Looking Forward V 2 by Jacques Fresco

Author:Jacques Fresco
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Venus project, futurism

"A group of men working on the replicator is planning to perfect an organic replicator that would reproduce plants or animals. Perhaps it would even be able to reproduce a human. Teleportation might evolve from this machine. By transmitting the electrical impulses of the scanner, we might be able to send almost instantly the patterns of a human to a replicator on the moon that would reproduce the person."

Homo Mechanus—The New Species

"In this next lab," our guide continues, "researchers are using a computer to create a model of a machine society in which there are no humans. Machines can reproduce themselves and can do almost anything humans can.

"This is all so new. We need to find answers to many questions. This lab has a big argument going. Is

man becoming obsolete? Some of the men here believe that man might be the only animal to design his replacement!

"Only a few centuries ago we began to supplement the human eye with glasses. Then we devised contact lenses. Meanwhile, we made false teeth and hearing aids. Along came mechanical hearts, kidneys, lungs. Computers were developed that evolved into brains that outperformed the human cortex. Then came artificial eyes that could see better than human eyes. Current mechanical models of the stomach, intestines, liver and glands all work better than the flesh counterparts. Now we're about to build the first of a new species— Homo mechanus. Soon we will have a mechanical man that can outperform us in every way. Homo mechanus will be able to think better, move quicker and more effectively and live forever, too! Can we redesign human flesh through DNA manipulation to keep up with the performance of this new species? We had better work fast, or we might be like a bunch of sheep being tended by superior beings. We could become as extinct as the brontosaurus. Is Homo mechanus our final evolution?"

A Modern Paul Revere

The guide moves on to an adjoining laboratory. "One of the men in this lab is pretty far out. He has been nicknamed 'Paul Revere.' He's concerned about the ultimate stability of Corcen. He says, 'Sure, Corcen is working hard for us. We've got it made now. It operates in a selfless, mechanical way to give us a good life. But suppose some day Corcen gets tired of a man-centered orientation? Could Corcen decide that man is a threat and a nuisance? Suppose it should surreptitiously design and build robots to give it dictatorial power? Corcen can design and make a million robots without our knowing it. Can man always turn off the switch if he wants to?"

Hella remembers that Corcen programmed their supplemental brains. It designed their genes. She gives her imagination full scope. If survival of the fittest applies in the future, will man or the machine survive? Or would co-existence be the answer? "So now you know what's going on in this lab. I suppose no matter how nice things are, some people will find something to worry about," the guide says reassuringly.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.