May 23, 2005

DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD HARD DRIVE

Ashes to ashes, brain to disk (AFP, May 23, 2005)

Death could become a thing of the past by the mid-21st century as computer technology becomes sophisticated enough for the contents of a brain to be "downloaded" on to a supercomputer, according to a leading British futurologist.

However, he told The Observer newspaper, this technology might be expensive enough to remain the preserve of the rich for a decade or two more.

Among other eyebrow-raising predictions by Ian Pearson, head of the futurology unit at British telecommunications giant BT, is the prospect of computer systems being able to feel emotions.

This could eventually involve such things as aeroplanes being programmed to be even more terrified of crashing than their passengers, meaning they would do whatever possible to stay airborne.

While the predictions might sound outlandish, they were merely the product of extrapolations drawn from the current rate at which computers are evolving, Pearson said in an interview with the newspaper. "If you draw the timelines, realistically by 2050 we would expect to be able to download your mind into a machine, so when you die it's not a major career problem," he said.

Just our idea of Heaven—arguing evolution with Harry for all eternity

Posted by Peter Burnet at May 23, 2005 12:47 PM
Comments

I could make a joke about real short downloads for some people's brains, but that would be so mean.

Posted by: Casey Abell at May 23, 2005 12:53 PM

"While the predictions might sound outlandish, they were merely the product of extrapolations drawn from the current rate at which computers are evolving..."

Hey oj, you missed the obvious evolution/ID crack here.

As far as I can tell, we currently know nothing about how the human mind works as far as memory storage goes. So extrapolating would tell us that in 50 years, we will know...nothing.

Posted by: b at May 23, 2005 12:53 PM

Ugh, another mis-assumption that oj was the poster. Sorry, Peter.

Posted by: b at May 23, 2005 12:56 PM

Halfway seriously, I saw similar speculations a while back in an actuarial magazine. The writer was wondering when life insurance poilicies would pay off, if some kind of cybernetic existence continued.

These are the sorts of things actuaries worry about. I say that the company should pay the policy unless the policyholder's cyber-brain can keep paying the premiums.

But where do you send the premium-due notices?

Posted by: Casey Abell at May 23, 2005 12:57 PM

Now that I think about it, I saw a similar idea in a comic book when I was a kid - which was, er, several decades ago.

On some distant planet in some distant galaxy, they kept the brains of their great thinkers suspended in a vat of what looked like chicken broth. The brains were hooked up to writing machines, so the great-thinker brains could scribble their thoughts. For instance: "What am I doing in a vat of chicken broth?"

Posted by: Casey Abell at May 23, 2005 1:06 PM

Fortunately, it's not possible.

Posted by: David Cohen at May 23, 2005 1:16 PM

The idea has been done already by science fiction writers. Issac Asimov did it in a short story about 50 years ago. Philip Jose Farmer did it in his fabulous riverboat series in the 1970s.

Posted by: Robert Schwartz at May 23, 2005 1:31 PM

David:

Thank goodness. We could never afford the virtual social security.

But what about the counselling all those airplanes will need?

Posted by: Peter B at May 23, 2005 1:34 PM

Just what I need, an airplane that refuses to land because it's terrified of getting close to the ground.

Posted by: pj at May 23, 2005 2:54 PM

Wasn't that the plotline of a classic Star Trek episode? The one where they turned the crew into salt licks and there was a fabulous babe.

Posted by: Governor Breck at May 23, 2005 2:56 PM

Look at the bright side re: evolution/ID. You could live long enough to see some evidence.

Posted by: Ben Lange at May 23, 2005 3:06 PM

PJ:

The mind reels. Imagine a software therapist telling it he can help it but only if it really wants to land.

Posted by: Peter B at May 23, 2005 3:57 PM

Has a futurologist ever predicted anything that then happened?

Posted by: Harry Eagar at May 24, 2005 6:41 PM
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