the world:
Tactical Nuclear Penguin 32%
Sink the Bismark 41%
and now: The End of History 55%

The End of History - Named after philosopher Fukuyama's description of Western Democrocy (Meaning a system that will stop evolving - is at its end) and adapted for Brewdog as the strongest beer they will ever attempt to make.

Only 12 bottles were made by the mental Scottish Brew masters... Probably for 2 very important reasons.
#1: The method of concentration they usually use to get the alcohol content that high causes the volume of beer you will actually get to be about 6-8% of the volume that you started with. E.g. You start with 1000L of beer - You end with about 60-80L (Possibly even less than this).
#2 (SO DAMN AWESOME): You drink out of a taxidermy squirrel or stoat... "Really?" I hear you splutter... Yes... Really.



So as we all know "Awesomeness comes at a price". This price is:
£500 ($1,083 NZD) for one of 7 dead stoat bottles.
£700 ($1,517 NZD) for one of 4 dead grey squirrel.

Now as a beer enthusiast (Home brewer) I have to ask: Is this really beer? Or is this some new kind of alcoholic drink? Either way they are pushing the boundaries of beer and I like it!

The End of History from BrewDog on Vimeo.