Autonomy vs. Agency

The thermometer informs of what the temperature is of the surrounding environment. The thermostat changes the temperature of the surrounding environment. The thermometer is therefore autonomous because it automatically changes based on the temperature. The thermostat requires an input in order to change the surrounding temperature.

Similarly, computers and humans have instances when they act like a thermometer and as a thermostat. Computers are autonomous when they perform pre-programmed functions such as telling time. I am autonomous when I do daily tasks such as blinking and breathing which does not require my constant attention. Computers have agency when they are performing tasks that can include many different variations. Such as solving different types of Rubik’s Cubes, or playing chess against many different people. I have agency when I have the freedom to make any decision that I want, which will ultimately bring a change around in myself, my friends, my family, and one day the world.

The International Space Development Conference

The International Space Development Conference is an annual conference held by the National Space Society. Here the  government and the  scientists are connected with the general public and discuss the latest issues regarding space technology, science, experimentation and settlement. The last meeting was held May 23 to 27 2013 in San Diego, California.

The reason I would like to attend these future conferences is because this Conference connects the general public, such as myself, to scientists who are doing research in this field. I personally would like to go into the field of robotics and space exploration and apply AI robotics into greater exploration of the Earth and Space.

The Pros and Cons of a Surveillance Society

1984, the science fictional dystopian novel, predicted a future where the government controlled and “edited” history, kept a 24 hour surveillance on everyone, and was constantly at “war.” This was a prediction of what the world would be like by 1984, based on how the communist ideas were spreading quickly.

Orwell was wrong that the communist regimes would lead to this kind of society. North Korea however is an exception. The actuality is that the capitalist countries are the ones increasing their surveillance because of the development of technology. Now, everything has a camera on it, from phones to video games to now eye glasses.

Surveillance is a good idea because it allows and has allowed the prevention of many terrorist attacks and help find the recent bombers on the east coast. Too much surveillance will lead to the depletion of privacy. Privacy is something many people respect, especially the media. If there were drones flying around the city, as the author claims, and telescreens were invented (wait, they haven’t been invented yet?) , then everyone would have to conform to the laws which is a good thing, but not under the respect of the law, but rather for fear of punishment.

I agree with surveillance outside in public places, however there should be no surveillance on anyone’s private property( said the media).

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I want to be…

There are many things I want to be. If I had to choose only forty-seven of them, I would choose bioengineering, living in space, and inventing creations and technology that will completely revolutionize society and the world forever. So basically what everyone wants to do. The only reason I would want to learn bioengineering is because I always wanted to create a dragon. I do not think this is ethical but that is okay because I really want to do it.

In the future, I want to live in space or on another planet and I would visit Earth often. I plan to invent a transport device that will be able to travel on all terrains and be able to travel to space before I graduate from college. I hope I do not take a long time to graduate from college.

I currently live in this small place called Earth. It is located in between Venus and Mars and is in the Milky Way Galaxy. If you were to use regular binoculars on the moon, you would notice that you could see my house in Southern California, otherwise known as SoCal.

Final Project Proposal: Autonomous Driving

The specific area I am working within is robotics with AI assistance. This is interesting to me because I want to learn how the AI will teach the robot to interact with outside real life objects. I believe that this is the future of robotics and will definitely redefine society. If all cars were to be autonomous, people would not have to be worrying about driving, there would be considerably less car crashes, no drunk driving or angry driving, and with this technology the passengers could be focused on other things. While going to office, the employees could be working on their work or projects and not have to be worrying about driving. The closest example of what I want to build is the Google self driving car, but I want to build a more simpler and feasible robot. By building this robot, I will be able to gain a lot of experience and confidence to perform other similar or better feats. This would be teaching how computer science is applicable in the real world and not just in software. I plan to program the robot piece by piece so first if one wheel moves then one more. I will keep on going until finally its complete with a working radar. This project however will be a big challenge because I do not have any experience programming any robots before. I am not sure what programming language is used to program robots, but I will need a radar that can check in 360 degrees and many mechanical parts and wires. I hope this robot turns out as I plan it to be.

Fairness of Life

Has this ever happened to you where something happens that you consider unfair therefore you say it out loud, but instead of someone agreeing or acknowledging your point of view they just reply that “Life is unfair. Deal with it!” It is a common acceptance of many people around the world that life is unfair that is the norm. More than half the people who say it though have a house, food, water, clothes, family, and freedom. So why is life unfair if the guy next to you has an iPhone 5 and you just have a flip phone that does not have touch screen. A lot of people do not vision, or hearing, or the ability to speak, or even the ability to think or control their actions. In front of them, who are you to say life is unfair if you have all the good things I mentioned above. 25,000 people die every day of hunger or hunger-related causes.

If you are reading this blog, that means that you have access to a computer, the internet, and have the ability to see and/or to hear. Be happy with life because life was in your favor.

Alan Turing

“Thinking is a function of man’s immortal soul. God has given an immortal soul to every man and woman, but not to any other animal or to machines. Hence no animal or machine can think…I am unable to accept any part of this…”(Alan Turing).

What Alan Turing believes is that if man can think and have  a soul, then why cannot an animal or a machine have a soul or at least think. Society should not be doubting the capabilities and the potential of animals and machines just because we do not have enough knowledge about these creatures.

“In attempting to construct such machines we should not be irreverently usurping His power of creating souls, any more than we are in the procreation of children: rather we are, in either case, instruments of His will providing .mansions for the souls that He creates”(Alan Turing).

 

Ethical Concerns of AI Programming

There are many ethical concerns when talking about programs that use Artificial Intelligence technology to emulate human speech and behaviour. My view is that as long as users understand that these programs are merely used for research and entertainment and know that these programs are not replacements for having real life friends and interactions, then there should be no problem. That is all.

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