Critical Thinking Blog–Assignment #8

Due to taking this course, my views about science and the humanities have changed a bit.

While taking in the connection between the two into consideration, humanity may be able to transcend the boundaries between these two subjects to ultimately answer some of the most elusive questions of the universe. For example, while writing my research paper on the promises and perils of virtual Reality portrayed in the novel, Plowing the Dark by Richard Powers, I noticed a connection between humanism and the pursuit of scientific discoveries. The promises of VR have been shown to be innumerable; however, it should be noted that they also come with perils of their own.  Spiegel says,"Change any variable and the 
executing universe alters. Move it to the left, increment it by a quarter percent, and the new result gets spit out whole. It gives one tremendous feeling of – Power?" (Powers 216). When he said this, I was able to relate to it due to my ongoing work in computer science.Due to an individual’s raison d'être, they may push themselves to transcend the boundary between real and virtual spaces; therefore, allowing for a greater understanding of the observable universe. Additionally, this raison d'être drives people to formulate new questions based on previously received answers; thus, forming an unbreakable thirst for knowledge. In conclusion, I have merely realized my initial optimism as we finish the semester has grown more.

Critical Thinking Blog – Assignment #5

The movie, A.I. Artificial Intelligence produced by Steven Spielberg, tells the story of a highly advanced robotic boy longing to become indistinguishable for human boy; therefore, he searches to regain the love of his human mother. In the article, “Dream-Logic, the Internet and Artificial Thought” by David Gelernter, various arguments are made to determine whether or not computers will reach ever an artificial intelligence that is comparable or superior to human intelligence. In one particular argument he says that, “No computer will be creative unless it can simulate the nuances of human emotions” (Gelernter 262). Consequently, David ,the robotic boy, in the movie trailer appears to be able to discern the nuances of human emotion by embarking on a quest to regain the love of his mother. Additionally, he seems to possess the ability to free-associate, because he processes new experiences like any other child would, learn from each experience to better understand his thoughts. In contrast the movie, The Terminator directed by James Cameron, shows the perils that humans will face if they ever have to fend for their lives against an android predator. I believe that robots will become more acceptable to people if their designers are more transparent concerning their capabilities. Therefore, people seem to be more accepting of a new technology when they are able to clearly see the benefits of using it in their daily lives.

Critical Thinking Blog – Assignment #4-- Midterm Practice

Within the field of Computer Science, many have sought to decode the complexities of human intelligence, and create an artificial intelligence. In the graphic novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Phillip K. Dick , Rachel Eldon is an android that has an artificial intelligence that may be on par or exceeding the current capabilities of human intelligence. During, the Voight-Kampff test, she appears to be able to develop emotionally charged responses to some of the questions asked to her. In particular, when asked a question concerning her course of action in response to her hypothetical husband hanging up a picture of a nude woman atop a bearskin rug in his study, she fails to notice the subtleties in this loaded question (Dick 316). Due to her being an android, she decides the logical course of action is to not let him hang it up; therefore, she fails to notice that the real question was concerning the desecration of a deceased animal. The article, “Dream-Logic, the Internet and Artificial Thought” by David Gelernter, argues whether or not computers will reach ever an artificial intelligence that is comparable or superior to human intelligence. In one particular instance, he states that in order to close the gaps between these two forms of intelligences that computers will need to be able free-associate. He defines free-association as, “each new thought resembles or overlaps or somehow connects-to the previous thought” (Gelernter 260).  In this state of mind, computers should begin to develop their own unique ideas.

Critical Thinking Blog – Assignment #6

In regards to my research paper, I chose to write about the promises and perils of virtual reality (VR) portrayed in the novel, Plowing the Dark, by Richard Powers. Based on several popular and scholar sources, an argument can be made that the promise of virtual reality as portrayed in Richard Powers’ Plowing the Dark outweigh its perils.

For the first source I chose "Virtual Reality and Presence" by the following people: Bohil, Corey, Charles B. Owen, Eui Jun Jeaong, and Bradly Alicea. This article was found in the Gale Virtual General Reference Collection database. The authors of this article gave an overview on the experience of virtual reality. In order to create an illusion for the senses, hardware and software are utilized in VR system to recreate the information present to the sensory/perceptional system in the physical world (Bohil, et al). Therefore, the creation of this illusion is necessary to immerse the user in the virtual space, while also allowing them to develop a strong presence in it. I chose to use this source because it offers a good overview of what to expect from VR. This source will allow understand the mechanics that an VR user would go through, and the insight to current implementations of immersive and non-immersive VR.

The primary imaginative text that will be used would be Plowing the Dark. I purchased this novel from Amazon.com. In this novel, Richard Powers utilize virtual spaces to illustrate the extent that human ingenuity can be harnessed through the use of the Cavern, while exploring the consequences of being enveloped by it. The promises of VR have been shown to be innumerable; however, it should be noted that they also come with perils of their own. I chose this novel as my primary text because I am interested in the potential that can tapped from VR. As an aspiring Computer and Information Research Scientist, I may end up working on research project on this subject.