[ExI] Meat v. Machine

[Jeff Davis]

On Fri, Dec 31, 2010 at 3:35 PM, Samantha Atkins <sjatkins at mac.com> wrote:

> As already discussed, this is not doable at lunar distances

I take it you hold tele-operation at Lunar distances and beyond as not
doable.  I can accept that time lag may require something of a
modified approach-- some adjustments -- but "not doable"?  Don't be
cruel.

I have this notion of an army of mobile robots with exceedingly
dexterous manipulators busily working away 24/7on the lunar surface;
all of them "piloted" by ecstatic, pay-for-the-privilege, Earth-bound,
ex-gamer geeks; and a wait-list of would-be "pilots", cash in hand,
chompin' at the bit.

If you could sign up to tele-operate a lunar robot, how much would you
pay for the chance to go on that "ride"?  Can you spell "Business
Plan"?

> and beyond until the remote systems are much more nearly autonomous.

Please, please, not autonomous.  Where's the fun in that?  Autonomous
sometimes, maybe, like when you have to sleep, or go to the john --
no, no; what was I thinking?; clearly, you can bring your laptop or
"game controller" into the john with you.

And for out at the 'riod belt, where time lag is, you know,
substantial, well then you operate a whole passel of robots -- with,
okay, some helpful autonomy, say with routine sequences -- you just do
it serially.

                           <snip>

> My greatest source of concern right now is the economic implosion of the US dollar

When the dollar 'implodes' -- ie is devalued radically, say 30-40% --
the result will bring the US back into the game.  US exports will be
competitive once again; Americans will work again; the constraints of
austerity will make Americans sane and sensible again.  They will ride
bicycles a lot.  Life will go on, in an orderly fashion even.

Or not.

                 <snip gloomy outlook>

> The economic hole the world has dug itself is the one I feel the most helpless to do much about or even get a really good idea of what should be done about it.  I think we have pushed past the point where we can just stand back and let it fall down in a very unpleasant but non-catastrophic way.  And we can't prop it up forever.

Humans are both natural worriers and natural builders.  Modern
industrial productivity is huge.  Humanity is capable of huge
overproduction.  I believe we've reached a point now where even a
severe economic contraction will not bring us below the level of need
(as distinguished from the level of 'want').

Best, Jeff Davis

 "Everything's hard till you know how to do it."
                     Ray Charles