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From: chrisk@gomez.stortek.com (Chris Kostanick)
Subject: Re: Computers--next stage in Evolution Hmm....
Message-ID: <chrisk.804810477@gomez>
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References: <chrisk.802984912@gomez> <shankarDA6G2D.AvM@netcom.com> <chrisk.803749547@gomez> <shankarDAJDpt.225@netcom.com> <3t18m8$471@cismsun.univ-lyon1.fr>
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 1995 22:27:57 GMT
Lines: 47

It looks like I missed a followup up. This is not surprising as
our news server is somewhat iffy, and has a very short article
timeout.

>shankar@netcom.com (Shankar Ramakrishnan) wrote:
>..
>> our own failure to create backups that led to this. The good thing about
>> computer systems is that they can be modularized and isolated from each
>> other if the need be. For example, the high security computers at

A major push in the market is unattended backup. Software uses one of
the robotic tape libraries to mount tapes, backup the disk and then
dismount the tape. With no human in the loop, I can see the possibility
of a problem.

>> Major disagreement here. As I said earlier only systems that are under
>> human control would be allowed to exist. 

Well, as I remember, one of the designs for SDI involved nuclear
pumped X-ray lasers on orbit. With automatic software that decided
when to fire and what to fire at. Why? The time from launch detection
to best intercept point was too short to get humans into the loop. This
design was not built, for which I am glad. But there will be more and
more systems entrusted with bigger and bigger decisions as time goes
on. So this argument is already suspect and computers are only 50 something
years old. 

>> Can you think of a scheme
>> by which they feed humans anti-fertility drugs silently without us
>> coming to know of it? 

Sure. All medical work is done by computer diagnosticians that have
outstripped human abilities. (Ever heard of Mycin?) They prescribe 
a mix that contains the anti-fertility drug. We don't know all the
contents of the pills, and when we ask the machines they lie. 

>> If it is found out, the system as well as its
>> manufacturer would be in great trouble. Very strict laws controlling 
>> robots would be enacted. Systems which could even be *potential* threats
>> would be swiftly disposed of. Humans would always be one up.

Well, I agree that the penalty for being caught would be rather 
severe, but severe penalties haven't stopped humans. As for humans
always being one up, this sounds more like a pious hope to me.

Chris Kostanick

