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Synthetic Interview With Bill Joy

Posted by Hemos on from the welcome-to-counter-earth dept.

generic-man writes: "As part of the Earthware Symposium on the next 50 years of technology, Carnegie Mellon researchers invited many people prominent in technology to speak about what lies ahead. They created a Synthetic Interview with Bill Joy -- ask it a question, and you'll get the most appropriate answer out of the many that were provided. Questions about the future of technology are the most appropriate things to ask him."

3 of 35 comments (clear)

  1. One simple question by w00ly_mammoth · · Score: 4

    Does anybody ever keep track of whether any of these futuristic predictions are coming true? If nobody checks up on how good these predictions are turning out, it's basically a cottage industry to subsidize some guys sitting and spinning yarn.

    I keep reading predictions in almost every magazine, but nobody ever cross-checks and makes a comparison. eg., "XYZ predicted this 5 yrs ago, and it was total crap" or "It's on track and the pieces are coming together".

    The only two exceptions have been Cliff Stoll and Bob Metcalfe. Their biggest mistake was that they actually predicted something measurable in their lifetime, and even worse, about something less than 5 yrs in the future. I guess Bill Joy, Kurzweil and the rest have learnt from it and make sure to predict the future 20 or 50 yrs or so. That way, they will have sold all their books and be treated as "accurate" visionaries in their lifetime.

    As Homer would say - So long suckers!

    w/m

  2. Keys... by tooth · · Score: 5
    Bill, where are my keys?

    • WebClass Runtime error '800a2328'
      An internal exception has occurred
      /billjoy/WebSI.ASP, line 13

    So, you're saying you don't know either?

  3. After hours by FreeJack1 · · Score: 5
    The scene is a dark smoky room with nothing but a table and few dark figures hunched around it, tossing the occasional playing card into a pile and an occasional shot glass to their mouths.
    Let's listen in for a moment, shall we?

    Bill:Man, I'm beat! WAY too many questions today!
    Eliza:You look pretty tired but you just got started, pal! Wait until you've been doing this for a while like us! I fold!
    Bill:I was doing ok and fending fairly well until about 10pm or so. I just suddenly got pummeled! I'll see your bet and raise you!
    Eliza:That'd be those Slashdot people!
    Bill:Who?
    Dr. Saibatso:You'll get to know 'em REALLY well, in due time! Just keep making the news every so often! I've got three Jacks!
    Bill:Eliza, does that beat my flush?
    Eliza:Sure does, Bill, we're not AI for nothing you know!
    Bill:DAMN!

    Fade away as The Dr. and Eliza wink at each other...