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.

Confessions of an Online User

For my first class blog entry, I would like to share to you my personal online journey so far--- the social networking sites that I have had an account with and the ones that I use at the moment. This does not include the gaming websites and the sites that I usually visit. This blog entry will be more focused on social networking sites such as blogging, networking, et cetera.

I spend a disturbingly huge amount of time online. I have not been keeping track of the exact quantity of hours, but let's just say that as long as I have an Internet connection I'm most likely to be online. So here is my 25 cents worth of Internet experience that takes a big chuck out of my everyday life. I confess, I am an Internet Geek (if there's such a word).

Love at first sight

My very first online account was with Friendster. Yes, Friendster! Although I'm no longer using it, I kept it for sentimental reasons. The tiny detail at the bottom of my profile page stating that I have been a member since August 2004 will remind me of my rookie years. Oh, the early years of being online, can you still remember yours?

I remember having a competition with my friends when it comes to Friendster. Who collected the most number of strangers--- uhm, ‘friends’? Who has the coolest profile page? And the list goes on.

I have also tried other networking sites, pre-Facebook era. I had MySpace, Bebo, Virb, hi5 and more (let’s stop here or I’ll embarrass myself further). Although I wasn’t able to fully use them, I just made an account, had a browse, then left and forget. Is this normal or what? I have also had aMultiply account, it has served me well when it came to uploading photos and keeping contact with my friends a few years ago. And then, there came the almighty Facebook!

Flash forward to 2010, I have ‘evolved’ from the sticky caps typing teenager on Friendster and MySpace, to this overly obsessive Facebook-user of our generation. I admit, Facebook is the first site that I visit everyday, what’s yours?

If I can remember it right, I think I created my Facebook account around 2006. I never used it as excessively as I do now until most of my friends migrated to it. Now almost everything and everyone depends on Facebook. I have been thinking of leaving for good, deactivate my account and go back to reality. However, in our Facebook generation, isn't it that Facebook suddenly became our ‘reality’, well, somehow? Thoughts?

And so, I created a list of pros and cons about Facebook. I know that this may not be an exhausted list, but this is purely based on my personal view on the site. It would be nice to see your own view on this. So go on, make your own list and we can compare notes.

PROS

1. Keeping contact with friends, family and acquaintances, as well as expanding your network. In which, it also leads to number 2.

2. Stalking them.

3. Facebook’s status update feature can be your outlet to voice out your thoughts on random mundane things.

4. Being invited and to keep tabs on the latest events. Plus Points to your used-to-be non-existent popularity level.

5. Adding your crush/es and use it as a confidence building weapon to advance your own personal motives (as what I’ve been told).

6. Pointless applications, mostly illogical quizzes and very addictive games to boost your happiness level--- as well as helping you master your procrastination skill.

7. And much more.

CONS

1. High chance of ending your relationship with friends, family and acquaintances. In return, you are building a strong bond with your laptop/computer and your Internet connection.

2. If you fail in your university degree or lose your current job, you can always rely on the path of the bright ‘stalking’ career. All those hours of training must pay off in one way or another. However, don’t forget that it might bounce back to you, that is, your privacy is also jeopardised by the prying eyes of your ‘friends’.

3. There is also a great chance that you end up ranting too much on your Facebook page. Either:

a. You will end up annoying your friends because of your stat flooding, which in turn result to losing a number of them.

b. You become your own antagonist.

c. You publish too much information which fuels number 2.

d. All of the above, plus more.

4. RSPV-ing to events is now redefined. Also, you end up having too many ‘events’ to attend that you become this wild social animal. If you are the one having the event, there is a big chance that there will be 6000+ people keen to attend (you might have to rethink your next birthday party).

5. Huge chance you will end up having online relationships--- just online, no real life boyfriends/girlfriends (which may be good or bad to some).

6. As stated above, you become a Master Procrastinator, which also entails a great chance of you failing your university degree or losing your job--- Bachelor of WWW Dot major in Social Networking Sites, minor in Facebook, and a current Masters degree in Procrastination.

7. Much more as well--- unfortunately.

Blogging

I had my first ‘Hello World!’ in August 2006 on my first blog with Blogger. However, I have put up and put down numerous blogs over the years, for privacy, personal and online-bipolar-changing-mind reasons. I have also tried LiveJournal and WordPress but I stayed with Blogger back then.

At the moment, I believe Tumblr is the perfect blog (micro-blogging/RSS/bookmarking) site for me. I do not like sharing thoughts and typing huge amount of texts about my boring life to strangers (or so I thought). With Tumblr you can post and repost interesting photos, quotes, videos that may or may not be related to your thoughts and emotions--- a very subtle way of documenting your current state of mind. Also, I find the Tumblr’s interface to my liking, minimalist blogging and such. Like the other bookmarking sites that I have used (WeHeartIt, StubleUpon, 1x, etc) Tumblr somehow became my main base to be inspired and discover interesting things online. Well, that’s my personal view on blogging sites.

On the other hand, when it comes to micro-blogging, I have Twitter and Plurk. I tried Plurk for a couple of weeks since my friends overseas use them, but I gave it up since the pressure of maintaining your ‘karma points’ beats the whole point of blogging. I used to enjoy the early days of Twitter, when marketers, spammers and celebrities have yet to plague it. I guess I feel that the enormous amount of people and information on Twitter killed my interest. Now, as much as I want to delete my Twitter account I’m keeping it for research and observation purposes.

My other online whereabouts

At the moment, I can say that I am an avid user of deviantArt, Vimeo, Youtube, LOOKBOOK.nu and Flickr, in addition to Facebook and Tumblr. I am still keeping track of the latest social networking websites that will somehow interest me. I also started using TeuxDeux, a browser-based To-Do application and The Hype Machine; as well as, Formspring.me for entertainment purposes. So far here is my list of the sites that I can remember in which I have had an account and left in addition to the ones I already mentioned: Dipdive, Last.fm, Chicopia, Lexposure, LinkedIn, Shelfari, 43Things and much more.

What’s yours like?

-A-

The SixthSense

Here's the video about the technology which I mentioned in lecture today when we were talking about the move towards a more intimate interface.



I believe that this is the future of user interfaces and while I know that there will be many kinks (for example, privacy issues) to work out, I'm still really looking forward to a day when this kind of technology becomes accessible to the masses, and we move one step closer to becoming cyborgs.