The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology.THE SINGULARITY (1) See technology singularity. (2) (Singularity) An experimental operating system from Microsoft for the x86 platform written almost entirely in C#, a .NET managed code language. Released in 2007, Singularity is a non-Windows research project. IS NEAR: When Humans Transcend Biology RAY KURZWEIL The Singularity is the point in the not-so-distant future when artificial and human intelligence will merge to create a type of superintelligence. Futurist and inventor INVENTOR. One who invents or finds out something. 2. The patent laws of the United States authorize a patent to be issued to the original inventor; if the invention is suggested by another, he is not the inventor within the meaning of those laws; but in that Kurzweil writes that central to the realization of what he considers a new and improved human condition is the law of accelerating returns: Technological growth is exponential 1. (mathematics) exponential - A function which raises some given constant (the "base") to the power of its argument. I.e. f x = b^x If no base is specified, e, the base of natural logarthims, is assumed. 2. . After the Singularity, nanobots will replace the slow connections among people's brain cells with high-speed ones, the majority of human interactions will take place in virtual reality, and it will be possible to upload See download. upload - /uhp'lohd/ To transfer programs or data over a digital communications link from a smaller or peripheral "client" system to a larger or central "host" one. Opposite: download. the contents of a human brain to a machine. Computers will emulate em·u·late tr.v. em·u·lat·ed, em·u·lat·ing, em·u·lates 1. To strive to equal or excel, especially through imitation: an older pupil whose accomplishments and style I emulated. 2. human intelligence and surpass it. In just under 500 pages, Kurzweil ponders topics including the prospect of extraterrestrial intelligence, surpassing the speed of light, and extending human life. Must reading for devotees of futurist literature, this weighty book may nevertheless appeal to a wider audience. Viking Adult, 2005, 672 p., b&w illus., hardcover, $29.95. |
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