Michael Chabon vs Trekkies

[Galaxy]

So, he's wrong on objects achieving some platonic ideal form. Earbuds aren't going to make it another fifty years. There'll be hearing-aid-looking thingies, then implants, then god knows what. I think he's seen Galactica too often or something. The conceit there is that that world lead to our own. Ours...well, things are going to get freaky.

I disagree with that Smartphones are getting larger not smaller because most people prefer that from a user interface pov. Now personally I would disagree with that because I do not use a Smartphone as a computer replacement, but oh well. Can we make a Phone with he features of an iPhone 11 Pro in the size of a Apple watch a few years from now? Likely yes. Will we use that? likely no.

Roddenberry's novelization of The Motion Picture mentions that earth used brain implants to transmitt audio and video messages but they were banned since they were misused.

 

[Arpy]

I disagree with that Smartphones are getting larger not smaller because most people prefer that from a user interface pov. Now personally I would disagree with that because I do not use a Smartphone as a computer replacement, but oh well. Can we make a Phone with he features of an iPhone 11 Pro in the size of a Apple watch a few years from now? Likely yes. Will we use that? likely no.

Roddenberry's novelization of The Motion Picture mentions that earth used brain implants to transmitt audio and video messages but they were banned since they were misused.

Uh, who said anything about smartphones? On that subject though, I can see them disappearing as handheld devices as contact lenses or something else comes along that's light to carry but that gives us even bigger screens (that's the point of bigger phones, not that we've abandoned miniaturizing the tech inside them further). Eventually it'll be an implant that links our brains directly into the global internet, or to (again, eventually) a Human Collective.

 

[fireproof78]

I'll pass on the whole "Human Collective" thing.

 

[BorgTheory]

What everyone else said. Also, you’re not taking his words at face value (which are accurate, and you might agree with in another setting) but interpreting them in a way that allows you to hate a (gasp!) liberal. I take it you’re a (gasp!) conservative — should people assume you’re a partisan bot and reinterpret every word you speak?

I am independent. My family used to be hardcore Democrats. I vote for who I think will best help.
I will stop talking about politics as it is upsetting people. I just thought it was ok because Patrick would only come back to Star Trek if the show dealt with his own personal views on British and United States politics layered on the Star Trek universe.

I really don’t want to upset anyone so I will strictly talk about only the sci-fi aspects of the show.

My apologies to anyone I genuinely upset. Also to the moderators. Please don’t send a Zhat Vash hit squad to my house.

 

[Arpy]

I'll pass on the whole "Human Collective" thing.

Might not be that bad actually. Cause 1) maybe being 20 Billion times smarter isn’t that bad if you’re not eeeeeeeevil about it, and 2) maybe you can plug into it and out at will. And to different degrees of interaction? Say it’s like a glorified mind-meld with the person you’re sleeping with or your team at work or your town or all fellow Trekkies, etc etc. And maybe there’s levels of immersion, like going in on private mode or something. And maybe it’s for humans and animals? Get to know what it’s like to be a falcon or an octopus or the opposite sex or, dare I say, a star?

 

[Arpy]

I am independent. My family used to be hardcore Democrats. I vote for who I think will best help.
I will stop talking about politics as it is upsetting people. I just thought it was ok because Patrick would only come back to Star Trek if the show dealt with his own personal views on British and United States politics layered on the Star Trek universe.

I really don’t want to upset anyone so I will strictly talk about only the sci-fi aspects of the show.

My apologies to anyone I genuinely upset. Also to the moderators. Please don’t send a Zhat Vash hit squad to my house.

Ohhhhh... okay. Anyone know how to say “abort” in Romulan? Asking for a friend.

 

[BorgTheory]

Ohhhhh... okay. Anyone know how to say “abort” in Romulan? Asking for a friend.

I am showing respect towards the forum. I might choose to discuss it more in TNZ.

We are not supposed to fight politically here.

 

[fireproof78]

Might not be that bad actually. Cause 1) maybe being 20 Billion times smarter isn’t that bad if you’re not eeeeeeeevil about it, and 2) maybe you can plug into it and out at will. And to different degrees of interaction? Say it’s like a glorified mind-meld with the person you’re sleeping with or your team at work or your town or all fellow Trekkies, etc etc. And maybe there’s levels of immersion, like going in on private mode or something. And maybe it’s for humans and animals? Get to know what it’s like to be a falcon or an octopus or the opposite sex or, dare I say, a star?

Privately and one on one is a maybe. A full human collective is a no go for me. I don't need to be 20 billion times smarter or whatever.

 

[BillJ]

I'll pass on the whole "Human Collective" thing.

I don't know that I'm for or against it, just that we aren't near ready for it yet. We still have a lot of growing up to do.

 

[fireproof78]

I don't know that I'm for or against it, just that we aren't near ready for it yet. We still have a lot of growing up to do.

I mean, that's fair, and certainly I have no issue with technological development. But, I am a big champion of human choice when it comes to technology. So, the idea of a mandatory tech use makes me uneasy, at best.

 

[BillJ]

So, the idea of a mandatory tech use makes me uneasy, at best.

I would never be for mandatory use.

 

[Longinus]

I would never be for mandatory use.

Effectively mandatory.

 

[fireproof78]

I would never be for mandatory use.

That's how it would start. Call me paranoid (I'll own it) but I fear that it would eventually become a social expectation, even if not mandatory.

 

[BillJ]

That's how it would start. Call me paranoid (I'll own it) but I fear that it would eventually become a social expectation, even if not mandatory.

Meh. I've never cared about social expectations.

 

[Longinus]

Meh. I've never cared about social expectations.

Try opt out from using internet or phone. Technically possible, practically less so.

 

[fireproof78]

Meh. I've never cared about social expectations.

Unfortunately, my job some times necessitates compliance

 

[BillJ]

Try opt out from using internet or phone. Technically possible, practically less so.

I don't have a cell phone. While we have a landline for emergencies, it essentially collects dust.

 

[Longinus]

I don't have a cell phone. While we have a landline for emergencies, it essentially collects dust.

Yet this cave you live in has wifi.

 

[BillJ]

Yet this cave you live in has wifi.

Sure. It is useful, but I got along fine in the before times. I imagine I could adjust again. Though I would miss my Kindle, as the adjustable font size makes reading much easier.

 

[Longinus]

Sure. It is useful, but I got along fine in the before times. I imagine I could adjust again. Though I would miss my Kindle, as the adjustable font size makes reading much easier.

I don't think you could or at least not for long. The society more and more is built around the assumption that people have access to internet. The same happens with any technology which becomes ubiquitous.