First of all, I want to thank you folks for not going nuts over that post I made. Most people can't see beyond next week and just can't consider the possibilities.
As to other feedback, mankind had very little technological growth for thousands of years. Yet as time has gone on, technology continues to move faster and faster.
In aerospace, let's look at the Wright Bros. back in 1903. WW! saw very slow aircraft - the first of which shot off their own propellers when the first guns were mounted. WWII saw significantly better a and faster aircraft. Then we moved into the jet age, which took us into space. Now they have drones with no pilots; most of which can be programmed to do certain tasks without further input. We also have full-scale unmanned aircraft, so no pilots get hurt. These aircraft have to know what's happening around them and make their best electronic "decisions" based on that data -- and we're just in the infancy of that now!
To say that technology is always going to need someone to dream up/engineer or to build the first one or to build the robots....that's absurd! As technology continues to advance, technology will be doing more and more of these tasks in the future. Eventually it will get to a point where there is no human interaction. At that point, we are simply "trusting" this faster, stronger and more adept technology.
I sort of agree that technology doesn't have any desire to "get ahead" right now - no consciousness - no ambition, but do you really think it's going to stay that way? In the aerospace example above, look how much more quickly things happened as technology advanced. Look now at, say, computers - a smart phone fits in your hand, yet can do MUCH more than the biggest, baddest computers from just a decade ago. ...A decade?? YES!! I was reading something that was showing how modern digital cameras only need to be the size of a microchip - lens and all. The ONLY reason they are as big as they are now is so we have something to hold onto.
Back when I started in the PC industry (beginning of Compaq Computers), there were 5 1/4" floppie drives that held very little data. 10 years ago, a 6 gig flash drive was impressive....and expensive. Now you can store in the terabytes on just a small chip. With 3D printers, many things are being made now that weren't even possible before. Soon, it will be possible for science to engineer (with the help of computers, of course) new viruses and such, then "print" them out. Already 3D printers are being used to print replacement bones for people. Don't even have to mention the 3D firearms - that's old news by now! Point is, as time goes on, technology is ever increasing in what it is capable of. Many computers are still working around the clock, while the human workers go home for the night. Right now, computers have to be programmed. ...Do you honestly believe this will always be?!?!?
Now to move into farming - there are more than a few folks out there who are actively working on making new technology happen - technology like walking up to a screen and telling the computer what you want for dinner, then the meal suddenly appears out of thin air. Yes, Star Trek. The cell phone came from that show, as did many other things. One day, could you imagine a world where "farming" is no longer even needed? When we can have technology that is so capable that it can create food out of thin air? Don't laugh! It will be here. Then all the farm land will be worth lots of money....to developers. One day people (the then-younger generations) will scoff at the idea of eating anything out of the ground. Yuck!! ...Some liquid from the inside of a cow? Puh-LEEZE!!
There are smart people out there trying to keep technology from having foothold on mankind, but eventually the shear size, power and scope of technology will far overtake anything we can even imagine today! One day, it won't be a matter of computers, or hydraulics, or power - one day it will simply be an all-integrated "technology" - one that can sense its surroundings and make its own choices. I hope it's true that we will have nothing to fear without this technology having drive or ambition. Still, so long as it's able to see the destructiveness of mankind, "IT" may decide there is a better way, and then make it happen.
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - Third Brush Generators - by Chris Pratt. While I love straightening sheet metal, cleaning, and painting old tractors, I use every excuse to avoid working on the on the electrics. I find the whole process sheer mystery. I have picked up and attempted to read every auto and farm electrics book with no improvement in the situation. They all seem to start with a chapter entitled "Theory of Electricity". After a few paragraphs I usually close the book and go back to banging out dents. A good friend and I were recently discussing our tractor electrical systems when he stated "I figure it all comes back to applying Ohms Law". At this point
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
1945 Farmall wide body gas with pto and front plow. Runs good but needs new points.
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
