The+Last+Book+in+the+Universe

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__**Neethu's Scientific Advancement**__ **Cyber-Intelligence** From the book, the scientific advancement that I researched on was cyber-intelligence.There are many scientific facts to how close we are to achieving cyber-intelligence. For example, in article one, it states, "In 2002, Kevin Warwik, a British cybernetics researcher, became the first human to use a neural implant to directly control a robot and to exchange nerve signals with another person." Also, in the article, Kevin Warwik thinks about making a cyborg which is a human whose nervous, musculoskeletal or other systems are integrally enhanced or extended through links to electronic devices. He calls a cyborg as a "cybernetic organism."He says that "an ultimate cyborg is likely to have many such devices, intended not only to correct disabilities but also to enhance normal human capabilities greatly or add new abilities entirely. A cyborg potentially combines the best features of humans and robots." From the book, a proov sounds like the cyborg. In the second article, researchers think about possible software agents which include interactive virtual reality.Lastly, in the third article, it states, ". . . team of Spanish and Australian researchers haven taken a first step towards this by presenting the foundations to be used as a basis for this method in the journal Artificial Intelligence, and have also put foward a new intelligence test." If we achieved this advancement to the extent it was achieved in the novel, there would be various benefits and deficits. One benefit would be that there would be more human knowledge of the world and technology - This would help invent new things. Another benefit would be that there would be less diseases and problems. For example, in the book, because of the advanced technology, there is no more of the disease, Leukemia. However, one deficit, would be that there can be problems in the society due to the advancement such as cyber wars or cyber terrorism. This is very dangerous even more dangerous than the use of weapons. Even today, just with the use of internet, cyber bullying has changed the world. Now, comparing with today's life, cyber-intelligence will can make an enormous impact on the world. Soon, the future generations might not even know what diseases are. It world be a world close to perfect in the subject of knowledge, but in the subject of peace, there would be none. This might lead to a place like Eden and the Urb in the book. In my opinion, I believe we must limit technology especially when it comes to Cyber-Intelligence. It would be a world without peace, one where I wouldn't want to live in.

__Taslim!!! :)__ The scientific advancement from __The Last Book In The__ __Universe__ that I researched is the voice-writer. A voice-writer is a piece of technology which types out words that are spoken into it. Basically, it's like a typewriter, but anybody using it wouldn't have to know how to write-they would merely need to know how to speak. Currently, we have a version of this technology, though not as accurate and dependable. For example, after much research, I believe ,as many others do, that the leading company in voice recognition technology as of now in Nuance. Though this technology is extremely comendable, innovative, and quite intelligent, it is not perfect-yet. It cannot comprehend different accnets, pronunciations, or even some unique words. This advancement has come a long way, but it's not something that can be counted on 100% to work at all times perfectly. After all, it's only a piece of technology. It doesn't have a mind of it's own! On the other hand, though the voice-writing technology in the novel isn't technically intelligent on its own, it works perfectly, without any kinks. It understands any accent, of any age, and can translate the spoken words onto paper easily. In fact, bcause it's so perfect, the societies in the novel don't bother to learn how to read and write because they depend oon the voicewriter to do it for them. Achieving this height of technology would bring with it deficits as well as benefits. Some major disadvantages to gaining full-time access to a perfect voicewriter for everyone are the loss of knowledge, and the gain of dependence. Firstly, I say there will be definitely be a loss of certain knowledge because of what this technology lacks-the need for writing skills and intellignce. For centuries, children and adults have learned to write from a very young age so that they may carry the knowledge with them and use it throughout their lives. If voicewriters bacame available to everyone, then people would lose the will and necessity to teach their kids to write by hand. Over time, the knowledge of handwriting would b completely lost...gone forever 'til discvered again.And losing something as important as that would be a sign that our world was changing too quickly. In additon, I predict that if voicewriters were ever perfected, humans as a whole would become completely dependent on the technology. They would slowly lose the ability to think forthemselves before putting their thoughts down on paper. They wouldn't bother proof reading their work. In a way, books for one wouldn't be the same. So, the dependence on technology could alsp lead to a loss of art. Though there are many reasons why people should be worrying about the acievement of this technology, there are also reasons that may just make it worth the detrimental facts. For instance, voicewriters would almost create a new opportunity for one bridge between blind people and people that can see to be crossed. If there was ever a point in time, and I believe there will be, that voicewriters would dominate instead of handwriting, blind people could write literature the same way that anybody else could. That would be a big step forward for our community. Furthermore, as I mentioned before, the constant availablity of perfect voicewriters would be a sign that our society is changing rapidly, but it would also be a sign that we are opening many doors and advancing. This is why even I'm not sure if I want voicewriters to be available. In a way, they sound amazing, but then again, who knows the consequences they will have on the human race?