Self-thinking Drones

The pentagon wants a computer that doesn't just thinks for itself but it thinks for a drone. The possible benefits will be a huge jump in artificial technology and the use of technology helping to make decision by processing massive amounts of information and conflicting factors that we as people would have trouble doing. The downfall of this is self thinking drones can cause massive amounts of damage and unnecessary death. This could be a dangerous idea and a total misuse of artificial intelligence.

I only have one issue with the program, so if they could remove my fears here this is an awesome jump in technology. People have the ability to weigh emotions and the spread of damage beyond that of death. I am afraid that these programs will lack compassion and because of that this could be highly dangerous.

Hacktivism and Christopher Dorner

Groups like anonymous among other hacker groups have often come to the aid of people trying to fight for a liberalized internet and those who have fought to make secrets public knowledge. These groups are now coming to the aid of Christopher Dorner who has been in the news recently for the shooting of two police officers resulting in the death of one. Dorner created a manifesto that displays the hidden racism of the LAPD which he previously worked for and how he was fired for attempting to turn in a fellow officer for being unjust in his actions. Rather than argue weather Dorner's actions are correct I would rather focus on the Hackers coming to his aid.

I sit on the fence in this particular matter. I don't know if I'm okay with the backing of a man who commits murder but I do think it is important to let known the level of corruption in our legal system and more specifically our law enforcement. I think that as long as they don't glorify Dorner for the killings they are doing the right thing.

Nationwide Wi-fi and Internet Pirates Loopholes

Starting off I think it is awesome that the FCC might okay the creation of a free nationwide Wi-fi network that could be strong enough to make phone calls and surf the web reducing costs. This would definitely help add the poorer working class Americans into the world of adding to the wealth of knowledge the internet holds. Hospitals and schools would benefit greatly from the introduction of this network allowing heart monitors to connect across town to the hospitals and would help bring down costs of technology for schools allowing more resources to be used for learning purposes and not upholding the connections to do so.

On the flip side there is another topic that internet pirate may rejoice in finding a loopholes to never getting that email about copyright infringement. The six strike rule being decided on by the powers controlling copyrights will give RIAA and ISPs the ability to slow your internet speeds to nothing when caught pirating. What does this mean for public networks at coffee shops and other businesses? Well these powers have said that these business are unaffected and will never get that email. So if your really into stealing music and movies all it takes is a business class plan for your internet or a trip to the coffee shop and you'll never get that email or have your speeds affected.

Combining the two subjects, what does one do to protect against piracy on the internet when everyone is going to link on one giant network. They have enough trouble stopping it while it's still privatized. Maybe it's time to give up on the war on piracy and start seeing the true beauty in the sharing of ideas.

The Future of Computers

The future of computers is a question that is constantly changing with the development of new technology. My personal opinion runs alongside the idea of singularity. I believe that the idea of artificial intelligence is quickly becoming a reality and science fiction of robotic organisms mixed with organic matter will become a very real entity in the near future. There are groups creating algorithms that learn and build its own connections allowing it to create its own ideas and information instead of us giving it the information in the traditional sense of programming.

I believe that the day when computers teach themselves and the removal of the human programmer is not far off and one can only hope that they don't take over.

Pantent system of the past working for the future?

It's my personal belief that the current patent system in our country is flawed and needs to be reworked. Apple for example has a patent of rounded edges for smart phones. Even worse than the companies constantly trying to one up each other with law suits concerned patents that are outrageous, is the fact that evidence has come out of a no paper-trail agreement for not recruiting members of the other companies for which one would be terminated. The CEO's of these companies have emails that were exchanged showing that people were fired for "recruiting" others and those that were let go by these companies and pretty much black-balled from the job market between these companies.

I understand that in this industry it's highly competitive and that people are vessels with information that make them invaluable assets, but these companies are engaging in much shady business practice that I think the industry would be good without. My current feelings on the patent system is that it needs to be changed. And their business practices scrutinized.

Public research should be free...right?

Aaron Swartz, a young computer genius was found dead in his Brooklyn apartment after committing suicide. Swartz stood accused of fraud and hacking charges after taking documents from JSTOR and releases them freely online. Two of the larger entities that were allegedly wronged from Swartz' actions were MIT and JSTOR both of which took a neutral stance and defended him respectively. Elliot Peters, Swartz' attorney disagreed with the charges against his client and I agree very much so. Peters said "obviously was not committing fraud" because "it was public research that should be freely available;" and that Swartz had the right to download from JSTOR, so he could not have gained unauthorized access. (Elliot Peters to the Associated press)

It is my personal believe that Swartz was not in the wrong at all. Public research done should be has free public access. He was an advocate not for copy right infringement but for the freedom of information which is a subject that has outrun the current legal system. I think that the government in this case overstepped their boundaries giving trumped up charges to Swartz that made little sense when his only supposed crime had no personal gain to himself. Swartz goal was to give knowledge to the public in an attempt to help people. I think its a noble cause and while his death was tragic what he has done already to stop policies like SOPA and to fight for public knowledge should be carried forth and the fight should continue.

If you wanna read up on the article and start finding more information this is a good place to start. http://news.yahoo.com/swartz-death-fuels-debate-over-computer-crime-012813164--finance.html