The Politics of Neuromania: The Impotence of Vision‏

[sophia_sadek]

In a previous posting I considered the difference between science and engineering as a difference between theory and practicality. In considering the work of military contractors developing neural wave technology the issue of distinguishing between invention and engineering came up. The military engineers have been handed the task of devising an

Comments

[policraticus]

that vision is powerless without a team of engineers who are ready, willing, and able to implement the vision

That vision is also powerless without a fundamental change in the nature of our physical reality. But why strain at a gnat, amirite?

[sophia_sadek]

What change in the nature of our physical reality would be necessary?

It has been nearly 24 hours and you have yet to come up with an answer. Let me give you a hint. Back when people thought that the Earth was static, what change in the nature of physical reality was needed in order for people to think of the Earth as in motion?

[policraticus]

Are you kidding? You are talking about a machine that can control thoughts. Remotely. Everything I know about physics, brain chemistry, biology and psychology tells me that is a pure fantasy. Link me to the blueprints, or link me to a paper that actually attempts to explain how neural wave machines do what they do. Give me a youtube video of a NWM prototype. If not, I am going ahead and saying that this is nothing more than hokum of the hokiest kind. You can't do this. Not in the "you can't fly to Mars because, apart from the money, we still haven't figured out the radiation shielding and the gravity issues yet" way. Rather in the, "you can't have a triangle whose interior angles equal more than 180 degrees" way.

[sophia_sadek]

Blueprints would do you no good since the machines are simple microwave devices. The value-add is in how they are configured to form a holographic projection of neural patterns. If you understand holographic projection and radio wave modulation you can conceive of such a machine quite easily. The physics is basic. I can see how "brain chemistry" could hinder your imagination as much as an obviously moving Sun hindered the imagination of static Earth proponents. There is research on brain chemistry at the level of microwave resonance that is probably beyond the horizon of your experience. There is a significant body of research on cytoskeleton resonance.

[policraticus]

Horse. Shit.

Nominating myself for a DQ on this.

[sophia_sadek]

An argument articulately framed.

[policraticus]

Once a spade has been identified, declaring it a spade is the most articulate of arguments.

[sophia_sadek]

In the dark even a lawn mower could be mistaken for a spade.

[htpcl]

OK, but the subsequent comment gets DQ'ed, not this particular one. ;-)

[policraticus]

HERESY! Someone must be controlling you mind with a simple microwave device!!

[sophia_sadek]

Never underestimate the power of simplicity.

[htpcl]

My case is much simpler: just show me a glass of rakia and I'm already your slave.

[sophia_sadek]

Being satisfied with just showing the glass makes you the cheapest date I know.

[htpcl]

You won't escape with just showing it to me. Once I've seen rakia, I never let go.