-Caveat Lector- From: Now http://www.now.com/feature.now?cid=1023695&fid=1503483 Keeping Up With The Robots 20 Apr 2001 09:00:00 GMT Transhumanists believe we must embrace all forms of technology in order to save the human race. Cyborg: Is this the future? You never leave the house without your mp3 or minidisk player. Your mobile phone is close to becoming part of your ear. You check your email at least 50 times a day. It's time to face the facts, you are addicted to technology. While most of us tech addicts would sell our beds before giving up our DVD players or laptops, are we ready to push forward to the next level of technology-driven human evolution? Are we ready to transcend nature's version of humanity? In the words of the World Transhumanist Association (WTA): "Transhumanism advocates the use of technology to overcome our biological limitations and transform the human condition." The group believes in order to avoid extinction, the human race must embrace technologies, such as genetic engineering, wearable computers, life-enhancing drugs and artificial intelligence. WTA insists we must evolve at the rate of technology before it consumes and destroys us. "A transhumanist is really anyone who is trying to improve their lives or society in general through practical means, technological means, as opposed to holding their hands and hoping for the best," said transhumanist Garret Smyth. Believers in transhumanism embrace anything which enhances intelligence, prolongs life or eliminates disease. While several transhuman technologies, such as cloning and virtual reality, have been hogging column inches across the globe, others are not quite as well known. Nanotechnology, for example, is a form of molecular manufacturing which will allow the building of tiny computers. Investment is taking off in this field and the plan is to build cheap robotics which will be able to replicate themselves. But is humanity in danger of becoming ruled by machines? Kevin Warwick, robotics professor at the University of Reading and the world's first cyborg, put transhumanist theory into practice when he implanted a computer chip into his arm to help him interact with his environment. Warwick believes his work is vital to protect humanity from increasingly intelligent technology. "In 20 or 30 years, we are going to have machines which are far more intelligent than humans and that is a dangerous thing," said Warwick. "Our research is looking at a middle ground. Can we upgrade humans? Can we get hold of some of that machine intelligence? Can we sense the world in other ways?" But transhumanist Garret Smyth thinks Warwick understates the danger of computer domination. "We are going to have to adapt ourselves or the machines will take over," he said. Transhumanists believe superintelligence, an intellect superior to a human's in every way, will be created in the first half of the next century. Rather than have these superhumans overtake us, transhumanists want to become superintelligent themselves, through the use of smart drugs, wearable computers, virtual reality and bionic brain implants. "Writing was one of the first forms of technology, used as a memory aid. Computers are an extension of that," said Smyth. "One step beyond would be to have a mental link which detects your thought waves from outside your brain or a chip implanted which could read your thoughts." But the question is how dangerous are transhuman technologies to the human race? In our pursuit of catching the monster we have created, are we at risk of evolving into a sub or non-human species? The World Transhumanist Association acknowledges there are serious ethical and philosophical issues which need to be addressed, discussed and debated. However, the fundamental pursuit is for individual self-preservation. "Transhumanists advocate individual freedom, especially the moral right to use technology to extend their mental and physical capacities, and to improve their control over their own lives," said Smyth. Technology has offered humanity an uncompromising paradox. By excelling in the creation of superintelligent machinery, it is entirely possible humans could become their own worst enemy. - Kerry Swanson <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. 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