Futurist
Futurists or futurologists are scientists and social scientists whose specialty is futurology, or the attempt to systematically explore predictions and possibilities about the future and how they can emerge from the present, whether that of human society in particular or of life on Earth in general. Definition[edit] The term "futurist" most commonly refers to authors, consultants, organizational leaders and others who engage in interdisciplinary and systems thinking to advise private and public organizations on such matters as diverse global trends, possible scenarios, emerging market opportunities and risk management. (Futurist is not in the sense of the art movement futurism.) Visionary writers such as Jules Verne, Edward Bellamy and H. G. Futures studies[edit] "Futures studies"—sometimes referred to as futurology, futures research, and foresight—can be summarized as being concerned with "three P's and a W", i.e. Futurists and futurology[edit] Notable futurists[edit] See also[edit]
Technological singularity
Hypothetical point in time when technological growth becomes uncontrollable and irreversible The technological singularity—or simply the singularity[1]—is a hypothetical future point in time at which technological growth becomes uncontrollable and irreversible, resulting in unforeseeable consequences for human civilization.[2][3] According to the most popular version of the singularity hypothesis, I. J. Good's intelligence explosion model of 1965, an upgradable intelligent agent could eventually enter a positive feedback loop of self-improvement cycles, each new and more intelligent generation appearing more and more rapidly, causing a rapid increase ("explosion") in intelligence which would ultimately result in a powerful superintelligence, qualitatively far surpassing all human intelligence.[4] Intelligence explosion [edit] I. Let an ultraintelligent machine be defined as a machine that can far surpass all the intellectual activities of any man however clever. In 1965, I. Frank S. J.
Kardashev scale
Measure of a civilization's evolution The Kardashev scale (Russian: Шкала́ Кардашёва, romanized: Shkalá Kardashova) is a method of measuring a civilization's level of technological advancement based on the amount of energy it is capable of harnessing and using. The measure was proposed by Soviet astronomer Nikolai Kardashev (1932–2019)[1] in 1964[2] and was named after him. The scale is hypothetical, and refers to energy consumption on a cosmic scale. Various extensions of the scale have since been proposed, including a wider range of power levels (Types 0, IV, and V) and the use of metrics other than pure power (e.g., computational growth or food consumption).[3][4] Kardashev first outlined his scale in a paper presented at the 1964 Byurakan conference in Armenia, a scientific meeting that reviewed the Soviet radio astronomy space listening program. A Type I civilization is able to access all the energy available on its planet and store it for consumption. Origin of the classification and
Detailed logarithmic timeline
This timeline shows the whole history of the universe, the Earth, and humanity in one table. Each row is defined in years ago, that is, years before the present date, with the earliest times at the top of the chart. In each table cell on the right, references to events or notable people are given, more or less in chronological order within the cell. Each row corresponds to a change in log(time before present) of about 0.1 (using log base 10), similar to Renard numbers. A logarithmic timeline can also be devised for events which should occur in the future, barring unforeseen circumstances and assuming that we can extrapolate into the future based on our science. See also[edit] References[edit] External links[edit]
Could Kurzweil be right about solar, the Google of energy?
Ray Kurzweil presents his cost curves on solar at Berkeley University earlier this month. Paula Mints' slide doesn't look a million miles away from one of Kurzweil's exponential graphs. Felicity Carus Felicity Carus is the only UK journalist to be regularly reporting on clean energy policy and finance from California for a global audience. Before arriving in San Francisco in 2010, Felicity was on the Guardian's environment desk in London after stints at the Sydney Morning Herald in Australia and Interfax in Russia. She first "broke" into the renewables industry with a commission in the mid-90s to write a book on how to install a solar water heating system with a rusty old radiator. Cleantech investors often talk about the quest for the ‘Google of energy’. Solar advocates already believe they've picked the winner. Earlier this month, I had the good fortune to hear engineer, inventor, futurist and now-Google employee, Ray Kurzweil, speak at Berkeley University.
‘After Earth’ Sparks Real Discussion On Future Of Our Planet
After Earth may be just a science fiction story about the changes that will take place on our home planet over the next 1,000 years, but the movie is starting a real discussion on the future of Earth. In a Google+ Hangout earlier this week followed up Earth Day, the stars of After Earth joined SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, futurist Ray Kurzweil, Alexandra Cousteau, and a group of students to talk about the future of our planet. After Earth stars Will Smith and his son Jaden and is set 1,000 years after cataclysmic events forced humans to escape from the planet. That’s been a topic close to the heart of one of the Google + Hangout participants. Kurzweil has been keen to predict the future of our planet including the rise of nanotechnology that will allow us to treat diseases from within our bodies thanks to tiny robots. “It looks like great entertainment, but it raises some profound issues (about the future of the planet),” Kurzweil said about After Earth. After Earth comes out April 26.
