Jack Trembath Intermission 3-Story 3


As this book continues, it appears to be a case for a technology brought utopic future while based in a reality set against a more dystopic singularity-based future.  As Ibis’ intentions are unclear still, it is hard to tell if there is a darker motive behind these optimistic sci-fi pieces.  Story three specifically exemplifies the hope and possibility that the invention of Artificial Intelligence presents through the humanization of basic level artificial intelligence.  The ending quote says it all: “The era of machines coexisting with humans was just around the corner” (119).  But the fear of singularity remains an underlying theme throughout this story.  In the world outside of story three, humans and AI don’t coexist with each other, and the truth remains that the story tellers is to some degree a prisoner to machines.  Even in the story, there are concerns of technology and Magic Mirror making Asami and other users disconnected from reality and unable to communicate in person.  Beyond that, creating STRONG EYE is a universal matter of concern in which the fears of singularity and technology take over are limited by the government.  I think that this specific story highlighted humanity in an interesting way as well as pointing out the reflective nature of technology.  Magic Girl is a mirror in the sense that Asami is shaping who Shalice is by putting in her own information.  Shalice reflects Asami.  Seiya says, “It really makes you think just how difficult it is for people to nurture their humanity,” when discussing raising AI.  This understanding of humanity comes through the reflective mirror that artificial intelligence and computer technology can create.  Humans create technology, then place themselves in it, and technology runs with that information and sometimes humans come peering back out in magical ways.  Asami references this magic when referring to the coding work of Seiya as magical when fixing mirror girl.  It is beyond her understanding.                    

This first link is to Sky Mall which offers a range of gadgets that aim at making life “easier” and more convenient.  As a kid, I would look through these on airplanes and be fascinated with the great technology and the ways it was being used to make people’s lives better.  There was something optimistic and hopeful about these cool inventions.
https://skymall.com/

The next piece I chose is the film It’s a Wonderful Life which in my mind exemplifies the many “feel good” movies especially of the 1940s and 1950s.  This one has an especially optimistic conclusion at the end of a difficult, struggling protagonist’s story line.  It is the classic, cliché happy ending where everything works out.
Image result for ITs a Wonderful Life

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW6hFttt_KE
This is a link to the most recent iPhone X commercial.  Naturally optimism sells products, but this upbeat iPhone commercial shows the hopefulness surrounding technology and the potential it has to make peoples’ life better.  Often that is the selling point for new technology: this utopic hope of making everything more convenient and easy.

When thinking about “the glorious past of humans”, space travel and the moon landing came to mind.  This is a great example of the ability of humans to dream big and achieve those dreams through will power, intelligence, and collective work.  I chose this event because it was unprecedented, and it was an idea big enough to end disastrously, but it didn’t.
Image result for moon
I think the invention of the telephone by humans was a huge leap.  It was a technological advance that created communication on a new level and paved the way for many more useful and connecting technologies of communication and information.  To be able to reach someone at far distances without the inefficient letter system, changed the game for human beings.
Image result for telephone

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