The Transhuman Singularity

For the past 3 months I have been researching, experimenting and writing about creating virtual worlds.    I enjoy it very much and find it to be some what different than speculative science fiction.

So I have launched my own virtual world called Viradu.com under my real name, not my pen name.    Which, I somehow find ironic.    I will not stop writing science fiction as Michael Blade, but I do invite you into my virtual world to learn, explore, create, and build with me.    If you follow the link above you will see I have created free access accounts into my virtual world for anyone going to the website.

Note: I have moved the "How To Build Your Own Virtual World!" post to the other blog as well...

Now, if you read on in this science fiction blog you will find I have some very progressive and imaginative science fiction ideas and stories.    I hope you enjoy this material, and I encourage you to comment and share your ideas as well.

-Michael Blade

So you may be asking what does this Transhuman Singluarity mean?

Well, Transhuman implies transitional, or transformational humans.    Human beings enhanced or changed by technology, but still recognizable as being human.    Singularity is the Technological Singularity (not to be confused with a black hole), which is a convergence of technologies leading to a point beyond which there is maximum change and advancement is extremely rapid (exponential growth as opposed to linear).    Some believe this may involve the creation of self improving Artificial Intellegence.

So I have merged these two topic subjects to imply the transhuman singularity is a rapid enhancement of humans by technology leading to the unpredictable posthuman(s) through the integration of humans with artificial intelligence, cyborg implants, life extension treatments, virtual reality augmentation, mind uploading, and space migration technologies.

The results of this are very speculative, and hence I have written science fiction stories to describe this.    The dangers are many, possible extinction, but the rewards are just as great, immortality, god-like powers, and super knowledge.

One of my big worries is that as a consequence of this increasing technological acceleration, humanity may become self-endangered, we have a potential for an "Extinction Singularity".    The uncontrolled hard take off of technology versus a more controlled soft climb, but I would bet a lot of this is influenced by population density and planet resource utilization.    I suggest that may be one explanation for the Fermi Paradox.

That's why I would strongly suggest that humanity build a Lunar Ark as soon as feasibly possible.    Then continue to keep it up to date as the technology advances, as a sort of "Singularity Insurance".

MY DAD

I fondly remember as a kid staying up with my dad, past my bed time, to watch the original Star Trek TV series and discussing afterward the ideas and morals of the story.   I also remember the fun I had with my brother and dad building and launching solid propellant model rockets.    I guess that made me a childhood dreamer with an interest in science.    In addition to reading great science fiction by Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke, and working a summer job with my cousins to buy my first "home computer" (TRS-80 Model I).    Still short on money, my dad helped make up the difference, and I was soon on my way to becoming a computer nerd with an appetite for science fiction.    I dedicate this work to my father who inspired me as a child to dream the impossible.

STAR TRAVEL BY LIGHT WAVE!

Unfortunately, I don't believe humanity will travel to the stars inside normal size starships.    However, our dreams will come true, we will make it to the stars.    The real question we should be asking ourselves is, will we be the same human beings when we finally get there?

I believe we are first destined to digitize ourselves into cyberspace, then transmit redundantly at the speed of light to nearby star systems.    By using Microstarships employing nano technology and light sails, it should be possible to first send them ahead at near sub-light speeds, building receiver stations on the other side, waiting to receive transhumans, ageless, traveling on a beam of light. After that, we could engage ourselves studying the new alien solar system, or sleep until the next hop comes online.    Who knows what we will find? or become?   The options are nearly limitless as long as you free your mind and think outside of the box.

Enjoy,

-Michael Blade

Here is the first "VIDEO MASHUP SERIES".    By combining theses videos together in "gulps", you can learn about various ideas and be entertained...    Youtube does this through key tags, but I watch and filter each video for the mashup.

Every once in a while we look back on the futuristic dreams of the past and evaluate how accurate they were.    Laughing at the flying cars, video phones, household robots, and other naive notations.    Not realizing at the time the realities that would come about to effect those dreams.

My point is that when things look really bad, economically, with wars, pollution, and obvious global warming, its still nice to look back optimistically on how we saw things before.    Who knows?    Maybe all is not really lost, and we can still have these possibilities for our future...    So when you start to loose hope, watch the video and listen to the song (Donald Fagen, I.G.Y.), it works for me.

-Michael Blade