Within the past two years computers have become a new way of doing business, enjoying various forms of entertainment, and interacting with others for the majority of our nation. Almost every aspect of technical work in industry today involves the computer in some way. It is hard to find something in the world at this present time that wasnt either made by a computer program, or houses a computer of its own. Keeping this in mind while reading Ray Kurzweils article The Virtual Thomas Edison makes one realize just how much humans depend on computers, and Kurzweils hypothesizes that Within three decades machines will be as intelligent as human beings(Kurzweil, pars 16). Kurweil continues, by stating, Bill Joy, co-founder of Sun Microsystems, has written about a wide range of dangers that could arise when we no longer have our metaphorical hands on the plug(Kurzweil, pars 2). Its an unsettling thought, assuming Kurzweils prediction is correct, that computers may surpass mans intelligence in 30 years and progress beyond our control. Kurweils quoting Bill Joy sums up the feeling of uneasiness towards the quick progress of computer technologies very well. It produces a slight tinge of fright as it is read because it could indeed be true. Kurzweil offsets his feelings of apprehension by going into great detail about how these advanced computers will help us in the future. He goes as far to state that computers will be able to create nanobots to help rid of humans of several diseases and possibly prolong mans collective life span. By 2030 there will be ubiquitous use of surgery-free neural implants introduced into our brains by billions of nanobots (i.e., microscopic yet intelligent robots) traveling through our capillaries. These noninvasive neural implants will routinely expand our mind through direct connection with nonbiological intelligence(Kurzweil, pars 9). If this prediction in fact does manifest itself it could mean an expansion of hum...
