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Futurists predict a point where humans and machines become one. But will we see it coming?
John Kendall Hawkins, Philosopher, University of New England Sandy Boucher, Lecturer in the Philosophy of Science, University of New England Most people are familiar with the deluge of artificial intelligence (AI) apps that seem designed to make us more efficient and creative. We’ve got apps that take text prompts and generate art, and...Continue reading→
Free Tutorials – How to use Smartphones, Tablets and Computers
Geoff Amor Over the past 12 months Committee member Stewart Gruneklee has started a training program for people struggling with our modern “device centric” lifestyle. With the increasing trend of everything moving to the internet, it is important that all adults have the necessary skills and knowledge to carry out transactions on-line safely and with...Continue reading→
Colonizing the Cosmos: Astor’s Electrical Future
publicdomainreview.org /essay/colonizing-the-cosmos Iwan Rhys Morus During America’s Gilded Age, the future seemed to pulse with electrical possibility. Iwan Rhys Morus follows the interplanetary safari that is John Jacob Astor’s A Journey in Other Worlds, a high-voltage scientific romance in which visions of imperialism haunt a supposedly “perfect” future. “The Combat of the Dragons”, by Daniel Carter Beard,...Continue reading→
Three years into the pandemic, it’s clear COVID won’t fix itself. Here’s what we need to focus on next
Michael Toole Associate Principal Research Fellow, Burnet Institute Brendan Crabb Director and CEO, Burnet Institute On March 11 2020 the World Health Organization classified COVID as a pandemic. Three years on, it remains just that. As much as we don’t want it to be, and as much as it is off the front pages, COVID is...Continue reading→
Robots are performing Hindu rituals – some devotees fear they’ll replace worshippers
Holly Walters Visiting Lecturer in Anthropology, Wellesley College It isn’t just artists and teachers who are losing sleep over advances in automation and artificial intelligence. Robots are being brought into Hinduism’s holiest rituals – and not all worshippers are happy about it. In 2017, a technology firm in India introduced a robotic arm to perform “aarti,” a...Continue reading→
April monthly meeting
The April 2023 monthly meeting will be next Wednesday, 5th of April. This will be “in person” at our clubrooms. Please make sure you have secured your raffle tickets at the door and are seated before 7pm. Our MC, Peter bacon, will start at 7pm sharp. You may also join in on Zoom. Click here a little before...Continue reading→
ChatGPT could be an effective and affordable tutor
Anne Trumbore, University of Virginia Imagine a private tutor that never gets tired, has access to massive amounts of data and is free for everyone. In 1966, Stanford philosophy professor Patrick Suppes did just that when he made this prediction: One day, computer technology would evolve so that “millions of schoolchildren” would have access to...Continue reading→
Darwin awards
Yes, it’s that magical time of year again when the Darwin Awards are bestowed, honouring the least evolved among us. Here is the glorious winner: When his .38 caliber revolver failed to fire at his intended victim during a hold-up in Long Beach, California, would-be robber James Elliot did something that can only inspire wonder....Continue reading→
Online stumble-ons
Some interesting things I’ve stumbled into recently roaming the Internet. Do you know any languages other than English? This site gives an indication of how difficult various languages are to learn. https://thelanguagenerds.com/2019/map-reveals-how-long-takes-to-learn-different-languages/ Apple’s enormous profit margins on iPhones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GZWn5Z1BTY Want to know why it’s taking months or years to take delivery of your new car, SUV or...Continue reading→