The World Transformed

Latest Episodes:

The Age of Wearable Computers Jan 28, 2014

Show notes

It isn't enough that we have computers in our phones, our cars, our refrigerators, our coffee makers. Now we have them attached to our faces -- or elsewhere on our bodies. How and why is this happening? How can a machine be so appealing that we wouldn't mind attaching it to ourselves? How wil these devices like Google Glass and the Oculus Rift change the way we see the world? And how will they change the way others see us? And beyond that, how will they fundamentally change who and what we are? Tune in and explore. Oculus Rift photo by Sergey Galyonkin. (WT 050)

Step Forward, Step Back Jan 25, 2014

Show notes

Hosts Phil Bowermaster and Stephen Gordon discuss a number of developments that may be moving us closer to the future we're hoping for, as well as some which seem to be making that future more remote. Topics include: Asteroid mining: not worth the effort?Shutting off the aging geneNSA super-spy capabilityNew Tech to replace the wheelchair When it comes to the future we're hoping for, are we gaining or losing ground? Tune in an explore.

Responding to Radical Change Jan 23, 2014

Show notes

Hosts Phil Bowermaster and Stephen Gordon apply the four basic strategies for / responses to transformation to some of Thomas Frey’s 33 dramatic predictions for the year 2030. Let's review the four basic strategies towards radical transformation: Soylent green is people! (Complete rejection) No, no, no, UNLESS… (Rejection unless certain conditions are met) Yeah let’s do this, IF… (Acceptance assuming that certain conditions are met) To infinity and beyond! (Enthusiastic acceptance) Which are the big changes that we should welcome with open arms? Which are the ones we should avoid like the plague? And how do we know when a more nuanced response is called for? (WT 048)

Being There (In Person or via Robot) Jan 21, 2014

Show notes

Why actually travel anywhere when you can beam yourself into a robot that's alfready there? Hosts Phil Bowermaster and Stephen Gordon discuss the emergence of the telepresence robot phenomenon. How important will this capability be for business in the coming years? And will we be using telepresence robots in our personal lives? Tune in an explore. Here are the two Technology review articles mentioned in the discussion: http://www.technologyreview.com/news/523541/a-telepresence-machine-to-watch-the-kids-or-visit-grandma/ http://www.technologyreview.com/review/422128/the-new-more-awkward-you/ (WT 047)

Spike Jonze' Her: What Is Real? Jan 18, 2014

Show notes

Continuing their discussion of the new Spike Jonze love story, Her, hosts Phil Bowermaster and Stephen Gordon take on some prickly issues the film raises about reality and subjective experience. Could a computer program ever really fall in love with a human being? Could a human being reciprocate? If possible, is any of this likely to occur any time soon? And perhaps the most fundamental question: If the feelings are real, is the experience real? Tune in and explore! (WT 046)

Spike Jonze' Her: Love and the Machine Jan 16, 2014

Show notes

Hosts Phil Bowermaster and Stephen Gordon discuss the movie Her and what it may be telling us about the future relationship between human beings and technology. Is this a love story? Have humans and their machines been engaging in a prolonged meet cute? Are wedding bells inevitable? Or is this thing doomed from the start? Tune in and explore! (WT 045)

A User's Guide to the Future: Transformation Scenarios Jan 14, 2014

Show notes

Hosts Phil Bowermaster and Stephen Gordon continue to outline the kinds of radical change we can expect in coming years with a set of transformation scenarios, including: In the future, everything will be a coffeeshop. How dedicated infrastrucutre for business and education is disappearing, being replaced by multi-purpose infrastructure where needed. I just love my new toaster. The rapidly changing relationship between humanity and technology. All you can eat. The coming era of superabundance. Let’s slip into something more comfortable. Our growing ability to modify our minds and bodies. Designer Reality. The do-it-yourself universe found at the convergence of reality, augmented reality, enahnced reality, and virtual reality. Fantasy Island. The ability to create any subjective experience that we can imagine. The Ultimate Shortcut. When the difference between thinking about any achievable outcome and actually producing that outcome approaches zero. Join us! (WT 044)

A User's Guide to the Future: Understanding Transformations Jan 11, 2014

Show notes

Hosts Phil Bowermaster and Stephen Gordon kick off a new year explaining why thinking about the future is important, and why taking action is even more important. If the future is defined not by how much time passes but rather by how much change occurs, we all have a lot more future to look forward to than did previous generations. What are we going to do with it? Topics: The three kinds of transformations.Gauging the probability and urgency of coming changes.Four strategies for dealing with radical change PLUS: News about the big changes that are occurring with The World Transformed! (WT 043)

The Year in the Future Dec 19, 2013

Show notes

Hosts Phil Bowermaster and Stephen Gordon review the top future-making news stories of 2013 and make their predictions for the year 2014 and beyond. (WT 042)

Singularity Network Meets the World Transformed Dec 02, 2013

Show notes

The World Transformed presents the November Singularity Network video hangout. PJ Manney, Jason Xu, Stephen Gordon, Philippe Van Nedervelde, Nikola Danaylov and others will be on hand to discuss a wide range of topics including accelerating technologies, transhumanism, nanotechnology, biotechnology, anti-aging, robotics, and post-scarcity. (WT 042)

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected