Alt-BEAM Archive

Message #03754



To: beam@corp.sgi.com
From: davidperry@mail.geocities.com
Date: Mon, 25 May 1992 15:59:56 +0000
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: Evolution Comparison


now, firstly, i find that robots and nature are still incompaitable,
they were created differently. Throw a run of the mill photovore
into the natural world and it is totally inept, if it even survives.
Hovever beam is a step in the right direction.
Another thing, RJP's don't emulate nature either, a table is one
thing but plants, grass and predators are another, shouldn't out
RJP's try to reproduce nature as well as our robots?

David Perry

> Mark W. Tilden wrote:
> >
> > >> According to Hans Moravec, robot evolution is going approximately 10
> > >> million times faster than biological evolution did. Therefore, he
> > >predicts
> > >> that within fifty years or so, we will have made an artificial human.
> >
> > >Exactly so, and why? because humans work as a TEAM, the process would
> > >take 10 million times as long if only 1 person was doing it.
>
> Or because humans can be motivated by huge profits!!!
>
> 50 years? Maybe, there is a lot of money to be had....
>
> > But unlike nature which has specific and very harsh survival
> > guidelines, the technological efforts of mankind are diffuse, not
> > usually cumulative, and rarely in favor of the machine. The evolution
> > of biologicals focuses on their own interest where the mainstream
> > evolution of devices focuses only on human interest, which, let's face
> > it, doesn't give a damn about the technology so long as it works.
>
> Thats an inaccurate generalization I think. If you look at technology
> that
> is under competitive stress, evolution is very clear.
>
> There was a quantum leap in firearms technology, or the computer
> industry as
> a whole.
>
> And as far as giving a damn about the technology, please go drive a fine
> German sports car, or better still, fly a small, overpowered Grumman
> aircraft!
>
> Technology does evolve, given the same competitive environment that
> biological evolution thrives in, plenty of resources, time, and
> competitive pressure!
>
> > Evolution can only yield a result if it's consistent and directed
> > towards the selfish autonomoid. So long as the machines exclusively
> > serve their Gods, I've predicted they won't go anywhere outside the
> > laboratory or moviescreen. In my opinion, fifty years sounds pretty
> > optimistic, unless we can get a better grip on this BEAM thing.
>
> But they already have! They are on Mars after all. Thats pretty far
> from a lab. Why discount the evolution of 'conventional' robotics,
> already a growing industry turning very real profits?
>
> > Yes, Moravec and myself have debated this at length. He doesn't get
> > it, but anyone who's every tried to run a new computer with an old
> > printer might understand.
> >
> > Later.
> >
> > markt.
>
> Yep, technology does evolve just as it is, and old printers are often
> best turning into new 'bots!
>
____________________________________________
I'm sure David sinceraly apologises if he
insulted anyone, it won't happen again.

____________________________________________

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