Alt-BEAM Archive

Message #10696



To: beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
From: Daniel Grace lifebytes_98@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2000 15:09:46 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: BEAM: Tendency toward miniaturization


(we
> don't go about killing people whose jobs are
> rationalised away in favor of a
> more efficient robot).

Bacteria and vira are
> most likely capable of exceeding human capabilities
> of adaption to
> circumstances.
>
> Now, let's get back to BEAMing :)
>
> Cheers,
> Thomas
>
>

Upon looking at these statements back to back to do
realize something? What if we make robots that "excede
human capabilities of adaption to circumstances",
would you then doubt robots outlast us? Who is to say
that robots will never be able to replicate
themselves. Production of parts is already done by
mechanical arms and machines with a minimum of human
intervention in most cases, and electronics (esp.
digital) is a quite logical process, which one day
could be 'thought out' by robotic minds. This would
not require any miricale of true-life as some of our
more dreamy list posters have predicted for robotics,
but circuitry that has a bit of logic that is combined
with the manufacturing plants already in use. Robotic
minds recreating robotic minds, all the time improving
and adapting. I can see this happening. Robots made to
take over the entire process of making our robotic
'pets', then programmed to analize the circuitry to
find any flaws and fix them. Over time, the circuitry
would get quite complex. A massive disease comes
along, or any other great tragedy that robots would be
able to outlive and humans wouldn't, and viola, a
non-magical way that robots could become the dominant
'life' on Earth.

~Daniel

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10697 Tue, 22 Feb 2000 18:18:45 EST [alt-beam] Re: Dizzy Symet beam@sgiblab.sgi.com BUDSCOTT@aol.com Here's kinda what my bot looks like

O----O
| o |
O----O

The four big circles are the caps, the lines are electrical tape that i
put around the upper end of the caps so they don't touch the ground. the
small circle is the actuator, it is simple a few layers of heatshrink. the
bot leans on two of the four caps at a 10-15 degree angle.

the length: -----------------------------

the width: ----------------------------

the hieght: ---------------------

not very large at all, this dizzy little symet runs in about a 5 inch
diameter circle with absolutely no drift, i've left it under three high watt
lightbulbs for 3 some hours, and the circle did not drift at all! it was very
easy to make, i'd even be willing to write a symet tutorial for somebody's
page if they were willing to post it! any input welcome!

-Spencer



10698 Tue, 22 Feb 2000 18:38:52 -0800 [alt-beam] Re: BEAM: Tendency toward miniaturization beam@sgiblab.sgi.com Laura Malinowski Laura/Rob Malinowski Guys,
Personality (I believe) is actually a combo of the two. My proof is my father
and brother. My dad did not raise my brother, in fact was no where near. I got
a call from my brother when I was around thirty and my brother is older. We got
together for dinner and I was shocked at how many personality traits they had
in common. There where differences which I attributed to the "learned trait"
idea, but there was a "core" personality that couln't be ignored.

I read somenones comment about robots replacing humans. I don't think you can
replace one species with another. I also don't think evolution has that in mind
for us.
I wonder what will happen the day a man made creature becomes sentient. It
might just take a look around and turn itself off. If not do you think the
general public will tear it apart or throw it a Birthday party. From what I
have read I think you guys will throw a party (not one of those lame ones with
noise makers and paper hats, but the real thing with booze and motor oil and
robotic strippers)

About technology being created for violence, Some, but I think the root is
largely survival. My main cause is comfort. I want a robot that can make a
chocolate mousse AND clean the dishes. Do you think that the original
tools/weapons where created for violence or that there use was a violent act.
Think about it, if you are attacked by some wild animal wouldn't your
motivation to create a weapon be survival. When I talk about subjects in the
range of good, bad or calm or violent, etc... I think of sharks. They eat. They
eat well. They are built to eat. Is this violence in the sharks mind or just
survival.

I am interested to know if the technology will be there to creat a sentient
being.
I am also curious to see what the church's do. Whoa! I can see them going nuts.
I would like to say more but after years of study in this subject I have only
come to two conclusions. One which are my personal beliefs which do not belong
here and the other is the idea that if one person is right (about religion)
then everyone must be.

Thanks for listening to my ramblings and though I may have been born yesterday,
I did stay up all night.
Rob M.



Dane Gardner wrote:

> >Personality doesn't causally arise with complexity. Our skills as humans is
> >not a product of our brains - it is the result of not only a lifetime of
> >being-in-the-world, but also a of many generations passing of "tacit"
> >knowledge through genetic material.
>
> No, I don't think so. You can't honestly believe that genetic material
> makes one act a certain way. You are taught whether intentionally or
> unintentionally whatever it is that make you you, throughout your lifetime.
> Modern American psychology upholds this belief. Now I can understand that
> maybe someone who reacts to stress with say an ulcer, may have children who
> react in the same way....but when it really comes down to it, a violent
> person TEACHES his/her children to react violently...it isn't just passed on
> through genetics. Twin studies have proven this to be more than often true.
>
> Sorry...don't mean to get my feathers ruffled up....I just can't fathom that
> my personality was passed on from my parents by any means other than good
> old fashioned authoritative teaching.
>
> Dane Gardner

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