Science Fiction Made Real

[Fenris]

Suppose that science achieves all these breakthroughs in the near future. Which, if any, would you choose for yourself? Assume that money is not an issue; amazingly enough, all these processes are cheap.

1. Ageless immortality. You can still die by accident, illness, or violence, but your physical age is fixed at its present state forever.

2. Genetic Engineering. The entire human genome is well-understood. You can design your child in every detail; or, just remove certain illnesses that they may be prone to. (Bear in mind, though: the child will be dealing with peers who have the very best in mental and physical genetics.)

3. Space Travel. You can leave for a space colony. It's a one-way trip, with a lifetime of hardship at the other end. On the good side, it's another planet!

4. The Holodeck. Just like in Star Trek. Virtual environments, objects, and artificial personalities, all programmed by you.

5. Sim Friends. Advances in Artificial Intelligence and human psychology allow the programming of customized friends. These AIs are designed to share your interests and accommodate your personality; and being AIs, they literally live their lives around you. Psychology has perfected the process: they are accurately designed to be the most compatible friends you could possibly have.

6. The Perfect Metabolism Pill. Eat whatever you want, whenever you want, and never exercise unless you feel like it. You'll have the body of a supermodel/olympic athlete anyway.

7. The Neural Implant. Close your eyes and web-browse. Have all the information you could possibly want on hand. Play video games inside your head. Record all your life into a permanent, reliable medium, far superior to neurological memory.

8. Brain Recording and Clone Replacement. Your brain can be thoroughly, accurately scanned, and the information stored. When you die, a cell sample is used to make a clone of you; and when it's old enough to receive it, the recording is imposed onto its brain, effectively bringing you back to life in a much-younger body.

õ
Just some thoughts I was thinking!

[Expletive Deleted]

I'll have a #1, with some #6 and #7 on the side. Hold the dystopia.

And could I get that to go? I've got a hover-bus to catch.

[Jack Zodiac]

I'll take a little ageless immortality with a side of brain recording and genetic engineering. I could have my brain downloaded, my body cloned and engineered, and my memory uploaded into it. That'd kick ass.

Also, space travel, neural implants, and a holodeck would be great. Get away from Earth, entertain myself in space.

Personally, and this may sound completely fucked up... but I'd love it if Earth's not-too-distant future was like Ellis' Transmet. Little god-like machines in your apartment to make whatever the hell you want. Glasses that hook you up to the Internet, television, and act as computer, audio/video recorder, and camera. Immortality via "foglets." Diarrhea guns. Who wouldn't love that future!?

[Jeff Brady]

I noticed a distinct lack of jet packs.

[Jack Zodiac]

I noticed a distinct lack of jet packs.

Air Jesus sneakers!

[Fenris]

I'll have a #1, with some #6 and #7 on the side. Hold the dystopia.

And could I get that to go? I've got a hover-bus to catch.

Hey, if you're running late, the time-booth is right there in the corner.


õ
I invented it next week!

[Fenris]

I noticed a distinct lack of jet packs.

Well, yeah; but who wouldn't want one? There's not even a mild dilemma there. Everyone likes jetpacks.

õ
That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

[Jeff Brady]

Diarrhea guns.

In Times Square on New Year's Eve, there were over 1,000 cases of bowel disruption. Only someone who hates you all so very much would commit such a despicable act.

[Fenris]

I'll take a little ageless immortality with a side of brain recording and genetic engineering. I could have my brain downloaded, my body cloned and engineered, and my memory uploaded into it. That'd kick ass.

Also, space travel, neural implants, and a holodeck would be great. Get away from Earth, entertain myself in space.

Umm.. you'd be going out into space to avoid visitors? Or because zero gravity is cool, and would be hard to achieve in a holodeck?

õ
At least, I can't see how they'd do it!

[Jeff Brady]

Air Jesus sneakers!

I would order such a ridiculous product for my own amusement.

[Jack Zodiac]

Umm.. you'd be going out into space to avoid visitors? Or because zero gravity is cool, and would be hard to achieve in a holodeck?

Yeah... zero gravity. It has nothing to do with the unusual things I'd do with a holodeck. Nothing at all...

[Jack Zodiac]

I would order such a ridiculous product for my own amusement.

"I am so incredibly bored that I will buy a pair of your ridiculous shoes. Look grateful."

[Magneto_X]

Well, yeah; but who wouldn't want one? There's not even a mild dilemma there. Everyone likes jetpacks.


Jetpacks have been made. Ever since the 40's or 50's. They work, too. But only for very short distances.

The reason they were never sold and/or used in mass quantities is because of the fuel. Oil can burn up *real* quick in them since there isn't much room for the fuel in such a small package.

Once scientists have discovered an alternate fuel source that is tiny yet has tremndous power will jetpacks have a future.

[Jeff Brady]

Thanks for the correction. It's been a while.

[Magneto_X]

Personally, and this may sound completely fucked up... but I'd love it if Earth's not-too-distant future was like Ellis' Transmet. Little god-like machines in your apartment to make whatever the hell you want. Glasses that hook you up to the Internet, television, and act as computer, audio/video recorder, and camera. Immortality via "foglets." Diarrhea guns. Who wouldn't love that future!?

The people who were shot by the bowel disruptors? :D

[Jack Zodiac]

Thanks for the correction. It's been a while.

That issue's burned into my memory, mostly because of the insane tirades he goes on when he forces talk show hosts to the brink of suicide. :p

[Fenris]

Yeah... zero gravity. It has nothing to do with the unusual things I'd do with a holodeck. Nothing at all...

I'm sure you could get soundproofed holodeck walls for a little extra, Jack.

õ
I'm just saying!

[Chou Blaster]

Holo Deck, as long the damn thing worked right.

[Fenris]

Jetpacks have been made. Ever since the 40's or 50's. They work, too. But only for very short distances.

The reason they were never sold and/or used in mass quantities is because of the fuel. Oil can burn up *real* quick in them since there isn't much room for the fuel in such a small package.

Once scientists have discovered an alternate fuel source that is tiny yet has tremndous power will jetpacks have a future.

I seem to remember reading that they have flying cars, too. At least, someone's designed a few working prototypes. But they're hideously uneconomical, for the kinds of reasons you mention.

õ
At least... today!

[Jeff Brady]

That issue's burned into my memory, mostly because of the insane tirades he goes on when he forces talk show hosts to the brink of suicide. :p

Fuck, now I gotta dig that up.

[Jack Zodiac]

Fuck, now I gotta dig that up.

"Who was that masked man armed only with phone tools?"

And I like the build-up to that from the first issue where Royce only allows him to use his phone for business because of an "incident" in Prague from six year back where he scolded a bunch of politicians into kill themselves. :p

There's a more believable goal! Voice-activated appliances. I wanna' tell my TV to channel surf for me and my telephone to autodial infomercial numbers and order shit for me.

[ragnarok_2012]

First off, I'd go for all this. Most esp. physical immortality.


5. Sim Friends. Advances in Artificial Intelligence and human psychology allow the programming of customized friends. These AIs are designed to share your interests and accommodate your personality; and being AIs, they literally live their lives around you. Psychology has perfected the process: they are accurately designed to be the most compatible friends you could possibly have.
õ
Just some thoughts I was thinking!

My Kidnapster-programmed android would have the brain patterns of Lucy Liu.

[Mike Smash!]

Knowing my luck, if I went into space, I'd end up here:

http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Film/Pix/pictures/2005/06/21/apesAAA.jpg

IT'S A MAD HOUSE!! A MAD HOOOOUSE!!!

[moebius]

All this stuff is a no brainer to me, except perhaps for space travel (I hate to fly, so I can't see how I'd enjoy flying in space) and a metabolism pill (I've already got a ridiculously good metabolism).

[Lex]

"Sex with robots" should be on your list. That would be awesome.

Hey, it's not cheating if it's with a robot.

[thehod]

We'll have a bit of holodecks please.

I like playing x-wing. With a holodeck I could really play x-wing.

[Chris Nowlin]

1. Ageless immortality.

2. Genetic Engineering.

3. Space Travel. You can leave for a space colony. It's a one-way trip, with a lifetime of hardship at the other end. On the good side, it's another planet!

4. The Holodeck.

5. Sim Friends. Advances in Artificial Intelligence and human psychology allow the programming of customized friends. These AIs are designed to share your interests and accommodate your personality; and being AIs, they literally live their lives around you. Psychology has perfected the process: they are accurately designed to be the most compatible friends you could possibly have.

6. The Perfect Metabolism Pill.

7. The Neural Implant. Close your eyes and web-browse. Have all the information you could possibly want on hand. Play video games inside your head. Record all your life into a permanent, reliable medium, far superior to neurological memory.

8. Brain Recording and Clone Replacement. Y

õ
Just some thoughts I was thinking!



Is this like McDonalds?

I'll have a #3 without the hardship.

And one #4 without the Moriarty going insane and coming to life.

Definitely a #7.

Do you by chance have any robot slaves? Because I don't see it on the menu.

Yeah, kind of like #5, but more slave than friend. Is that possible? Yeah, please ask the manager.



As far as most of the advances, they're only cool when it's just me. Immortality would be cool. I'd invest all my money, and see how much interest I earn over a few centuries. No good if everyone does that. And even if I could genetically engineer my progeny, the other guy would probably just make his kid even stronger and even more of a bully. And besides, as Gattaca taught us:


There is no gene for the human spirit!






You know, I want a trademark signature posting style like you have. Or Cei-U. Or Paradox with his quoting style. I'll work on that.

[Chris Nowlin]

I'll have a #1, with some #6 and #7 on the side. Hold the dystopia.

And could I get that to go? I've got a hover-bus to catch.

I'll take a little ageless immortality with a side of brain recording and genetic engineering. I could have my brain downloaded, my body cloned and engineered, and my memory uploaded into it. That'd kick ass.

...




Shit, I thought my McDonalds joke was funny, but it was waaay late. Always read post 2 before replying. Always read post 2 before replying...

Knowing my luck, if I went into space, I'd end up here:

http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Film/Pix/pictures/2005/06/21/apesAAA.jpg

IT'S A MAD HOUSE!! A MAD HOOOOUSE!!!


Wait a minute. Statue of Liberty... That was our planet! You maniacs! You blew it up! Damn you! Damn you all to hell!

"Sex with robots" should be on your list. That would be awesome.

Hey, it's not cheating if it's with a robot.

Or, just sex.

I'd like to live in a fantastic future where I have sex. Ahhh... the limits of the human imagination.

[Iangould]

Go with the immortality and eventually all the other stuff will be invented and become cheap enough for everyone to afford.

[twilight]

Some two,six and seven for me thanks.

[Solaris]

"Sex with robots" should be on your list. That would be awesome.

Hey, it's not cheating if it's with a robot.


Brings whole new meaning to "lube the chassis", doesn't it? "Oooo, don't touch that chick---she's a quart low."

[Ed Cunard]

#7 is the only one I would be interested in.

[Winslow]

4. The Holodeck. Just like in Star Trek. Virtual environments, objects, and artificial personalities, all programmed by you.

I'll have this.

Although I'd probably get addicted.

[Dreadstar]

I'll take 'em all but number 1 and maybe number 2. I don't want to be 50 forever. I'd rather jump into a Dread at 18-22 body, then maybe drink from the fountain. And I don't know if I'd want a "perfect" child.

Here's how I'd go about it, I guess.

I'd pop a recording into the clone body (the real me can do whatever, I guess grow old and die.) I'd take the neural implant, the metabolism fix and the immortality drug then I'd take the next ship out to the farthest colony, and along the way I'd be entertained by the Sim life from the full-ship holodeck. I'd wear the Bridget Fonda loop out, though.

[Tadhg Adams]

#7 is the only one I would be interested in.


Wussy! I want them all!

[Tadhg Adams]

The real me can do whatever, I guess grow old and die.


I love that you're so cavalier about yourself.

[Green Lantern wannabe]

I'd go with ageless immortality, with neural implants and clone replacement following closely behind.

[Dreadstar]

I love that you're so cavalier about yourself.

Look at it this way:

I'm(he's) running off to the stars, immortal. I(me) will never experience that, unless I want to be 50 forever. And I might, I guess. But now that I(him) will live on, I(me) can drink myself to death and throw myself into every destructive vice known to man!


Win-win!

[Tadhg Adams]

I'd use 8,5,2,1 to create an army of immortal subservient clones of myself.

[Dreadstar]

I'd use 8,5,2,1 to create an army of immortal subservient clones of myself.

If you used 8, they'd rebel at you calling them subservient.

The army would destroy itself from within in a power struggle.

At least it would be entertaining. Pass the popcorn.

[Tadhg Adams]

If you used 8, they'd rebel at you calling them subservient.

The army would destroy itself from within in a power struggle.

At least it would be entertaining. Pass the popcorn.

That's where the 5 comes in, some slight modifications to the brain recording using AI algorithms and voila!

[Sgt. Preston]

I'll take #1, #4, #6, and #8. Of course with all these inventions we'll need that other planet to colonize with the overpopulation issues that result from these breakthroughs.

[Dreadstar]

That's where the 5 comes in, some slight modifications to the brain recording using AI algorithms and voila!

Nicely played.

The only other downside I can see is a shortage of your favorite alcohol.

[Nate Grey]

Suppose that science achieves all these breakthroughs in the near future. Which, if any, would you choose for yourself? Assume that money is not an issue; amazingly enough, all these processes are cheap.

1. Ageless immortality. You can still die by accident, illness, or violence, but your physical age is fixed at its present state forever.

Freddy Murcury said it best: Who Wants To Live Forever? I know its unpopular, but I think I'd pass on this one.

2. Genetic Engineering.

Pass...

3. Space Travel. You can leave for a space colony. It's a one-way trip, with a lifetime of hardship at the other end. On the good side, it's another planet!

When you put it that way: pass. I do like the idea of space travel, though, as long as I have the ability to return to Earth.


4. The Holodeck. Just like in Star Trek. Virtual environments, objects, and artificial personalities, all programmed by you.

Heck yeah on this one.

5. Sim Friends. Advances in Artificial Intelligence and human psychology allow the programming of customized friends. These AIs are designed to share your interests and accommodate your personality; and being AIs, they literally live their lives around you. Psychology has perfected the process: they are accurately designed to be the most compatible friends you could possibly have.

Now, do you mean like robots or androids here? Or some sort of clone/man-made human whose brain can be mapped to my whim? This one is actually pretty tempting, but ultimately...pass.

6. The Perfect Metabolism Pill. Eat whatever you want, whenever you want, and never exercise unless you feel like it. You'll have the body of a supermodel/olympic athlete anyway.

Eh...why not. I'd still exercise, though.

7. The Neural Implant. Close your eyes and web-browse. Have all the information you could possibly want on hand. Play video games inside your head. Record all your life into a permanent, reliable medium, far superior to neurological memory.

Too creepy to me. Pass.

8. Brain Recording and Clone Replacement. Your brain can be thoroughly, accurately scanned, and the information stored. When you die, a cell sample is used to make a clone of you; and when it's old enough to receive it, the recording is imposed onto its brain, effectively bringing you back to life in a much-younger body.

See answer to #1.

[Iangould]

Of course with all these inventions we'll need that other planet to colonize with the overpopulation issues that result from these breakthroughs.

Nah, that's where the holodecks and sex-droids come in.

[Paul McEnery]

1. Ageless immortality. You can still die by accident, illness, or violence, but your physical age is fixed at its present state forever.

Roll me back ten years, and I'm all over that. Well, so long as it's only the telomeres that we're fixing.


2. Genetic Engineering. The entire human genome is well-understood. You can design your child in every detail; or, just remove certain illnesses that they may be prone to. (Bear in mind, though: the child will be dealing with peers who have the very best in mental and physical genetics.)

Such limited thinking! Every now and again, I wanna be gengineered with different characteristics!

For Xmas, I want to be a walking cactus.

3. Space Travel. You can leave for a space colony. It's a one-way trip, with a lifetime of hardship at the other end. On the good side, it's another planet!

Someone's gotta replace that wimp Michel. I'm there!

4. The Holodeck. Just like in Star Trek. Virtual environments, objects, and artificial personalities, all programmed by you.

5. Sim Friends. Advances in Artificial Intelligence and human psychology allow the programming of customized friends. These AIs are designed to share your interests and accommodate your personality; and being AIs, they literally live their lives around you. Psychology has perfected the process: they are accurately designed to be the most compatible friends you could possibly have.

I have enough difficulty getting people to be real as it is. Pass.

However, if we get to the point of growing minds even more interesting than ours, let's go.

6. The Perfect Metabolism Pill. Eat whatever you want, whenever you want, and never exercise unless you feel like it. You'll have the body of a supermodel/olympic athlete anyway.

I already have the body of a supermodel/olympic athlete. One who's spent all his life eating junk food and drinking too much, but still. If I wanted to be in shape, I'd exercise.

7. The Neural Implant. Close your eyes and web-browse. Have all the information you could possibly want on hand. Play video games inside your head. Record all your life into a permanent, reliable medium, far superior to neurological memory.

You know, I bet this works a whole let less well than you'd think. There's a reason the brain settled on an 8-bit short term memory system. It's the right balance of stuff you need to concentrate on and processing costs. And there's only so much of that info you can handle without keeping multiple windows open or stacks of books.

You might be able to function well with an exocortex, but it'd pretty much exist outside of any biological core identity, I think.

8. Brain Recording and Clone Replacement. Your brain can be thoroughly, accurately scanned, and the information stored. When you die, a cell sample is used to make a clone of you; and when it's old enough to receive it, the recording is imposed onto its brain, effectively bringing you back to life in a much-younger body.


Never really got the point of that. I mean, if you're running a virtual brain, it might as well stay that way.

[FBHthelizardmage]

I'd do all but the holodeck and space travel.

I like my comforts, and holodecks are monsterously unsafe, But I love the idea of super diet pills, neural implants, genetic engineering and imortality.

What I'm really waiting for though is cornocopia machines. It shouldn't be long though.

I wonder if they'll be singularity within my life time. I'm betting yes

[MJC]

All of them except for 3 (life of hardship, no way) and 5.