> From: "Jones Beene" > The name of the game these days is CHANGE. Change seems > to be "in the wind" in 2005.
... Hi Jones, As always, another thought provoking essay. I wanted to mention the fact that for the past week I, too, had been speculating along the same evolutionary lines of thought though not specifically in terms of what the new XBOX 360 or IPOD could be used for. I'll get back to this "coincidence" in thought at the end of my essay. But first: Like your own speculations, it seems possible to me that humanity may soon be presented with several choices for which the ramifications could easily transform our species into...well...something quite different. The catalyst for that "evolutionary change" is IMHO the Internet itself. As has already been speculated ad nausea by several contemporary SF writers (I.e. The Matrix) the physical structure of the Internet appears to be evolving in a way that might eventually mimic the synaptic connections of a massive planetary Global Brain, perhaps eventually achieving a kind of Universal Consciousness in its own right. As the Internet continues to grow in sophistication and power all that might be left for us human beings to figure out would be how best to interface with it. Ultimately I would think direct cortical connections (wet wired interfaces) would be the best way to go. What advantages and (or disadvantages) would such intimate interfacing give the next stage of humanity? Perhaps it depends on how dedicated these interfaces turn out to be. Would we be able to choose when to be "connected", or would it eventually become the law that we ALWAYS be connected! No doubt, more cannon fodder for the gifted SF writer. My obvious hope is that when these cortical connections become available (AND REST ASSURED, THEY WILL BECOME AVAILABLE - PERHAPS EVEN WITHIN OUR LIFETIMES!) our personal adventures in "interfacing" will remain individual choices allowing us to dip into and out of the vast reservoir of "Global Consciousness" at our pleasure. There is a mystic side to this potential evolutionary step that is, IMHO, worth exploring just a tad: The wonders of science and technology occasionally seem to mirror what some religious philosophers have speculated will become our ultimate evolutionary spiritual path, that of reintegrating our individual consciousness (our spirit if you will) to a greater whole, or said differently: greater gestalts of perception and awareness. Will the advances of Technologically induced conscious interfacing bring forth the accumulated consensus of a Planetary Consciousness that we can tap into at will, or will this technology bring forth something more mysterious: As if it will be used as an AID (like strapping on training wheels) that ultimately helps us discover biological abilities that currently remain undeveloped in a large part of the human race. Perhaps it may turn out to be a combination of both technological and biological advances, and then, something more where genetic engineering plays a significant role as well. Quite likely, the latter. But getting back to Mr. Beene's essay, I want to bring up the fact that for the past week I, TOO, had been thinking about what could happen to the evolution of humanity as we begin integrating and interfacing these technological wonders into our bodies & society. Warning! Those who are unwilling to trust any thoughts that haven't been filtered through their rational filters will probably poo-poo the following speculation, but I personally don't feel it was a mere random coincidence that Mr. Beene and I appeared to be thinking about the same concepts this week. I had, in fact, been seriously thinking about writing an essay based on some of Mr. Beene's speculations and posting them within Vortex when he beat me to the punch. He is, after all, a gifted and prolific writer, and on many subjects he is a far better storyteller than I. There seems to be evidence to support the suspicion that unique ideas and spiffy new inventions do not manifest into physical existence from the fertile imagination of a mere single individual, but simultaneously from the fertile minds of several individuals located all over the planet. Often these individuals are completely oblivious to the actions of each other. It's almost like there exists a kind of Universal Insurance Policy that doesn't care a hoot WHO trots the product to the finish line, just as long as ONE of them does. I suspect this Jungian-like synchronicity is a well documented phenomenon that, so far, has only been treated as harmless anecdotal literature primarily because our western based rationally dominated culture has no practical way to explore these ramifications in a serious scientifically controlled way. Too bad! As for me, I suspect the Super Internet already exists in some other layer of reality. I suspect we, as a species, have the biological means to tap into it. In fact, I suspect most of us occasionally interface with the Super Internet (perhaps a better word is: BLUNDER) all the time without realizing it. I suspect I blundered into the same broadcast station that Mr. Beene had already tapped. Again, it doesn't matter WHO trots to the finish line, just as long as ONE of them does. Perhaps the ultimate legacy the Internet we all love or hate, filled with its wonders, viruses, worms, and SPAM may ultimately give us is a cryptic roadmap pointing us in the direction of how best to interface with the Ultimate Super Internet. I suspect there is infinitely more to "tap" into from the Super Internet. Assuming our species eventually acquires free and abundant sources of energy, and our choices will multiply exponentially. Our species will likely be given the chance branch into many fascinating different directions, from the stalwart Luddite all the way to Virtual Photon-based Angels. Regarding the process of evolution: "Resistance is Futile!" - The BORG Regards, Steven Vincent Johnson www.OrionWorks.com
