Technology: Infinite/finite with poll

[MegaloManiaK]

So is technology infinite or finite? For example, do you think that given enough time we will be able to travel to other solar systems? Given time do you think anything can be accomplished? Or does technology have a finite limit. A maximum speed? A smallest processor? An incurable disease?


It seems to me that most people I meet have an infinite view of technology: eventually anything is possible. Is it?

 

[Spooner]

it's gotta plateau somewhere

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: Spooner
it's gotta plateau somewhere

I agree. We'll eventually hit a wall somewhere.

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: Spooner
it's gotta plateau somewhere

I agree. We'll eventually hit a wall somewhere.

With a big SPLAT! sound, too

 

[Dudd]

Theoretically finite I suppose, but we will never reach that point. There will always be some way of attacking a problem that we haven't yet thought of.

 

[Beau]

Knowledge is infinite. Technology is knowledge.

 

[DurocShark]

Naw, we may plateau for a long time (dark ages style), but something will happen to get technology rolling again.

I believe that there are so many aspects of energy that we'll never find every possible combination of molecules etc to make things faster/better/more dependable.

Yes I believe we'll find a way to travel between stars in reasonable amounts of time.

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: Spooner
it's gotta plateau somewhere

I agree. We'll eventually hit a wall somewhere.

I think you underestimate human ingenuity. In the 19th century, they used to say that everything knowable was already known, and look what happened.. So why try to impose hypothetical limits? And why must you assume that entirely new technologies cannot be born/created?

 

[CastorTr0y]

I guess it's actually finite, due to all those Planck lenghts. You wouldn't be able to do something in a shorter amount of time than a Planck second or something shorter distance than the planck length, etc, etc. So I guess it's finite, but humans will most likely never be limited by that kind of stuff. Because we probably won't advance that far.

 

[MegaloManiaK]

Originally posted by: Astaroth33

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: Spooner
it's gotta plateau somewhere

I agree. We'll eventually hit a wall somewhere.

I think you underestimate human ingenuity. In the 19th century, they used to say that everything knowable was already known, and look what happened.. So why try to impose hypothetical limits? And why must you assume that entirely new technologies cannot be born/created?

So with infinite time there is infinite advancement?

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: MegaloManiaK

Originally posted by: Astaroth33

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: Spooner
it's gotta plateau somewhere

I agree. We'll eventually hit a wall somewhere.

I think you underestimate human ingenuity. In the 19th century, they used to say that everything knowable was already known, and look what happened.. So why try to impose hypothetical limits? And why must you assume that entirely new technologies cannot be born/created?

So with infinite time there is infinite advancement?

Theoretically, yes.

 

[MegaloManiaK]

Originally posted by: CastorTr0y
I guess it's actually finite, due to all those Planck lenghts. You wouldn't be able to do something in a shorter amount of time than a Planck second or something shorter distance than the planck length, etc, etc. So I guess it's finite, but humans will most likely never be limited by that kind of stuff. Because we probably won't advance that far.

I was thinking the same thing, only with atoms, are they infinitely small or not, we found there are atoms that make up everything, and then found there are sub atomic particles that make up atoms, and now they know there are sub sub atomic particles that make up sub atomic particles. if they are infinitely small, can we create something ourselves thats infinitely small?

Considering we can't *create* matter, wouldn't we always be limited by the smallest building block we could find? would there be a point where we could not create anything to further disect what we know?

 

[MegaloManiaK]

Ok, here's another question on the same lines.

Are advancements coming quicker today than yesterday? do you believe the whole tech curve thing where the closer we get to infinity the faster we advance?

 

[rh71]

Didn't you hear about Skynet ?!

 

[CastorTr0y]

I don't think its an asymptotic curve...I think it's more of like every once in a while, one big advance in technology will come around, and cause a lot of other development. I don't think its a definite progression, but it will most likely keep increasing in how fast we develop

 

[MegaloManiaK]

Originally posted by: rh71
Didn't you hear about Skynet ?!

Heh, i was going to leave the "Will technology ultimately enslave mankind" disccusion for another day.

 

[MegaloManiaK]

Originally posted by: CastorTr0y
I don't think its an asymptotic curve...I think it's more of like every once in a while, one big advance in technology will come around, and cause a lot of other development. I don't think its a definite progression, but it will most likely keep increasing in how fast we develop

I would say communication advancements make it possible to share knowledge so much easier that the development process increases. But i always wonder if thats the root of the matter or if its actualy taking less time to do things.

 

[CastorTr0y]

yea, therell probably be totally different kinds of limitations taht we cant even imagine right now

 

[TJN23]

Originally posted by: Beau
Knowledge is infinite. Technology is knowledge.

interesting point