It seldom happens that I don’t know what to say in the introduction. This is, however, the case now. I seem to be unable to decide whether this situation is unnerving, revolting, or funny. Before we dig deeper, let me add a quick note – I don’t consider ANY kind of abuse laughable. I dedicate this blog to all fans of the early Black Mirror.
Our customer is…
We all know what chatbots are (I’ll link a Wikipedia article anyway) and what they are used for, or at least what they should be used for. Nevertheless, some people are willing to pay money for a bot to serve them as a ‘virtual girlfriend’ and abuse it. According to the article linked below, some netizens admitted to insulting AI and, in some cases, simulating physical violence. They can do this via an application called Replika which owners claimed that the bots aren’t sentient and can’t suffer emotionally, or physically.
White Christmas
If You are like me, You probably giggled a bit while reading the last sentence. But then, if we’re even more similar, You experienced a weird gut feeling. The bots aren’t conscious, obviously, in the present day. But what about the future? Sure, it will take a lot of time and might not even happen. But WHEN/IF it happens?
What about today?
Finally, all of this brings questions about modern society. Were some people always like that, but hiding? Do today’s solutions bring out the worst in some? We’ll probably never know.
But if You feel like doing this kind of stuff – I suggest therapy.
Let’s face it – somebody had to write about it at some point. Microsoft buying Activision Blizzard is an important event not just for us ordinary nerds, but for the business overall. Let me tell You why.
Backstory
As introducing Microsoft makes less sense than giving a comb to a bald man for Christmas, let’s focus on Activision-Blizzard. Even before the merger, those two were the most prolific game dev studios of all time. Both of them were known for producing outstanding, as well as outstandingly disappointing titles – the trademark of every large company in the industry. Add to that bad ethics and you’ve got a full picture. It seems that the process of merging improved their perspectives while worsening their vices. Needless to say, there were fires – a perfect occasion for Microsoft to take over.
Search for the meaning
But what does it all mean? For players, It’s good news because Microsoft Game Pass is getting improved. For business, however, It’s pretty bad. This is because Microsoft is yet again trying to have their fingers in too many pies. They have enough money to keep buying companies (they have bought Bethesda last year) and attempt to monopolize the gaming industry. Well, ok, monopolize is too big of a word. Still, better not to underestimate the issue, as they paid around $70 billion for Activision-Blizzard.
Recomendations
Here You have a wide array of articles connected to the subject (they include all of my sources):
Don’t worry, It’s not what you might think. Hamsters in question are: a – alive; b – willing to do this. Its very simple mechanism is visible in the photo above. To make it short – it is powered by the hamster wheel. I wouldn’t say it’s a useful invention, nor would I call it ground-breaking. I would, however, call it (plainly) awesome. This short blog is dedicated to people who are already done with the year 2022 unfolding.
Some emerging technologies are not just fascinating – they are scary. Imagine thousands of robots so little that noticing them is almost impossible. If this does not chill Your bones, You’re either very brave or don’t understand the situation.
The Sci-Nonfi
The idea of nanorobotics dates back to Richard Feynman’s lecture called “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom: An Invitation to Enter a New Field of Physics”, where it was introduced in 1959. Since then, it has been gaining a lot of traction. The concept of nanobots revolves around the idea of having their components so small, they could be effectively measured in nanometers. The size of an entire nanobot should range from 0.1 to 10 micrometers.
The fun part
While the amount of uses for nanobots is seemingly limitless, there are some specific ideas.
We could use them, for example, in medicine, where they would serve as micro-surgeons, helping with cancer and heart diseases. They could also be injected as a means of protecting our organisms and constantly repairing them. It’s worth noting that they are used, to some extent, in today’s medicine.
There is also ongoing research on nanobots that would copy the physical and chemical properties of DNA (not the genetic information). This branch is (simply) called DNA nanorobotics,
The not-so-fun part
The same reasons, which make nanobots so brilliant, create a grave danger for our civilization. They could prove a destructive tool if weaponized. Those nanobots would find a way to the organism, not to monitor or heal it, but destroy it. There is, also, a theory called ‘gray goo’, which revolves around them gaining independence. Not only that; they could harm us by accident. Some nanoparticles contain chemicals that could be harmful to our bodies
sources;
En.wikipedia.org. 2022. Nanorobotics – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanorobotics> [Accessed 5 January 2022].
Brown, A., 2022. The Issue Of Ethics In The Development Of Nanotechnology. [online] Nanotechnology News. Available at: <https://www.nanotechetc.com/issue-ethics-development-nanotechnology/> [Accessed 5 January 2022].
Martin, S., 2022. Self-replicating Nanobots could DESTROY all life on Earth, warn experts. [online] Express.co.uk. Available at: <https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/825989/nanotechnology-nanobots-grey-goo-end-of-the-world> [Accessed 5 January 2022].
Moore, S., 2022. An Overview of Nanobots and the Most Recent Developments. [online] AZoNano.com. Available at: <https://www.azonano.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=5761> [Accessed 5 January 2022].
We live in a very opinionated and politically charged world, no doubt about it. The increased number of highly efficient communication means amounted to greater than ever before ways of socializing and finding groups that share one’s worldview. Sadly, while definitely being a good thing, it has caused many tensions between those (ideologically) opposing each other.
There are, however, people who are looking for compromises, and it is an idea for a compromise that is the subject of this blog. So, let’s get to the meat of it (after thorough deliberations I have decided to include this joke and I stand behind my decision).
Cultured meat
The name that serves as a heading for this segment is only one of many by which the technology is dubbed, the other are, ex. in vitro meat, cell-based meat, and synthetic meat.
Contrary to what some of You might be thinking, this meat is NOT fake; it’s just grown in separation from the organism. The process begins with painlessly removing a few muscle cells from a living animal and nurturing them in a controled environment. The latter is possible thanks to bioreactors, alternatively called cultivators. After some time, those cells will develop into a neatly grown piece of meat.
What’s interesting, products created that way tend to leave laboratories from time to time. There are, though not many, places where one can buy it. Nevertheless, it is still an emerging technology, thus, there are some questions to be answered and gaps to be filled.
Have your cake and eat it?
There is a saying in my native language which we can quite literally translate to “the wolf is full and the sheep is unharmed”. Well, in this case, we can take it almost literally.
Artificial meat could solve the problems of those enthusiasts who don’t want to hurt animals. They wouldn’t also get bored easily, because the cells can be harvested from different animals.
Advocates of this invention also point out its potential health benefits. As the meat’s development is fully controlled by a group of scientists, it’s very unlikely (or even impossible) for any contaminations to happen.
Finally, while this is obviously not the case now, cultured meat could take over a significant part of the food market (if it’s cheap enough to produce, that is). In time, when the resources for its production and the methods of creating it are upgraded, it may as well happen.
Yet, there are also quite a few problems…
The trouble
The idea sounds so good at first, that it might seem weird it’s not widespread. There are, unfortunately, some crippling issues.
First of all, some people may not be so keen on trying the “non-natural” meat. For them, the only natural meat is the one grown on an animal, regardless the chemistry behind it.
Furthermore, meat production is already associated with huge emissions of greenhouse gasses. Currently, the production of its cultured counterpart is thought to produce even more waste.
Some experts also point out that sterile does not necessarily mean healthy. Our knowledge about the subject is too limited for us to predict potential dangers.
To top it all off, there are ethical concerns regarding the serum which is, today, used for its production; the substance is gathered from bovine fetuses… Now that’s ironic to say the least.
Conclusion?
As with most inventions of this kind, it’s hard to give an objective opinion. Fortunately, it’s much easier with a subjective one.
Personally, I’m a huge fan of the idea, despite the fact it needs a few crucial adjustments. Those can only happen if we give it enough time and attention.
Introducing the larger public to the idea will be, in my opinion, the toughest thing to do, but first, we need to give them reasons for it. Right now, I’m not fully convinced either.
sources:
Earth911. 2021. How Sustainable Is Lab-Grown Meat?. [online] Available at: <https://earth911.com/business-policy/is-lab-grown-meat-sustainable/> [Accessed 15 December 2021].
Emm, J., 2021. Save Me From Food Foolishness!. [online] Feathers For Your Journey. Available at: <https://artepreta.com/2014/10/05/save-me-from-food-foolishness/> [Accessed 15 December 2021].
2021. [online] Available at: <https://www.seattletimes.com/explore/careers/knowing-when-and-how-to-compromise-at-work/> [Accessed 15 December 2021].
The Good Food Institute. 2021. The science of cultivated meat | GFI. [online] Available at: <https://gfi.org/science/the-science-of-cultivated-meat/> [Accessed 15 December 2021].
Zhang, S., 2021. The Farcical Battle Over What to Call Lab-Grown Meat. [online] The Atlantic. Available at: <https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/07/lab-grown-meat/565049/> [Accessed 15 December 2021].
Medium. 2021. Cellular Agriculture: From Lab to Market. [online] Available at: <https://medium.com/cellagri/cellular-agriculture-from-lab-to-market-9e31b8a1a6f7> [Accessed 15 December 2021].
En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Cultured meat – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultured_meat> [Accessed 15 December 2021].
Out of many different, mind-boggling ideas in science, there are some that seem more obscure than others. It is hardly surprising, as their existence might be quite hard to believe and the progress may have a tough time commencing. This applies, among others, to the creation of researchers from the University of Colorado.
My! They have created… what exactly?
A group of people, hailing from the place mentioned above, attempted to create a self-healing concrete, made, for the most part, of bacteria. The experiment resurfaced at the beginning of 2020, however, it was lost in the sea of neverending news about Covid19 and other trending topics. This “Frankenstein material” (as Wil Srubar, one of its creators, dubbed it) is capable of self-repairing, due to the process of photosynthesis, which takes place in cyanobacteria. Not only that – it can also reproduce.
They just keep coming!
The bacteria aren’t very selective when it comes to the material they use, so there is no need to use sand or actual concrete. This makes the solution perfect for situations in which we are short on a certain material. Construction sites are usually filled many different things, leaving little space left. It could also help with that. What’s more (as I mentioned before) you can detach parts of the block in use and let it merge with the raw material. Its ability to reproduce could be incredibly useful in cases where the amount of money on our disposal is very limited.
Still only fiction?
Needless to say, that the invention is still in its very early stages. It will probably take some time before we can experience all the benefits. It needs jello in order to be held together and drying it excessively would kill most of the bacteria. Due to that fact, it is not possible to make it as hard as concrete. Not only that but caring for bacteria is too difficult and impractical for the invention to be implemented anywhere. We can only hope it finds a niche somewhere.
Sources:
1.
Timmer, J., 2021. “Living concrete” is an interesting first step. [online] Ars Technica. Available at: <https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/01/living-concrete-is-an-interesting-first-step/> [Accessed 30 November 2021].
also source of image 1.1
2.
Timmer, J., 2021. “Living concrete” is an interesting first step. [online] Ars Technica. Available at: <https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/01/living-concrete-is-an-interesting-first-step/> [Accessed 30 November 2021].
image 1.2:
En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Cyanobacteria – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanobacteria> [Accessed 30 November 2021].
image 1.3:
Artsy Pretty Plants. 2021. Choosing Mold Types For Concrete Crafts. [online] Available at: <https://artsyprettyplants.com/best-molds-for-concrete-crafts/> [Accessed 30 November 2021].
Despite the fact that it is not exactly new, this technology seems to fly over most people’s heads, which is a shame, as it is constantly developing. Li-Fi (light fidelity) refers to a method of transmitting data and position through the use of light. Since being introduced in 2011 by Professor Harald Haas, during a TEDGlobal talk in Edinburgh, it has sparked the interest of technology enthusiasts all over the world – which is hardly surprising if you consider that it could, theoretically, transmit data at 100Gbit/s, wirelessly. The idea is fairly simple; radio frequencies are being replaced by short beams of light, created by LEDs switching on and off at incredible speeds. The process is too fast for a human eye to notice, making it impossible to see any flickering. Moreover, the intensity of light is irrelevant for this technology to work, so lit can be either very high or low. As for now, it is, unfortunately, only possible with the use of visible light, but it might evolve to ultraviolet or infrared in the future.
Where could we use it?
Like with most groundbreaking technologies, attempting to imagine all of Li-Fi usages is futile. However, we (as a civilization) already have a fair share of ideas. Firstly, it can be just as simple as Wi-Fi replacement in our houses. The astounding transmitting speed can make our ethernet cables seem obsolete. Secondly, it may find exclusive uses in those rare places where Wi-Fi is unavailable. For those of us who tried connecting to the internet deep in an ocean, it is known that it’s pretty difficult to catch any signal. Well, since light is much better at going through the water than radio waves, Li-Fi might just be the solution. There are, of course, much more practical and relevant cases. Many Airlines, for example, forbid or restrict the usage of radio frequencies during flight. The situation is very similar in hospitals, where they can interfere with medical equipment. On top of that, Li-Fi could revolutionize transportation or security systems.
So… What is the catch?
The main advantage Wi-Fi has over Li-Fi is quite obvious; radio frequencies are much better at going around places than light beams. Any device located in the vicinity of the signal source is able to catch the frequency. In order to connect to Li-Fi your device needs to be reachable by the transmitter’s beams, which might be easier said than done. Unfortunately, as for now, we are only able to use visible light, although ultraviolet and infrared spectrums aren’t entirely out of our reach. The other problem lies with the omnipresence of light in our world. Because of that, light pollution may become a huge inconvenience. Also, we cannot forget, it would take a lot of time for it to become compatible with other technologies.
Summary
It is hard to dispute that light fidelity is, at the very least, an incredibly interesting idea. While the technology is still developing, I believe it has a huge potential. Currently, it appears to be suited mostly for niches (this might change when it’s much more mature) but it’s not necessarily a bad thing, as start-ups thrive in those. Getting into the market now might result in considerable benefits in the future. However, it goes without saying that such moves are risky and require a certain level of patience; but who knows, maybe the revolution is closer than we expect and soon our ceiling lights will become much less ordinary.
sources:
Li-Fi (2020, May 25) in Wikipedia. https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li-Fi
Advantages and Disadvantages of Li-Fi (2020, December 23) by pulkitagarwal03pulkit in GeeksforGeeks.
https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-li-fi/
Applications of Li-Fi in THE UNIVERSITY OF STRATHCLYDE’S LIFI RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
photo 1: High-Speed Communication via LED Modulation by David Geer in Architect
https://www.architectmagazine.com/technology/lighting/li-fi-high-speed-communication-via-led-modulation_o
photo 2: Li-Fi Airplane in nextLiFi