Mechanical Man

[Tom Fulp]

Imagine a world where every human has become a machine. Where Immortality has been achieved. Where the argument of Heaven and Hell, the existence of God, and who's got it right are irrelevant. Without death, none of those things would matter.

That world is within our reach.

So let's try not to kill each other. I predict cyberbrains, the key to immortality, are 30-40 years off.

[Irishman]

People would still die. Age is not the only cause of death.

[Tom Fulp]

People would still die. Age is not the only cause of death.

How would they die? If everyone has a cybernetic brain or existed in the Internet, then there would be no more need for consuming food, and (in the case of persisting in the Internet) minimal need for metals, rocks, territory, no war, the list goes on.

In a future where death by anything other than natural disaster and war, it seems like the death toll wouldn't be high and would eventually level off.

[Irishman]

So you think that war would not exist? That accidents would not exist?

In a future where death by anything other than natural disaster and war, it seems like the death toll wouldn't be high and would eventually level off.

Two examples right there. Just imagine if a server was hacked or was destroyed. Millions would 'die'.

By the way, the fact you claim this is 30-40 years off is just naive. We hardly understand how the human mind works as of now, let alone being able to replicate it in a machine.

[Denny Crane!]

How would they die? If everyone has a cybernetic brain or existed in the Internet, then there would be no more need for consuming food, and (in the case of persisting in the Internet) minimal need for metals, rocks, territory, no war, the list goes on.

In a future where death by anything other than natural disaster and war, it seems like the death toll wouldn't be high and would eventually level off.

Then you should really read Terry Pratchetts Strata, not least because he is a brilliant writer.

People grow tired of life.

So you think that war would not exist? That accidents would not exist?



Two examples right there. Just imagine if a server was hacked or was destroyed. Millions would 'die'.

By the way, the fact you claim this is 30-40 years off is just naive. We hardly understand how the human mind works as of now, let alone being able to replicate it in a machine.

There is no way to accurately gauge how fast our technological development will be, look at the last 30 years.

[Ramashan]

There will never be cyber brains that we would consider replacable to the human brain. It is feasable that in 40 years computers may exist that have a computational power 2²⁰ if we apply Moore's Law that computer power is doubling every 2 years. But this will never be able to replace the human brain in a human.

Science may eventually be able to replace every single body part with something artificial until we get to a point where the difference between human and non-human becomes a serious ethical issue. But the brain will always have to remain organic. This leads to questions such as, how does the Brain age? How long can a Brain function? And how much of our humanity is our Brain as compared to our body.

But I don't believe the concept of heaven or hell or the question of 'what exists after death' will ever cease to be asked or relevent. Eventually we all died, everything else is just prolonging the inevitable. Just be happy that life expectancy is theorized to average beyond the hundreds as the century progresses if current trends continue to hold true.

[Problem Sleuth]

Not to mention the fact that if all the networks composing the internet are down, no more life. Just like humanity, when a big enough rock hits, BAM! We're gone. Oh, and you can't really download humanity on the internet without processors to act as brains. Meaning they'd have to be identical to human ones, or at least be able to synthesize emotions/pain/other chemical reactions properly with electric signals.

So, we'd still keep our mortal coils, we'd just elongate them a bit. Irrelevant in the scheme of the Universe, but it's nice to know our chemical reactions can continue indefinitely, barring huge disaster.

EDIT: Also, don't think you're the first to think of that. Read the Machine Crusade books by Frank Herbert's son and another author... Brian Herbert, I believe? There are some examples of something similar to that inside it.

[Tom Fulp]

You would have to see the future as I have seen it to fully understand what is happening. What WILL happen very soon.

Quite literally, I gained "Technoenlightenment" in just one day.

All I had to do was think.

And listen.

[Ramashan]

***clears throat*** and hopes floor boards don't sqeek while backing out.

[Irishman]

There is no way to accurately gauge how fast our technological development will be, look at the last 30 years.

Yes, but to believe that our brains could be encoded onto computers?

[Tom Fulp]

Yes, but to believe that our brains could be encoded onto computers?

It's possible.

Video cameras take images from our world and put onto YouTube dont they?

[Problem Sleuth]

You need a very complicated computer that can accurately replicate all of the brain's functions. Meaning you have to know the mind's 'code', or so to speak. Even if computers are powerful enough, you still need to figure out the specifics behind it. That's where it gets difficult, as one tiny error could leave them in unimaginable pain for the rest of their existence...

And even if you COULD live forever by being downloaded, if all you're going to do is exist and feel nothing for eternity... That's not worth it. That's the worst imaginable torture, greater than any Hell or Hades envisioned. Doing nothing, experiencing nothing, being trapped in a shell, going mad over the millenia...

[Denny Crane!]

Yes, but to believe that our brains could be encoded onto computers?

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/21/nano_gas_giant/

Worth a read before you start discounting anything, its all speculation.

[Claudius Gothicus]

[QUOTE]And even if you COULD live forever by being downloaded, if all you're going to do is exist and feel nothing for eternity... That's not worth it. That's the worst imaginable torture, greater than any Hell or Hades envisioned. Doing nothing, experiencing nothing, being trapped in a shell, going mad over the millenia...[QUOTE]

Remember if you dont feel you dont suffer after all suffering is a feeling our "lives" would be more like vegetables no feelings no consience no memory nothing just "live" It's very difficult to explain but it would be like sleeping all the time without dreaming or anything
just being nothing else.

Back on topic , saying that in 50 years we will be able to recreate de human brain it's highly improbable and almost impossible technology doesn't not advance in a straight line always up some times it gets stucked for many years o even decades.

[Eli Phoenix]

We've created so many things for prostetics and such, we even have the replica of a artifical heart, to say that we couldn't is improbable...

[Yaga Shu Ra]

We've created so many things for prostetics and such, we even have the replica of a artifical heart, to say that we couldn't is improbable...

We can because we understand how they are constructed, how the function, we can define their characteristics and abilities and with the use of technology, mimic those. But can and will we ever be able to do the same with the human brain?

For example, we will need to fully comprehend a "thing" called love, an emotion, a feeling, something completely subjective in all its aspects. Can we?

[Eli Phoenix]

We can because we understand how they are constructed, how the function, we can define their characteristics and abilities and with the use of technology, mimic those. But can and will we ever be able to do the same with the human brain?

For example, we will need to fully comprehend a "thing" called love, an emotion, a feeling, something completely subjective in all its aspects. Can we?

honestly I'm not sure...There could be emotion chips put in but would there be room to grow, to expand it once in place...idk this whole thread reminds me of the movie Bicentinnial Man...It would be great in some aspects, no brain cancer, if there is a defect in the brain they could replace it....my whole issue is, will there be memories, and if there was would the program be flawed in some way where people held resentment or the whole world just 'got along' it would be a total world war or it would be total world peace...

[The Good]

I just can't see this happening successfully at all. Irishman brought up a good point, what if the servers which these brains are located in, are hacked? Then these people would die. Also, the ability to think would be flawed, right? What if there were errors on these cybernetic brains? Even if the technology existed, I would not have this done to me.

[Problem Sleuth]

Remember if you dont feel you dont suffer after all suffering is a feeling our "lives" would be more like vegetables no feelings no consience no memory nothing just "live" It's very difficult to explain but it would be like sleeping all the time without dreaming or anything
just being nothing else.

Back on topic , saying that in 50 years we will be able to recreate de human brain it's highly improbable and almost impossible technology doesn't not advance in a straight line always up some times it gets stucked for many years o even decades

Oh, that's what'll be so hellish. You'll have concience and memory, but without nerve endings to send signals, or ears or eyes or whatever the hell, you won't be able to do anything.

Think of it this way... Put yourself in an area totally devoid of light. Just to makesure, blindfold yourself. Destroy your ears, your nose, and destroy all your nerve endings. Cut away your arms, your legs, and so on, until you're but a head given the necessary nutrients. Oh, you'll still be thinking and be sentient. You'll just be unable to do anything, or hear anything other than your own thoughts.

Now, stay like that. For centuries. Unmoving, unfeeling - yet still mentally intact. For a while. I have no doubt insanity will descend soon enough. Perhaps later for stronger minds, but that's not a happy thought. And even then, it'll still be equally miserable...

[humvee2800]

Assuming one could have there conscience transplanted into a machine, the real question si why, at that level of technology it is likely one could live forever as well as have transplants to give strength eqaul to that of a machine. Also a mixed combination of flesh and machine is far better then either one on its own.