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<TITLE>RE: [extropy-chat] Warwick: Could future computer viruses infecthumans?</TITLE>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>So human virus will infect computers also?</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>Thanks.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Walter.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>---------</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>-----Original Message-----</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>From: extropy-chat-bounces@lists.extropy.org [<A HREF="mailto:extropy-chat-bounces@lists.extropy.org">mailto:extropy-chat-bounces@lists.extropy.org</A>] On Behalf Of nsjacobus@yahoo.com</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2004 7:13 AM</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>To: ExI chat list</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Subject: Re: [extropy-chat] Warwick: Could future computer viruses infecthumans?</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>Why not? A virus, whether biological or computer-based, is really just </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>a logic machine. Such a virus would be able to cross from a digital </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>logic medium to a biological one. The effects of such a virus would </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>differ depending on whether the virus is currently infecting a </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>biological-system or a computer, but this is very much like biological </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>viruses when they pass across species.</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>On Nov 15, 2004, at 5:51 PM, Adrian Tymes wrote:</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>--- nsjacobus@yahoo.com wrote:</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> Well, I think the idea is that eventually</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> computer/human interfaces</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> will consist of some sort of data-port that connects</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> directly into the</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> human nervous system. If so, then computer viruses</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> could indeed have a</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> deleterious effect on humans.</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>Yes, but this is not "computer viruses and biological</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>viruses becoming one and the same" even if they can</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>affect the same target.</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>Cheers,</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Nige</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>--</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2> A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>butcher a hog, design a building, write a sonnet, set a bone, comfort </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>the dying, take orders, give orders, solve equations, pitch manure, </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>gallantly.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Specialization is for insects.</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2> -- Robert Heinlein</FONT>
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