The extinction of the human race

[Stickyfingers]

Overpopulation due to technology will probably get us. By this, I mean nanotechnology (or even smaller in the future) and the ability to artificially produce white blood cells and tons of other different cells. If WBC's are continually available and there is never a shortage, people could begin living 400-500 years longer. I have even heard that the life expectancy could be live 900 in the next 60 years or so.

http://www.nanotech-now.com/Art_Gallery/tim-fonseca.htm

Of course, this tech is still being worked on and isn't really a reality yet, but I could see it becoming huge eventually....maybe the first step into seemlessly integrating humans with computers? Who knows.

[pickled_heretic]

Ironically, almost every nation who would have access to technology like this has a declining population and a birth rate at below replacement levels.

[Omnimorph]

Originally Posted by pickled_heretic [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Ironically, almost every nation who would have access to technology like this has a declining population and a birth rate at below replacement levels.

I offer my services to solve this situation. My only condition... no fat chicks.

[You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

[Stickyfingers]

Originally Posted by pickled_heretic [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Ironically, almost every nation who would have access to technology like this has a declining population and a birth rate at below replacement levels.

This is true. However, that doesn't mean the immigration rates to these countries is going down, or the while population for that matter. If the U.S. or Japan (U.S. has the largest # of immigrants in the world, U.S. gains more immigrants than all of the other countries in the world combined....Japan has a negative birthrate) were the only countries to obtain this technology, I think people from all over the world would probably immigrate to get it.

[pickled_heretic]

Originally Posted by Stickyfingers [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

This is true. However, that doesn't mean the immigration to these countries is going down, or the while population for that matter. If the U.S. or Japan (negative birthrate for Japan) were the only countries to obtain this technology, I think people from all over the world would probably immigrate to get it.

I'm sure this hypothetical therapy would become exorbitantly expensive, even if it didn't start out like that. The gross uneven distribution of capital in these two countries would guarantee that only a select few would have access to the treatment. Human rights issues would obviously develop which could easily result in violent class struggle (thus reducing the population).

[Stickyfingers]

Originally Posted by pickled_heretic [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I'm sure this hypothetical therapy would become exorbitantly expensive, even if it didn't start out like that. The gross uneven distribution of capital in these two countries would guarantee that only a select few would have access to the treatment. Human rights issues would obviously develop which could easily result in violent class struggle (thus reducing the population).

Well, I don't forsee it being a "Therapy" as much as it would become a way of life. I could see nanochips being implanted into every newborn that could monitor heartrate, BP, cell count, etc. and instantly upload it for access every second of the day 24/7.

Imagine perfect preventative medicine because you no longer have to go to the doctor to see whats wrong, your doctor already knows what is wrong, because the exact instant there was a problem, it was already available for him to see and could be cured by other bots within your body.

The ability to identify and zap cancer cells at any moment in time and if its uncurable by bots, at least you know what you have before its too late.

[pickled_heretic]

Originally Posted by Stickyfingers [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Well, I don't forsee it being a "Therapy" as much as it would become a way of life. I could see nanochips being implanted into every newborn that could monitor heartrate, BP, cell count, etc. and instantly upload it for access every second of the day 24/7.

Imagine perfect preventative medicine because you no longer have to go to the doctor to see whats wrong, your doctor already knows what is wrong, because the exact instant there was a problem, it was already available for him to see and could be cured by other bots within your body.

The ability to identify and zap cancer cells at any moment in time and if its uncurable by bots, at least you know what you have before its too late.

Lol, what precedents do you have to think that this would become a "way of life?" all life-extending therapies are considered not necessary and aren't covered by any univeral health care plan or insurer in any country now, why would it be different for this? When you look at what kind of care you can get at a clinic or hospital, you can go there to get something fixed if something isn't working properly, and that's about it. I'm positive based on past history that this would become an expensive elective operation and people who couldn't afford it would get pissed.

[Stickyfingers]

Originally Posted by pickled_heretic [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Lol, what precedents do you have to think that this would become a "way of life?" all life-extending therapies are considered not necessary and aren't covered by any univeral health care plan or insurer in any country now, why would it be different for this? When you look at what kind of care you can get at a clinic or hospital, you can go there to get something fixed if something isn't working properly, and that's about it. I'm positive based on past history that this would become an expensive elective operation and people who couldn't afford it would get pissed.

Really? Last time I checked Open Heart Surgery is covered by insurance and pretty much any other life threatening disease....and last time I checked, when they cure these things it extends your life? Also, it's not covered by insurance because it doesn't exist yet. Why wouldn't insurance companies want this anyways?


It costs them shitloads when people have large and expensive surgeries, if they could monitor people to prevent the need for the surgeries it would save them a ton of money. This would take a lot of pressure off the healthcare system as a whole since there wouldn't be suprises (unless new disease arises).



Also, Omnimorph, this isn't what I want to occur, living for 900 years would suck frankly. This is merely what I believe is very possible to occur with technological advances being the way they have been.

[Taxi]

Originally Posted by Stickyfingers [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Well, I don't forsee it being a "Therapy" as much as it would become a way of life. I could see nanochips being implanted into every newborn that could monitor heartrate, BP, cell count, etc. and instantly upload it for access every second of the day 24/7.

Imagine perfect preventative medicine because you no longer have to go to the doctor to see whats wrong, your doctor already knows what is wrong, because the exact instant there was a problem, it was already available for him to see and could be cured by other bots within your body.

The ability to identify and zap cancer cells at any moment in time and if its uncurable by bots, at least you know what you have before its too late.

I was saying this as a possibly interesting development of medecine to a friend of mine, and he said something to me that still resonates hard, made me reflect how we are still monkeys playing god and sometimes not calculating well the risks associated with technology.

What he told me was: "What happens if some catastrophy happens and humans lose the capacity to produce these medical nanobots? What happens to an immune system which had things done for it for generations? Will it be in a decrepit state and our bodies have forgotten how to fight against outside interference on its own?"

So many aspects of technology and pollution these days makes us guinea pigs in a test tube. Global warming, eating strawberries crossed with fish genes. I think often the ethics of technology are not considered, and as we become more technologically advanced the consequences will be potentially exponentially dangerous to play around with. I think it would be a fatal mistake to let corporations play god like that without ethical supervision and legislation, we can already see as an example of what can happen when they are given a free rein, in the gulf of mexico right now.

But i guess they can just go in poor countries and evade all these regulations...

Hudson: [after the drop ship crash] That's great, this is really fuckin' great, man. Now, what the fuck are we supposed to do? We're in some pretty shit now, man.
Hicks: [Grabs him by the shirt] Are you finished?
Newt: Guess we're not gonna make it, are we?
Ripley: I'm sorry, Newt.
Newt: Don't be sorry, it wasn't your fault.
Hudson: That's it, man. Game over, man. Game over, what the fuck are we supposed to now, huh, what are we gonna do?
Burke: Maybe we can build a fire, sing a couple of songs, huh, how about we try that.
Newt: We gotta get inside. It's gonna be dark soon, and they mostly hunt at night. Mostly.

[Stickyfingers]

Originally Posted by Taxi [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I was saying this as a possibly interesting development of medecine to a friend of mine, and he said something to me that still resonates hard, made me reflect how we are still monkeys playing god and sometimes not calculating well the risks associated with technology.

What he told me was: "What happens if some catastrophy happens and humans lose the capacity to produce these medical nanobots? What happens to an immune system which had things done for it for generations? Will it be in a decrepit state and our bodies have forgotten how to fight against outside interference on its own?"

So many aspects of technology and pollution these days makes us guinea pigs in a test tube. Global warming, eating strawberries crossed with fish genes. I think often the ethics of technology are not considered, and as we become more technologically advanced the consequences will be potentially exponentially dangerous to play around with. I think it would be a fatal mistake to let corporations play god like that without ethical supervision and legislation, we can already see as an example of what can happen when they are given a free rein, in the gulf of mexico right now.

But i guess they can just go in poor countries and evade all these regulations...

Hudson: [after the drop ship crash] That's great, this is really fuckin' great, man. Now, what the fuck are we supposed to do? We're in some pretty shit now, man.
Hicks: [Grabs him by the shirt] Are you finished?
Newt: Guess we're not gonna make it, are we?
Ripley: I'm sorry, Newt.
Newt: Don't be sorry, it wasn't your fault.
Hudson: That's it, man. Game over, man. Game over, what the fuck are we supposed to now, huh, what are we gonna do?
Burke: Maybe we can build a fire, sing a couple of songs, huh, how about we try that.
Newt: We gotta get inside. It's gonna be dark soon, and they mostly hunt at night. Mostly.

Very good points. Looking at micro evolution and the effect that technology has/might have on humans is really interesting to look at. I think your cell counts would remain the same as they are when you began using this technology. The thing is, creating cells is an automatic response by your body, when you get a cold or virus, your body begins to pump out large amounts of WBC's and other things, so the question would be, would your body eventually cease to do this, because it already has a sufficient amount? Or would it still see it as a threat and create even more?

Also, genetic crossing is more of a Biological innovation, I think we can only do so much in terms of Biology because I think there are limits, but technology is wide open IMO.

Also, perhaps we could change evolution? Create nanotech that talks with your body, so when something happens, it sends a signal to your lymphnods to release more lymphocytes? Imagine if we could match this signal with what your Brain sends, you could essentially keep your body taught what it needs to do with false signaling.