Changes

In 2005, the inventor and futurist [http://singularity.com/aboutray.html Raymond Kurzweil] published [http://singularity.com/ The Singularity is Near], an expansion of his 1999 book ''The Age of Spiritual Machines'' which was itself a revised version of his 1987 book ''The Age of Intelligent Machines''.  Kurzweil's "Singularity" postulates that because technology is evolving at an exponential rate, an evolutionary leap that combines biology and technology is inevitable.  This will create a new concept of life, in which ''what we now think of as being reality'' will become increasingly interchangeable with ''virtual reality''.

In 2005, the inventor and futurist [http://singularity.com/aboutray.html Raymond Kurzweil] published [http://singularity.com/ The Singularity is Near], an expansion of his 1999 book ''The Age of Spiritual Machines'' which was itself a revised version of his 1987 book ''The Age of Intelligent Machines''.  Kurzweil's "Singularity" postulates that because technology is evolving at an exponential rate, an evolutionary leap that combines biology and technology is inevitable.  This will create a new concept of life, in which ''what we now think of as being reality'' will become increasingly interchangeable with ''virtual reality''.

The electronic musician [http://music.uoregon.edu/About/bios/stoletj.html Jeffrey Stolet] has used this type of machine-generated process as part of his compositional process, notably in his 2002 work for MIDI PIano and infrared sensors "Tokyo Lick".

The electronic musician [http://music.uoregon.edu/About/bios/stoletj.html Jeffrey Stolet] has used this type of machine-generated process as part of his compositional process, notably in his 2002 work for MIDI PIano and infrared sensors "Tokyo Lick".

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Stolet's work was [http://research.nii.ac.jp/~has/lecture/2006_09_12_stolet_intro.pdf explained] as follows :

Stolet's work was [http://research.nii.ac.jp/~has/lecture/2006_09_12_stolet_intro.pdf explained] as follows :

==Comments==

==Comments==

3 Responses       to “        The Singularity is near, but does it matter?       ”

3 Responses to “The Singularity is near, but does it matter?”

;Cedric

 

:Thanks for an interesting an well written piece, Paul.  Two points I see here that cannot be over-emphasized:  1) “crowdsourcing” as that term is used by the Web 2.0 “gurus” is in essence magical thinking; and  2) any technology that can be created by humans can be abused by humans, and nearly always is to one degree or another.  It is a gross delusion to assert that Web 2.0 offers humanity The Great Panacea for which people have pined throughout the ages.

Cedric    

;Gregory Kohs       

Thanks for an interesting an well written piece, Paul.  Two points I see here that cannot be over-emphasized:  1) “crowdsourcing” as that term is used by the Web 2.0 “gurus” is in essence magical thinking; and  2) any technology that can be created by humans can be abused by humans, and nearly always is to one degree or another.  It is a gross delusion to assert that Web 2.0 offers humanity The Great Panacea for which people have pined throughout the ages.

:Couple of thoughts hit me while reading this fascinating article.  First, I couldn’t believe that Jeffrey Stolet was manipulating his music — it sounded to me that it was entirely pre-recorded and just on “Play” mode.  I’m just curious what that same performance would have sounded like if he had just done something simple with his hands, like the Queen Elizabeth II wave.

 

:Second, Wehage says that musical composition is traditionally an elitist practice.  Really?  What about my 5-year-old daughter who makes up and sings a new song, just about every day?  Her composing sure seems accessible to her (and me).  Might you elaborate on what you meant there, Paul?

Gregory Kohs       

;Paul Wehage       

Couple of thoughts hit me while reading this fascinating article.  First, I couldn’t believe that Jeffrey Stolet was manipulating his music — it sounded to me that it was entirely pre-recorded and just on “Play” mode.  I’m just curious what that same performance would have sounded like if he had just done something simple with his hands, like the Queen Elizabeth II wave.

:I’ll try to get Jeffrey Stolet to comment on this, but the gestures do change the music.

 

:Secondly, about your daughter making up a tune every day: it sounds as if she’s got the composition bug. Kids don’t understand that making music is supposed to be difficult and just do it naturally (as it should be done). Your daughter sounds like a very talented young person.

Second, Wehage says that musical composition is traditionally an elitist practice.  Really?  What about my 5-year-old daughter who makes up and sings a new song, just about every day?  Her composing sure seems accessible to her (and me).  Might you elaborate on what you meant there, Paul?

:However, what happens when you start taking actual “music” lessons and the music teacher (who is getting paid big bucks to make it seem as playing or writing music is some huge magical thing, rather than a normal human activity) is that the idea that somehow music is only for old, dead, white guys and not for kids…read, “especially not for girls”.  This is, of course, hogwash.

 

:This is why it’s so important to really talk to your child’s first music teacher and make sure that this person is psychologically sound and not going to stop all of this great creativity.

Paul Wehage       

:(Of course, if it ever gets out that even kids can write music, then there goes my next commission….so keep this under your hat, if you would…)

I’ll try to get Jeffrey Stolet to comment on this, but the gestures do change the music.

 

Secondly, about your daughter making up a tune every day: it sounds as if she’s got the composition bug. Kids don’t understand that making music is supposed to be difficult and just do it naturally (as it should be done). Your daughter sounds like a very talented young person.

 

However, what happens when you start taking actual “music” lessons and the music teacher (who is getting paid big bucks to make it seem as playing or writing music is some huge magical thing, rather than a normal human activity) is that the idea that somehow music is only for old, dead, white guys and not for kids…read, “especially not for girls”.  This is, of course, hogwash.

 

This is why it’s so important to really talk to your child’s first music teacher and make sure that this person is psychologically sound and not going to stop all of this great creativity.

 

(Of course, if it ever gets out that even kids can write music, then there goes my next commission….so keep this under your hat, if you would…)