Alt-BEAM Archive
Message #03777
To: JVernonM@aol.com, beam@corp.sgi.com
From: Dennison dennlill@buffnet.net
Date: Wed, 26 May 1999 16:48:20 -0400
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: Tilden on PBS
I wouldn't call it slip ups, although I haven't seen this special. I think
people mis-interpret a few things which can be attributed to several causes:
1. The technology changes. Remeber how we though the Micrcore simulated real
life neurons? Well regardless of wether or not they do, we don't talk about
that any more. Why? A bunch of biologists said it wasn't true, it wasn't
accurate. So Tilden stopped saying it. This isn't lieing, nor misleading.
The statement was based on the (then) current knowledge about the
technology, and simply proved wrong. That happens plenty of times in the
scientific process.
2. Editing: sometimes important other parts of the interview are cut out, so
we may not exactly know the context of his statements.
3. Mis-interpret. Face it, we may just no know what he's talking about, we
may think we do, but we don't.
4. Over-generalizing: Tilden may in some cases over generlize his statements
of those programs, but can you blaim him? Let alone hint at the possibility
that they were intentional? Whats he suppose to do in his two minute time
slot? Explain everything like everyone watching the program knew what he was
talking about? I'm sure he can make Stryder follow people or look at people.
Thats not exactly an amazing accomplishment. In fact it's relatively easy.
Remeber the HERO and HERO Jr robots? They were advertised as being able to
follow people. So were many other robots of that era. All it takes is a
little PIR heat Sensor.
Dennison
>I've got just one more nit-picky little, ain't you got a life dude, gripe
>about something Tilden said on the recent PBS special. When cradling
Stryder
>in his arms, and calling it some kind of genetic related name that would
make
>one want to post some kind of ridiculous thing like a beam Genome or
>something, He states that this new "lifeform" can search it's environment,
>then move toward YOU. Now, we all know Stryder reacts to light. Just like
>most all of these creations. So, how does it track and stalk people? I
>chalked that one up to a slip of the tongue. I would be speaking gibberish
if
>a camera were stuck in my face. But, if you think about it, there are a lot
>of these little slips. Just an observation.
>Jim
------------------------------------------------------------------------
eGroups.com home: http://www.egroups.com/group/alt-beam
http://www.egroups.com
- Simplifying group communications
Home