Author Topic: A 2009 book predicted the next 100 years. So far so good. (Read 2459 times)

Leshma · « **Reply #30 on:** September 22, 2014, 03:36:16 am »

Lasses and lads, it's chadz's memory otherwise known as wikipedia.

After watching two episodes of True Detective in a row, somehow I feel that I'm turnin' into Rustin Cohle, just not as skinny.

[ptx] · « **Reply #31 on:** September 22, 2014, 05:54:17 am »

Quote from: chadz on September 22, 2014, 03:19:51 am

If I remember correctly, Hari Seldon is a fictional character in Isaac Asimov's Foundation series. In his capacity as mathematics professor at Streeling University on Trantor, Seldon develops psychohistory, allowing him to predict the future in probabilistic terms. His prediction of the eventual fall of the Galactic Empire is the reason behind his nickname "Raven" Seldon.

Reading Foundation series right now

Vibe · « **Reply #32 on:** September 22, 2014, 09:21:59 am »

Quote from: Oberyn on September 21, 2014, 03:56:27 pm

A generation or two and every national airforce that isn't completely retarded will consist of mostly or entirely drones. Just need to wait for all the Top Gun generals obsessed with their "knight of the sky" narcissism to die out.
Personally I find the public perception of drones as a particularly "cowardly" or "unfair" weapon to be fucking stupid. Might as well be pre WW1 whining about evil machine guns, eliminating the "honor" and "glory" of warfare.

in two generations my country's army will have bicycles

Christo · « **Reply #33 on:** September 22, 2014, 09:23:16 am »

Oberyn · « **Reply #34 on:** September 22, 2014, 09:48:51 am »

Quote from: Butan on September 21, 2014, 07:24:04 pm

Harpag has a heart ?

Survival comes before comfort and other luxuries, and sending aid/helping mother nature is not "necessary".
If you let nations get too far in the arms race you will lose your sovereignty and all chance of defending yourself.
If ISIS (just an example) had somehow gotten a 10 year advance in drone technologies and had the funds to build a bunch of them, they would wreck our shit whether we are the good guys or not.

The very few nations who invest very little in their armies or not at all have 0 weight in world diplomacy and have to seek military alliances for their own safety...

Agreed, not sure why you put national security in quotes Harpag. Obviously this is way more profitable and has guaranteed returns when compared to investing into poor kids in Africa or environmental protection, but it doesn't mean it's entirely an excuse for various country's MIC to make billions. And you're ignoring the way many technologies developped originally for military reasons eventually make their way into civilian applications and industries. Like what we're using right now for example, the internet.

If it was up to me I'd put all of it towards space exploration/technologies. But it is obvious the only way it would ever happen is for military reasons, as during the Cold War. I'm hoping the chinese, indian, etc.. forays into space will spark up another space race, if only for reasons of "national security".

Harpag · « **Reply #35 on:** September 22, 2014, 01:52:55 pm »

It is known that investment in poor kids in Africa is no investment, but it's about human instincts and solidarity. I personally give the money to build wells of drinking water in semidesert regions of Africa. It is known that every war is the rapid development of technology - the need is the mother of invention, and the development of the defense industry creates jobs and basis for civilian technologies, but they anger me that so many resources are consumed to a mutual bullying.

Here's in my opinion sensible way to use the achievements of technology (only one million Polish zloty is ONLY about 250 000 euro and the potential benefit is priceless):

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Two independent teams working to develop the device, whose task will mainly pollinate flowers, when bees cease to accompany us. It is a sad perspective that hopefully it will not be necessary to implement after all ...

Work on artificial bee runs in Poland (Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering). Working on it ongoing longer than a year and are scheduled to run for another 2 years. As explained by Dr. Rafał Dalewski of this university, artificial bee going to collect pollen using a feather duster, also has to distinguish between flowers and avoid the obstacles. Next tests have to be carried out in greenhouses, since in open space can be a problem of the wind. Maybe he does not allow artificial insects to fly freely during testing.

The second team took on the challenge to construct an artificial bee (Robobea) at Harvard University. Rob Wood, Gu-Yeon Wei and Radzik Nagpal started constructing miniature flying robot a few years ago. The inspiration to create Robobea was TV program "Silence of the Bees", which concerned falls colonies. Mechanical bee is inspired by the biology of bees and their way of behavior in the hive. Bee is constructed with wings, engine, "brain", and electronics.

In recent years much has been said about the extinction of bees, and no wonder that scientists are beginning to create alternative, but keep in mind that nothing is able to replace in 100% real insect, real bees. It mainly take actions related to the protection and caring for the survival of the honey bee in the environment, because the fate of humans and bees, is one fate ... that's why environment is the most important!

btw
@ chadz - very nice helmet - remember - you promised new items lol

Quote from: Butan on September 21, 2014, 07:24:04 pm

Harpag has a heart ?

not for you

Butan · « **Reply #36 on:** September 22, 2014, 02:35:17 pm »

Quote from: Harpag on September 22, 2014, 01:52:55 pm

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As soon as such project become a necessity (bees=dead) it will happen 100% chance.

But as long as its only a prediction of a threat with no clear today consequences, human nature will not be vastly interested. This can be extended to all kind of things we human do or are ready to do.
It takes a lot of time and energy to maintain a state of alert about things which did not happen, see most ecological problems...

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Quote from: Oberyn on September 22, 2014, 09:48:51 am

Agreed, not sure why you put national security in quotes Harpag. Obviously this is way more profitable and has guaranteed returns when compared to investing into poor kids in Africa or environmental protection, but it doesn't mean it's entirely an excuse for various country's MIC to make billions. And you're ignoring the way many technologies developped originally for military reasons eventually make their way into civilian applications and industries. Like what we're using right now for example, the internet.

If it was up to me I'd put all of it towards space exploration/technologies. But it is obvious the only way it would ever happen is for military reasons, as during the Cold War. I'm hoping the chinese, indian, etc.. forays into space will spark up another space race, if only for reasons of "national security".

This we agree on, I am very interested in space for the sake of space, but I know that there will be no major investment as long as there is no survival instinct trigger. Potential space militarization and reliable space colonisation for economical reasons is the only reason it will move forward (and also if we detect alien civilization that might be warlike

or just to steal their shit).