2009.06.27 13:00 - Thinking Robots and Travels

The Guardian for this meeting was Adelene Dawner, The comments are by SophiaSharon Larnia.

Adelene describes her current project, a Robot she is creating in RL. Frankly, the description sent my imagination off and running, the implications for this are astonishing!...

Eliza Madrigal: Hi Ade :))
Adelene Dawner: Hiya :)
Eliza Madrigal: I've missed you... thought I better take the chance to come and say Hello! : )
Eliza Madrigal: I know you're quite busy
Adelene Dawner: Not so much this week, actually. Next week I'll be busy again, though, I'm sure - my new programable robot should get here Monday ^.^
Qt Core: hi all
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Qt! :)
Adelene Dawner: hoya ^.^
Eliza Madrigal: programable robot??
Adelene Dawner: mmhmm ^.^
Adelene Dawner: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...kFGJWolNF6aQAQ
Adelene Dawner: erm :P
Adelene Dawner: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRobot_Create
Qt Core: even the long and ancient mimed aramaic works
Adelene Dawner: hehe
Mickorod Renard: Hiyaaa
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Mick...now onto second link... :)
Qt Core: hi Mick
Mickorod Renard: second link?
Adelene Dawner: They're the same thing - the second one's just nicer.
Adelene Dawner: ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRobot_Create )
Eliza Madrigal: Ah, see that.
Eliza Madrigal: What are your plans with it, Ade?
Adelene Dawner: I want to set it up for telepresence, so people can control it over the internet. It'll have a webcam and hopefully be able to connect to skype or something similar for voice.
Eliza Madrigal: oh wow...will you be logging/writing about this?
Adelene Dawner: I hadn't planned on it, but I could. :)
Qt Core: don't know, i would surely trip on it... then I would use it for telepresence while on my hospital bed ;-)
Adelene Dawner: I intend to have the camera on a pole - if I can figure out how, it'll even be able to go up and down - so that should help make it a bit more obvious.
Eliza Madrigal thinks it would be interesting to read...stretch thinking about tech in daily life
Eliza Madrigal: my kids would love for me to buy a roomba...hehe...not much carpet here though :)
Adelene Dawner: :)
Eliza Madrigal: this is way more interesting
Mickorod Renard: Hi Ara
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Ara
Qt Core: Hi ara
Adelene Dawner: You can get one of the mopping ones - scooba, I think they're called :)
arabella Ella: Hiya everyone!
Eliza Madrigal: Hadn't heard of that one...
Eliza Madrigal now runs to look it up
Eliza Madrigal: hehe
Adelene Dawner: mmhmm, they make like 3 or 4 kinds of cleaning robot now :)
Mickorod Renard: a nice back massaging one would be nce
Adelene Dawner: hehe ^.^
Eliza Madrigal: They need an ironing-ba too
Adelene Dawner: That'd be neat ^.^
Mickorod Renard: I would like one to just think for me at the mom
Eliza Madrigal: Think for you, Mick?
Mickorod Renard: yes,,that would be a nice rest
Eliza Madrigal: : )
Qt Core: there is only the little problem of "digitalizing" out thought patterns...
Qt Core: our*
arabella Ella: yes but that is possible
arabella Ella: experiments are being done on that too
arabella Ella: still far off but well
Qt Core: that would be nice for creating smart software agent to be used to scan the web to find what we need/may like)
arabella Ella: well the argument goes that words are merely symbols
arabella Ella: and we dont think in words at least not in our 'natural' way of thinking which is more visual and therefore pictorial
Adelene Dawner: A direct brain interface would be cool, for that. No artificial inteligence required. :)
arabella Ella: exactly
Qt Core: i don't know how many times i've done this since i am in SL, but i suggest you a nice SF book "Accelerando" by Charles Stross
arabella Ella: and it may be possible eventually via chips in the brain
arabella Ella: ok thanks QT will see how i can get hold of it
Mickorod Renard: A pidgeon would suffice i guess
Qt Core: too heavy, maybe a owl ;-)
Mickorod Renard: owls are to rare,,pidgeons are to pleanty
Mickorod Renard: too
Adelene Dawner: http://www.antipope.org/charlie/accelerando/
Qt Core: ohhh, so the author is quite similar to the (first) main character, good, very good
Mickorod Renard: you have linux dont you QT?
Qt Core: yes, but i use SL on Vista
Mickorod Renard: ok,,not sorted linux yet for sl?
Adelene Dawner: SL works on Linux. I'm using it now. ^.^
Qt Core: didn't had the time/will to discover why sl goes boom on my pc
Mickorod Renard: lol,,ok
Mickorod Renard: do you prefer Linux Adele?
Qt Core: maybe just a newer release may so the trick
Mickorod Renard: perhaps
Adelene Dawner: SL's worked pretty well for me, but some of the other programs are giving me issues. I do like Linux better than paying for a new copy of Windows after mine died on me, but I've only been using it a few weeks so far.
Qt Core: (i have the vice of tampering with every options menu i see ... and not note down the values before messing them
Mickorod Renard: oops,,i see
Mickorod Renard: I may try linux next time i change pc
Mickorod Renard: did anyone go to the meeting before this one?
Mickorod Renard: with Sophia?
Eliza Madrigal nods
Mickorod Renard: was it good?
Eliza Madrigal: Yes, very interesting I thought...look forward to the log being posted because I mean to copy to a file
Mickorod Renard: I had to go on a course,,and couldnt make it
Qt Core: i was out doing some shopping.
Mickorod Renard: he he
Mickorod Renard: thats an odd one squee

A bit about the uses of language and technology...

Eliza Madrigal: What is most interesting is that everyone has their own language to describe similar concepts... we need to appreciate others' languages and that's a skill.
Adelene Dawner: ( Squee: The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong in the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good, and the very gentle, and the very brave, impartially.)
Qt Core: brb
arabella Ella: yes Eliza ... we certainly need not only more appreciation but also more tolerance and flexibility in our thinking
Eliza Madrigal nods to Ara...yes, the flexibility seems key
Mickorod Renard: I think that sometimes, in an endevour to understand language, we make it too much of a science,,and become too hard with interpretations
Eliza Madrigal: A new excercize can be uncomfortable at first
Eliza Madrigal: but that isn't to say this morning was... Sophia did a lovely job
Mickorod Renard: fantastic
Mickorod Renard: I so much would like to have bben there
Eliza Madrigal: I missed the first but read the log... interesting ideas about everything being a symbol :)
Mickorod Renard: yes, one day someone will work out a univerasl explanation
Eliza Madrigal: Maybe once tech can do most of the repetitive thinking for us :)
arabella Ella nods
arabella Ella: Hiya JaNayy
Eliza Madrigal: Hi JaNayy
Mickorod Renard: is there anything on at kira after this eliza?
JaNayy Charisma: hi
Mickorod Renard: hi JaNayy
Eliza Madrigal: I don't think so Mick
Mickorod Renard: oops,,she's gone
arabella Ella: would you like to join us Janayy?
Qt Core: if we can extract from the brain the electriity flow before it reaches the language area, but after it leave the thought area and put those in another brai, would the sewecond person think the forst person thought ?
arabella Ella: take a seat JaNayy
Qt Core: (i rue idea, i know)
Qt Core: rude*
Adelene Dawner: I don't think it's that simple. Qt.
Mickorod Renard: just given janayy a card
arabella Ella: well QT I heard Kevin Warwick speak this week at a conference in KL
Eliza Madrigal: they may have the same thought and express it so differently that it doesn't seem the same though
arabella Ella: I heard him twice elsewhere before
Adelene Dawner: But if you really could do something like that, yeah, it should work :)
arabella Ella: he thinks we will be cyborgs and he has done loads of self experimentation with some similar to what you say
Qt Core: that is why i told to get it before it become words
arabella Ella: well Warwick says he had a chip implanted and also in his wife
arabella Ella: and when one moved the other would feel 'pulses'
Adelene Dawner: (If I dissapear, I'm afk with Corvi. She's not having the best day today.)
arabella Ella: i dont have the details tho
arabella Ella: owwwwwwww
arabella Ella: Ade give Corvi a hug from me then pls
Adelene Dawner: Will do. :)
Eliza Madrigal: No worries Ade. Yes, hugs to Corvi
Mickorod Renard: and from me too adale
arabella Ella: hey it seems to have gone all quiet here now
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eliza Madrigal: was thinking about helping friends and the chip...
Eliza Madrigal: Strange to think of something like empathy being something we can 'implant'
Mickorod Renard: yea,,u need to stop im'ing me secretly
Mickorod Renard: he he he
arabella Ella: well Eliza what I spoke about also has loads of positive medical effects
arabella Ella: for strokes, parkinsons, dementia and more
Eliza Madrigal nods...can see how it might
arabella Ella: as a chip implant can overcome 'messy' neuronal pathways
Mickorod Renard: I have a job peeing to the full amount
arabella Ella: and this guy i mentioned kevin warwick has guts as he does self experimentation
Mickorod Renard: thats age I think
arabella Ella: u need a few chips Micko
Eliza Madrigal: yes it sounds that way...his wife may be even braver though
arabella Ella: will make u good as new ... possibly better
Mickorod Renard: proberbly the result of too many chips
Eliza Madrigal: hehe
arabella Ella: yes but Eliza after having heard him present on three occassions I think I would not have any concerns about being a volunteer either
Eliza Madrigal: "Come here honey, try this on"
arabella Ella: he he
Eliza Madrigal: I am curiuos now though...will have to look him up :)
Mickorod Renard: he he he
Eliza Madrigal: Thanks for the fun chat, must go for now :)
Mickorod Renard: bye eliza
Mickorod Renard: thanks
Qt Core: bye eliza
arabella Ella: bye Eliza lovely seeing you again
Eliza Madrigal: Bye Ade, Mick, Ara, Qt. :) You too Ara :)
arabella Ella: lovely outfit too
arabella Ella: oh she's gone :)
Qt Core: one of the best things of SL, you don't ruin your outfit whatever you do with it ;-)
arabella Ella: yes it never gets wet or dirty or damaged :)
arabella Ella: no dry cleaning bills either
arabella Ella: and no coats
Mickorod Renard: did anyone see Murray ply tennis earlier?
Mickorod Renard: at wimbledon,,I was impressed
arabella Ella: i missed Wimbelton but hope to get to see some this weekend
arabella Ella: or is it finished now?
Qt Core: sadly tennis is only on pay tvs here in italy (that i refuse to pay)
arabella Ella: as i way away and only got back today
Mickorod Renard: thats terrible Qt ,,anyway,the final has yet to come Ara
arabella Ella: when are the finals Mick?
arabella Ella: tomorrow?

The remainder of this session was about traveling, in its pleasant and sometimes unpleasant aspects...

Mickorod Renard: did you enjoy your trip Ara?
arabella Ella: yes very much KL was fascinating
arabella Ella: altho the travelling itself i dont enjoy ... 20 hours return journey yesterday and today
Mickorod Renard: kwala lumpa?
arabella Ella: kuala lumpur in malaysia
Mickorod Renard: isnt that what i said,,,he he he
arabella Ella: yes it is ... smile
Mickorod Renard: see,,language isnt that important,,but the symbol was
Qt Core: that is where the CVhocolate Factory midgets come from, Mick ;-)
Mickorod Renard: malaysia?
arabella Ella: where is the choc factory Qt?
arabella Ella: not in KL surely?
Qt Core: (bad joke about the book/movie)
Mickorod Renard: its ok Qt,,it was a good joke,,we were just playing along
Mickorod Renard: was there much poverty in KL?
arabella Ella: yes as in most asian countries one encounteres the two extremes
Mickorod Renard: u get the impression its a paradise
arabella Ella: and it is full of pollution too as they dont have good public transport
arabella Ella: and cheap gas
Mickorod Renard: lol
arabella Ella: i never saw so much pollution in my life ... from traffic
Mickorod Renard: which is the one thats good,,singapoe?
arabella Ella: yes singapore has an excellent rapid transport system and they are well organised but not democratic in sing
Qt Core: i'm visiting some asian cities in a couple week i'm curious about comparing Milan pollution with the bejing/shangai one
arabella Ella: interesting comparison Qt
Mickorod Renard: yes
Mickorod Renard: I cant say i have been to either
arabella Ella: but i think pollution in large asian cities is mainly from cars ... is that also the case in italy? car and traffic congestion?
Mickorod Renard: is it bad in Milan?
Qt Core: i live a few km outside milan and i already can feel the difference from here and downtown milan
arabella Ella: Milan is known for 'smog'
Mickorod Renard: ohh,,is that downdraft from mountains?
arabella Ella: but i think much of it is industrial pollution not just traffic
Mickorod Renard: I see
Qt Core: well, we used all the "over the limit" days for all 2009 in late february
Mickorod Renard: lol
arabella Ella: wow
Qt Core: so we can even get some kind of ticked to pay as we are going over the limits
Qt Core: ticket (as in money to pay to the EU)
arabella Ella: yes as in carbon credits you mean?
Mickorod Renard: yes
arabella Ella: in Asia I find development is frenetic
Mickorod Renard: on the whole, i think the uk is good these days
Qt Core: no, just for not being more green
arabella Ella: they destroy rain forests each day for development
arabella Ella: but what i found most weird this time around is ...
arabella Ella: they seem to me to be overreacting where swine flu is concerned
arabella Ella: and in malaysia all residents are advised not to travel overseas especially to australia and the
arabella Ella: USA
Mickorod Renard: that seems to be the finding here in the uk too..but worry will be on its reamergence as usually it comes more servere the second time around
arabella Ella: and one of the conference speakers was not allowed to leave Australia to fly to KL as he had a slight temperature
arabella Ella: they are making people stay indoors for 5 days quarantine away from work if they have flu
arabella Ella: and it becomes embarrassing and rude to even sneeze
Mickorod Renard: there are several thousand reportings in the uk now,,but all almost in kids who recover very quickly
Qt Core: i ad to add a note to my visa request to china telling i didn't go to mexico in last months
arabella Ella: yes QT but seems now it is not just mexico but also australia and USA
arabella Ella: in KL they scan everyone at the airport for signs of flu
Mickorod Renard: yes,,and the uk,,and if truth be known everywhere
arabella Ella: besides the paperwork which u mentioned
arabella Ella: yes they are asking their ppl not to visit UK too
arabella Ella: but i dont like the way they point fingers at foreigners
Qt Core: i wonder when italy will be added to those lit... we have our own fair share of swine flu infected
Qt Core: list*
Mickorod Renard: there was a consensus reported in the uk that if everyone got it now before the second dose arrived,,we wud have a natural immunity
arabella Ella: yes Qt but there are still so many questions about this virus
arabella Ella: could it once again just be something used to promote particular pharmaceuticals?
Mickorod Renard: possibly
arabella Ella: or could the cause be part of germ warfare or similar?
Qt Core: but then it would be a very big scheme
Mickorod Renard: anyway,,even though I dont want to die,,the planet would do well to wipe out a big percentage of the poplulation at this juncture
arabella Ella: i was reading ... there have been big schemes of germ warfare in the past
arabella Ella: and to promote pharmas
Mickorod Renard: yes,,the aids thing is steeped in conspiracy theories
Qt Core: i was speaking about tgha pharma one
arabella Ella nods
arabella Ella: Qt if you need any tips for your Asia trip just let me know I have been to many countries there
arabella Ella: and the one i recommend most is Laos
arabella Ella: so beautiful
Mickorod Renard: this end time theory is always provocative
arabella Ella nods
Mickorod Renard: Laos?
arabella Ella: yes
arabella Ella: (isnt that what i said?)
Mickorod Renard: whats nice there Ara?
arabella Ella: he he
Mickorod Renard: he he
arabella Ella: there are lovely old temples unspoilt as not many tourists visit them
arabella Ella: and lovely landscape ... hundreds of waterfalls for example
arabella Ella: and it is a totally unspoilt country
Mickorod Renard: is that vietnam,,pardon my ignorance?
arabella Ella: with lovely people
Mickorod Renard: or cambodia?
arabella Ella: no not vietnam ... not been to vietnam yet
Qt Core: i'm going to a very organized trip and a cruise
Mickorod Renard: ok
arabella Ella: no Laos ... capital is Vientienne
arabella Ella: sounds good to me Qt
arabella Ella: next time you could consider asking us at PaB to join you too :)
Qt Core: (the main point is seeing the eclipse south of Japan on the 22 of july
arabella Ella: wow brilliant
arabella Ella: when are you off?
Qt Core: 11/7
arabella Ella: ok less than two weeks to go then
arabella Ella: cool
Mickorod Renard: cool
arabella Ella: hope u have a brilliant experience
arabella Ella: first time in asia?
Mickorod Renard: Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west. Laos traces...
Qt Core: (the funny thing ? i never flyed and now i'm going to fly 8 times in two week.... i hope i don't fear it)
arabella Ella: flying is not scarey at all
Mickorod Renard: wow
Qt Core: i know... in a highly theorical way ;-)
arabella Ella: if you get scared when flying just do whatever you do at the dentist ... have some nice memories to draw on
Mickorod Renard: I am sure u will be facinated by it all,,including the flights
Qt Core: mmm, i was thinking more about reading and/or sleeping
arabella Ella: I much prefer flying to funfairs with rides
arabella Ella: yes i generally sleep, watch movies and play games on a console
arabella Ella: played so many games of tetris this trip
arabella Ella: he he
arabella Ella: and saw about 4 movies
Mickorod Renard: its funny how people get scared on funfair rides and on airplane flights (which are safe) and yet dont worry about being on the back of my motorbike
arabella Ella smiles
Mickorod Renard: he he
Qt Core: luckily i will be with a couple of friends that travel a lot (i'm going to stick to them very thight
arabella Ella: i hate funfair rides
arabella Ella: and enjoy flying and bikes
Mickorod Renard: there we go
arabella Ella: so i must go now
arabella Ella: bye Qt and Micko
Mickorod Renard: I do think about crashing when I fly
arabella Ella: good to c u both here
arabella Ella: oh and bye Ade too
Mickorod Renard: bye ara,,
Qt Core: bye ara
Mickorod Renard: I must go in a mom
Qt Core: (i think i will to, i love and watch all the airing of the Airport movie series ;-)
Mickorod Renard: yes,,grin
Mickorod Renard: but I usually try and think of how to save people..not that i am brave or anything,,but it takes away the thoughts of self preservation
Mickorod Renard: I think that is where the fear is based
Mickorod Renard: ok,,gotta go,,thanks qt,,go well
Qt Core: bye then
Mickorod Renard: c u soon
Qt Core: i'm going too i think
Qt Core: bye adelene
Adelene Dawner: bye :)