Comments for Now We Are Different http://nowwearedifferent.com How we have evolved - and why we haven't noticed Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:02:52 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Why you can’t predict the future by Adam Gordon http://nowwearedifferent.com/2009/07/03/why-you-cant-predict-the-future/#comment-79 Adam Gordon Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:02:52 +0000 http://nowwearedifferent.com/?p=37#comment-79 Right about Kurzweil, just (self-promoting) sci-fi. But how much we can predict and under what conditions is a key question with no simple yes-no answer. Taleb is great. See also vdHeijden 'Sixth Sense'; Courtney's '2020 Foresight'; and if I may suggest (as Kurzweil alka-selzer), my own 'Future Savvy' http://tinyurl.com/6d8tqa Right about Kurzweil, just (self-promoting) sci-fi. But how much we can predict and under what conditions is a key question with no simple yes-no answer. Taleb is great. See also vdHeijden ‘Sixth Sense’; Courtney’s ‘2020 Foresight’; and if I may suggest (as Kurzweil alka-selzer), my own ‘Future Savvy’ http://tinyurl.com/6d8tqa

]]> Comment on Why you can’t predict the future by futurist http://nowwearedifferent.com/2009/07/03/why-you-cant-predict-the-future/#comment-78 futurist Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:03:58 +0000 http://nowwearedifferent.com/?p=37#comment-78 I am optimistic about the future of humanity and I am sure it is full of surprises. There is even a whole website made only to discuss our future and what we are evoloving into. http://www.humansfuture.org I am optimistic about the future of humanity and I am sure it is full of surprises.

There is even a whole website made only to discuss our future and what we are evoloving into.

http://www.humansfuture.org

]]> Comment on Why you can’t predict the future by Artificial-Intelligence » Easy To Make Cash. Earn Your Extra Cash In Easy Way.: Adsense ... http://nowwearedifferent.com/2009/07/03/why-you-cant-predict-the-future/#comment-77 Artificial-Intelligence » Easy To Make Cash. Earn Your Extra Cash In Easy Way.: Adsense ... Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:51:07 +0000 http://nowwearedifferent.com/?p=37#comment-77 [...] Why you can't predict the future « Now We Are DifferentEssentially, Kurzweil’s premise is that the way things are going, what with the exponential acceleration of technology, we will at some point in the very near future reach the point where artificial intelligence and human intelligence … [...] [...] Why you can't predict the future « Now We Are DifferentEssentially, Kurzweil’s premise is that the way things are going, what with the exponential acceleration of technology, we will at some point in the very near future reach the point where artificial intelligence and human intelligence … [...]

]]> Comment on Why you can’t predict the future by Lame Spirale http://nowwearedifferent.com/2009/07/03/why-you-cant-predict-the-future/#comment-76 Lame Spirale Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:41:23 +0000 http://nowwearedifferent.com/?p=37#comment-76 Ok, thx Ok, thx

]]> Comment on Why you can’t predict the future by Dubber http://nowwearedifferent.com/2009/07/03/why-you-cant-predict-the-future/#comment-75 Dubber Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:40:37 +0000 http://nowwearedifferent.com/?p=37#comment-75 I'd actually go with The Gutenberg Galaxy as a starting point. I’d actually go with The Gutenberg Galaxy as a starting point.

]]> Comment on Why you can’t predict the future by Lame Spirale http://nowwearedifferent.com/2009/07/03/why-you-cant-predict-the-future/#comment-74 Lame Spirale Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:37:40 +0000 http://nowwearedifferent.com/?p=37#comment-74 Ok , I guess that "Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man" would be a good choice to begin McLuhan, wouldn't it ? Ok , I guess that “Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man” would be a good choice to begin McLuhan, wouldn’t it ?

]]> Comment on Why you can’t predict the future by dubber http://nowwearedifferent.com/2009/07/03/why-you-cant-predict-the-future/#comment-73 dubber Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:39:37 +0000 http://nowwearedifferent.com/?p=37#comment-73 I have read Taleb's book - a couple of times - and I'm really impressed by it. I may well have adopted the notion of the unknown unknown from there. But my real benchmark here is McLuhan - and the predictably unexpected consequences that the Laws of Media warn us about. In Taleb's defense, he doesn't do what I call 'doing a Malcolm Gladwell': making one really rather simple point then telling lots of stories to illustrate it and flesh it out into a book - instead he develops his idea and explores its complexity and import. Identifying and explaining the degree of unpredictability and uncertainty of the future seems like a really important and honourable thing to be doing - and Taleb does it brilliantly. I have read Taleb’s book – a couple of times – and I’m really impressed by it. I may well have adopted the notion of the unknown unknown from there. But my real benchmark here is McLuhan – and the predictably unexpected consequences that the Laws of Media warn us about.

In Taleb’s defense, he doesn’t do what I call ‘doing a Malcolm Gladwell’: making one really rather simple point then telling lots of stories to illustrate it and flesh it out into a book – instead he develops his idea and explores its complexity and import.

Identifying and explaining the degree of unpredictability and uncertainty of the future seems like a really important and honourable thing to be doing – and Taleb does it brilliantly.

]]> Comment on Why you can’t predict the future by Lame Spirale http://nowwearedifferent.com/2009/07/03/why-you-cant-predict-the-future/#comment-72 Lame Spirale Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:02:21 +0000 http://nowwearedifferent.com/?p=37#comment-72 It look like you've read Black Swans from Nassim Nicholas Taleb , if not you should, cause it's really good. It's a philosophy book from an ex-trader which focus on extremely rare events, showing that they are unpredicable and that they have such a huge impact. He's angry with economists who draw curves for predictions. The book is very enjoyable to read as he writes many stories to show his point (in a very american way but still) It look like you’ve read Black Swans from Nassim Nicholas Taleb , if not you should, cause it’s really good.
It’s a philosophy book from an ex-trader which focus on extremely rare events, showing that they are unpredicable and that they have such a huge impact.
He’s angry with economists who draw curves for predictions.
The book is very enjoyable to read as he writes many stories to show his point (in a very american way but still)

]]> Comment on Memory and evolution by Jason Kemp http://nowwearedifferent.com/2008/07/20/memory-and-evolution/#comment-4 Jason Kemp Mon, 28 Jul 2008 03:50:09 +0000 http://nowwearedifferent.wordpress.com/?p=17#comment-4 Last point was supposed to say "Some of this is semantics and some of it is lack of meaningful collaboration..... and some of it is just another example of the way that memory works." Also "carve out now pathways in the brain" should have read new pathways. Last point was supposed to say

“Some of this is semantics and some of it is lack of meaningful collaboration…..
and some of it is just another example of the way that memory works.”

Also “carve out now pathways in the brain” should have read new pathways.

]]> Comment on Memory and evolution by Jason Kemp http://nowwearedifferent.com/2008/07/20/memory-and-evolution/#comment-3 Jason Kemp Mon, 28 Jul 2008 03:45:18 +0000 http://nowwearedifferent.wordpress.com/?p=17#comment-3 This is your brain on music has some useful reference points on the way that different elements and different theories of brain science can help us make sense of this. The act of memory is far more than just recall. In simple terms we now understand that the brain adds weight to certain memories almost like applying experiential filters which actually distort memories and regenerate them with extra social indicators that have meaning for us. I wrote about some of them over here http://www.dialogcrm.com/blog/2007/08/22/uses-not-innovations-drive-technology/ The book This is your brain on music puts it all more elegantly but our brains are not neutral data retrieval systems. And yes external triggers like music and other vivid experiences all help to build a kaleidoscope of memories. Like the Heisenberg uncertainty principle often translated as something like "the act of observation changes the act being observed" which is a bit like what seems to happen. Each time the brain learns something new it is either added to a matching pattern area or depending on age and experience might even carve out now pathways in the brain. (or both) So memory and the act of remembering adds layers of extra meaning to the situation and effectively this results in a "memory" that looks different to differnt people even if they were all present and trying to remember the very same event. Actually even trying to describe some of this is not so easy. That is one of the other key points about Daniel Levitin's book. Researchers and academics often describe the very same things with wildly conflicting viewpoints. Some of this is semantics and some of it is lack of meaningful collaboration. This is your brain on music has some useful reference points on the way that different elements and different theories of brain science can help us make sense of this.

The act of memory is far more than just recall. In simple terms we now understand that the brain adds weight to certain memories almost like applying experiential filters which actually distort memories and regenerate them with extra social indicators that have meaning for us.

I wrote about some of them over here
http://www.dialogcrm.com/blog/2007/08/22/uses-not-innovations-drive-technology/

The book This is your brain on music puts it all more elegantly but our brains are not neutral data retrieval systems. And yes external triggers like music and other vivid experiences all help to build a kaleidoscope of memories.

Like the Heisenberg uncertainty principle often translated as something like “the act of observation changes the act being observed” which is a bit like what seems to happen.

Each time the brain learns something new it is either added to a matching pattern area or depending on age and experience might even carve out now pathways in the brain. (or both)

So memory and the act of remembering adds layers of extra meaning to the situation and effectively this results in a “memory” that looks different to differnt people even if they were all present and trying to remember the very same event.

Actually even trying to describe some of this is not so easy. That is one of the other key points about Daniel Levitin’s book.

Researchers and academics often describe the very same things with wildly conflicting viewpoints. Some of this is semantics and some of it is lack of meaningful collaboration.

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