Technological Singularity

Hypothetically, technological singularity is considered as irreversible changes to the mankind resulted from technological growth due to the invention of artificial super intelligence (AI). The major concern is that AI will come out of the control and, finally, humanity will be deprived of their position in the world

Technological Claustrophobia

Tim O'Riley discusses the genesis of his project to examine how technology can be used to construct a speculative model of a physical and spatial experience

Technological diversification

Economies at early stages of development are often shaken by abrupt changes in growth rates, whereas in advanced economies growth rates tend to be relatively stable. To explain this pattern, we propose a theory of technological diversification. Production makes use of different input varieties, which are subject to imperfectly correlated shocks. Technological progress takes the form of an increase in the number of varieties, raising average productivity. In addition, the expansion in the number of varieties in our model provides diversification benefits against variety-specific shocks and it can hence lower the volatility of output growth. Technological complexity evolves endogenously in response to profit incentives. The decline in volatility thus arises as a by-product of firms’ incentives to increase profits and is hence a likely outcome of the development process. We quantitatively asses the predictions of the model in light of the empirical evidence and find that for reasonable parameter values, the model can generate a decline in volatility with the level of development comparable to that in the data.

Super Soldiers and Technological Asymmetry

In this chapter I argue that emerging soldier enhancement technologies have the potential to transform the ethical character of the relationship between combatants, in conflicts between ‘Superpower’ militaries, with the ability to deploy such technologies, and technologically disadvantaged ‘Underdog’ militaries. The reasons for this relate to Paul Kahn’s claims about the paradox of riskless warfare. When an Underdog poses no threat to a Superpower, the standard just war theoretic justifications for the Superpower’s combatants using lethal violence against their opponents breaks down. Therefore, Kahn argues, combatants in that position must approach their opponents in an ethical guise relevantly similar to ‘policing’. I argue that the kind of disparities in risk and threat between opposing combatants that Kahn’s analysis posits, don’t obtain in the context of face-to-face combat, in the way they would need to in order to support his ethical conclusions about policing. But then I argue that soldier enhancement technologies have the potential to change this, in a way that reactivates the force of those conclusions

Technological convergence in audiovisual media technologies

This paper presents the results of a large-scale survey on viewing practices. Data from over 10,000 cases are used to explore the adoption-use diffusion gap and the correlation structures in the frequencies of the use of multiple channels (e.g. linear television, download, Vod) on multiple devices. The results show that although a lot of devices capable of audiovisual playback are adopted, few (only computers) of them are used to consume television content. Furthermore, in terms of viewing frequencies, the data suggest spill over effects of using multiple devices, rather than a displacement. Finally, it shows there is a stable tendency to use multiple delivery channels within devices, rather than forming a pattern between devices. That is, channels usage frequencies are correlated within devices, rather than scattered among devices

Technological learning: towards an integrated model

The acquisition and growth of technological knowledge is fundamental to competitive advantage in the emerging knowledge economy. This article explores the notion of technological learning as a means of developing the capabilities that underpin long term sustainable innovation. The research project was designed to identify new ways of understanding learning in the context of technology-driven SMEs, so the methods employed were essentially inductive in nature. This has resulted in the development of a comprehensive framework comprising four inter-related knowledge categories (Identity, Direction, Capability, and Relationship), each of which has an associated learning process (learning by reflecting, learning by strategising, learning by doing, and learning by interacting). We argue that it is the interaction between these knowledge categories that generates the new insights that are essential to technological learning