Question 2: 'The machine/ organism relationships are obsolete, unnecessary' writes Haraway. In what ways have our relations to machines been theorized?
1. Hamman Robin B. “Cybersex Amongst Multiple-Selves and Cyborgs in the Narrow-Bandwidth Space of America Online Chat Rooms ” Cubersoc.com. 30 June 1996. 17 March 2011. http://cybersoc.blogs.com/cyborgasms.html#anchor35478>.
In Hamman’s research paper on Cyborgasms, he details the cybersex experience of three people in America Online Chat Room (AOL). In the first case, a girl named Rebecca had cybersex and telephone sex with those people that she met in AOL. However, she does not practice any sex in the reality because she does not believe it is moral or safe. This means Rebecca’s sex life is tied to and dependent upon AOL. In the second case, a woman uses cybersex to find her sexual self and loving self. And in the third case, a man hides his identity and uses anonymity in chat rooms to experiment in abusing and offending others. Hamman concludes AOL is a narrow-bandwidth space, which means the message is not transmitted and misinterpretations are frequent. And all people presented in this paper are cyborgs because all of them are tied to the computer. They are not complete if they leave without computer. This proves the boundary between the human and the machine has blurred. He also advices people not to build more online communities, but to repair the real society, make it like a place that people can all coexist without any repression of our selves.
2. Mizrach, Steven. “Should there be a limit placed on the integration of humans and computers and electronic technology?” Florida International University. 1995. 16 March 2011.http://www2.fiu.edu/~mizrachs/cyborg-ethics.html>.
Is it ethical and should there be limitations for human to integrate with machines? In Mizrach’s research, he states there should be limitations in doing this. In the first part of the research, he briefly discusses the history and the idea of cyborg. In the second part of the research, Mizrach lists out both positive and negative responses towards cyborg phenomenon. Artificial intelligence researchers declare that it may be time for biological life to control the earth. They believe this phenomenon is the perspective of revolution. Some expectants feel that human biotechnology will be a must due to the worse situation in the earth, like the levels of radiation and chemical pollution. Postmodern theorists follow the idea suggested by Donna Haraway, which is rather being a cyborg than a goddess, in a sort of cynical repudiation and the fetish nature. On the other hand, those who against it are tend to foresee potential negative impacts from the technology. The human race will divide into cyborgs and humans. It is logical to suspect that another danger is the ability of bioelectronics to control and monitor human. These critics try to show human will not be easy to accommodate technological interventions and may result in the failure of organic systems. To conclude, Mizrach claims that it is unrealistic to try and ban technologies, however it is imperative for the scientists and engineers understand their responsibilities and to ensure suck kind of dilemma will not easily come.
3. Licuria, Robert. “Man and Machine: An essay on Blade Runner, The Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, and Star Trek: First Contact.” Awards Heaven. (1998). Retrieved on 16 March 2011.http://www.ciampini.info/file/ferrari/4B_Man%20and%20Machine.doc>.
'More human than human' is the slogan from Blade Runner. It seems a frightening thought that we would never imagine it. In this essay, Licuria uses some famous movies as examples to explain the relations between the organic and the mechanical. In many movies, cybernetic is usually portrayed as the evil. Human beings are usually eclipsed by and destroyed by cybernetic. This is actually the expected impact if human continue to experience and connect with the technology. Licuria states cyborg can be seen as the representation of hybridisation of the organic and the mechanic; while the android represents the mechanic as simulacrum of the organic. This demonstrates the vulnerability of the human body because they have been enhanced and there is a potential for the organic to become obsolete. On the other hand, a definite line is drawn between the organic and the mechanic. It is significant when concerned with reproduction and with 'the gaze'. Licuria further explained that the reproduction of the organic and the mechanic provide a stark contrast between forms. Mechanic without any feminine or masculine creativity, they cannot give birth like the organic. Also, the gaze of the organic is motivated by survival, desire, and hunger. In the last part, Licuria concludes the definition of human is now more uncertain and this reflects our relationship with technology in the present. This essay helps us to think about what the exact nature of relationship between human and machine is.
4. Koch, C., and T. Giulio. “Can Machines Be Conscious?.” The Singularity - Special Report (2008): 55-59. IEEE Spectrum Online. 2002. 16 March 2011.http://www.klab.caltech.edu/news/koch-tononi-08.pdf>
Have you think of what will you be after you died? Koch and Giulio suggest the idea that we may have an alternative to death in the coming future, which is being a ghost in a machine. People believe that the most significant difference between human and machine is that machine does not have consciousness. However, Koch and Giulio argue that since people trust in mathematics, logic and laws of science, there is no reason why consciousness cannot be reproduced in a machine. They explain that if one’s sector of the cortex being destroyed, the person will no longer be conscious of whatever aspect of the world that the brain represents. They further explain that consciousness does not seem to require many things that we associate most with being human. In the journal, they explain consciousness does not relate to interaction with the environment, emotions, memory, self-reflection and language. As some psychologists argue consciousness requires selective attention, Koch and Giulio use the way of people to attend to events as an example to explain that being consciousness does not require attention. And they concluded that there is still no machine or program comes close to pulling off because of the image understanding problem of the artificial intelligence. It is good for us to think of the boundary between human and machines.
5. Licklider, J.C.R.. “Man-Computer Symbiosis.” IRE Transactions on Human Factors in Electronics. (1960): 4-11. CSAIL. 16 March 2011. http://groups.csail.mit.edu/medg/people/psz/Licklider.html>
Have you think of cooperating with computer? As early as in 1960, Licklider foresees the future relation between human and computers. He thinks the development of machines provides a chance to replace human and all working processes become automatic. The role of human will be like assisting machines to finish their works rather than being helped by machines. He suggests the main purposes to cooperate with computers are to let computers assist human when facing formulated problems. And to ensure there is no inflexible dependence on predetermined schedule during the decision making process and control of complex situation. Licklider further insinuate the symbiotic relationship of human and computer is not the conclusive model for complex technological systems. There is a possibility that the electronic or chemical machines can surpass human brain in most of the functions. Licklider mentions computing machines are now playing a controlling role in the development of technology. It is estimated about five more years is required in order to achieve and solve the difficulties in manufacturing the machine to collaborate with human. In the last part of Licklider's essay, he concludes many of the pure artificial intelligence systems envisioned at the time by over optimistic researchers would prove unnecessary. Although this essay was written in 1960s, we can see that some of the ideas that suggested by Licklider have become true. In the next step, we really need to think about if machines are really going to replace human.
No comments:
Post a Comment