1. Biro, Matthew (2009) Dada Cyborg : Visions of the New Human in Weimar Berlin. United States: University of Minnesota Press. http://site.ebrary.com.eproxy1.lib.hku.hk/lib/hkulibrary/docDetail.action?docID=10370380 ( accessed 10 March 2011)
The idea of ‘cyborg’ is a theory of immortality that roots as a cultural theory after World War II, according to Matthew Biro in his publishing, Dada Cyborg: Visions of the New Human in Weimar Berlin. Dadaism is a cultural movement that began in Zurich, Germany, during World War I and peaked from 1916 to 1922[1]. The theory encompassed a wide range of post-war politics expressed in forms of art, literature and other manifestations. The concept of cyborg happens to be one of the many that incorporates cybernetics.
As I have established, the cyborg notion was virtually a product of Dada artists arose from their fear and apprehension of World War I & II during 1916-1934, reflecting their heavenly hopes and immortal fantasy. In this sense, the notion was highly cultural of the old era. Reviewing it nowadays, the modern cyborg theory encompasses a blend of technology, biology and culture. It is a hybrid cultural product entrenched on future technology development and envisages the evolution progress to post-human age which represents the struggle for immortality of today.
2. Kull, Anne (2000) ‘A theology of technonature based on Donna Haraway and Paul Tillich.’ Digital Dissertation Consortium. http://pqdd.sinica.edu.tw.eproxy1.lib.hku.hk/twdaoeng/servlet/advanced?query=9956520 ( accessed 12 March 2011).
In this article Kull Anne states that the theology of techno-nature is a hybrid activity which reviews the relationship between nature and technology established from Donna Haraway’s cyborg doctrine. Haraway claims that the notion of cyborg concentrates mainly on cultural aspects, where nature cannot be fully comprehended with the dispense of culture. Meanwhile, Kull reiterated that the idea is much of a multiple literacy, capable of containing multiple viewpoints and areas such as literacy, technology and communication. Despite that the merger of technicality and natural biology forms the bulk of the discussion, She is intrigued that cyborg is not just about reconfiguring the living within techno-science. Conversely, she believes that it is a notion faithful to the nature and beneficial to both human and non-human.
Enlightened by Anne, human has always been endeavoring to define humanity by distinguishing ourselves from non-livings. However, ironically, human beings simultaneously stretch to trespass beyond that boundary which apparently separates us from the rest. She believes that the representation of this dilemma unmistakably lies within the parameters of the cyborg notion. The theory of techno-science is a matrix composed of life and culture, where cyborg expresses itself as a self-established ‘religion’ just as the Christian or Catholicism. In other words, cyborg is a manifestation of social reality and product of fiction, only that with the incorporation of technology and scientific elements render the notion readily acceptable and apparently rational. The bottom line is that the doctrine is invariably a kind of identity of the present age, where medicine and science progressions soar and shape our world unparalleled by any other times of human civilization.
3. Xiangyu, Wang (2011) Mixed Reality and Human-Robot Interaction. Sydney: Springer.
http://books.google.com.hk/books?id=5MBB4wFcR7YC&printsec=frontcover&dq=robot+human&hl=zh-TW&ei=3pF_Tcz_G42ecbXa_PUG&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CFgQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q&f=false ( accessed 12 March 2011)
Human-robot interaction appears in every segment of life today. The combination of digital contents with real-time physical actions creates a simulated environment that is aimed to augment reality. In Mixed Reality and Human-Robot Interaction, the article provides a wide variety of examples which implement such idea. It iterates that through the process of Human-robot interaction, the happening of mixed reality (between virtual and actual) has been an emerging direction of technology development.
As illustrated by Wang, under the current direction, the popularity of the mixed reality human-robot interaction is gaining unrivalled momentum in the present age. There are examples, ranging from cutting-edge 3D technology employed in digital simulation to hand-held mobile devices using heat-sensitive touch screens. However, despite this ever-increasing acceptance of the human-robot interface by the users, the authenticity of the relationship has inevitably become vague. Since digital manifestations can generate the feeling of physical sensation, the value of virtual reality has been lifted to nearly equal footage with the true world. In other words, the necessity to distinguish between virtual and real has been tampered, or rendered insignificant as long as the utilization of the robotic machine is able to achieve the ultimate objective. Whether or not this direction is distressful, the advancement of technology has doubtlessly brought about a new trend that forms a rupture in human civilization.
4. Kurzweil, Ray (2005) The Singularity is near: When humans transcend biology. New York: Penguin Group.
http://books.google.com.hk/books?id=88U6hdUi6D0C&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+Singularity+Is+Near&source=bl&ots=v-cVhKstOK&sig=slyqLCpqQdNJQHptSIhORXSKDP8&hl=zh-TW&ei=lRZ_Tdopxclx48Pw8QY&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CIMBEOgBMAk#v=onepage&q&f=false ( accessed 14 March 2011)
One of the most profound and sophisticated question ever challenged by biologists, may not remain intact for long, as Ray Kurzweil theorizes the relationship between humans and machines in terms of sublimation through the merger of technological creations and living organisms. In his writing, The Singularity is near: When humans transcend biology, he strikingly persuades that a brand new phase of technologic-biology, the ‘singularity’ stage, is not as impossible to achieve as generally conceived instead it is approaching exponentially.
According to his doctrine, genetics and nanotechnology are both essential components of machine-incorporated living organisms – future human beings. Under the rapid development of technology the human brain is deemed to become a living quantifiable wisdom box, in other words, similar to a super computer processor save it is biological.
Building upon Kurzweil’s theory, in the new era, which he believes is inevitable, the calculation speed of the coming computers will soon surpass the process capacity of any human brain. At this point the thin line between biology and technology will become insignificant due to the medical advancements. Computer chips, imaginably will become part and parcel to us and old, rotten or dis-functioning brain parts will be replaced. The integration is going to bring about advanced living forms and, arguably, wiser intelligence. The traditional distinction between human and machines will become insignificant which the dual will eventually merge and become singular.
5. Grossman, Lev (2011) ‘ 2045 The Year Man Becomes Immortal’. Time Magazine, 21 February 2011, 24-31. http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2048138,00.html ( accessed 16 March 2011)
One of the most bombarding ideas presented by ‘singularitarians’ is that human will be able to create artificial intelligence comparable to the processing capability of our own brain. Lev Grossman in his article, Singularity: 2045 The year Man Becomes Immortal, explains the worldview of the ‘singularitarians’ who believe that machine and human will eventually become one. The notion of cyborg is as real as a cell phone. He cited that under the present progression of technology advancement, by the year 2045, ultra-intelligent machines which exceed the combined brainpower of all human brains will be manufactured. According to Lev, this is more of a pragmatic theory than a fringe science fiction as we conceived when we recall the fact that the laptop we are using is thousand times more powerful than the one 40 years ago used in NASA.
However, a blade has two sides. Realization of cyborg may possibly lead to merits such as immortality but could also result annihilation of humanity. On the upside, we may be able to heal aging, whereas on the downside computers can possibly develop until they are way more intelligent than human. This is because they could have well taken over their own development from our hands at that time. If we are lucky enough, we can scan our consciousness into the computers and live immortally, but virtually. What about the definition of ‘alive’ at that time? The lesson is that taking a long view is always harmless, so long as one bears in mind the consequences of playing god’s role.
[1] de Micheli, Mario(2006). Las vanguardias artísticas del siglo XX. Alianza Forma. p.135-13
No comments:
Post a Comment