Starlog IV-VII. Stardate 2.29.2020
Hello friends! I've gotten a little behind due to life things, but I am determined to finish this course within the allotted time. So here we are! I thought I would put all the Starlogs I'm behind on into one post
STARLOG IV
"What star trek technology is on your list of must haves? could the star trek universe exist without this type of tech? Would it be better or worse with or without this tech.
I have to agree with the video- I would really love to have a transporter. It would be the best thing to be able to transport across thousands of miles in a matter of seconds. I think the Star Trek Universe could exist without this tech- there have been a few instances where they have had to, if I recall correctly. It does undoubtedly make their jobs better and easier- while other methods of transport are possible, this tech makes it so that they don't have to land a massive star ship on every planet they come to. It also significantly decreases the time they have to take to get on or off of those planets or bases.
With the exception of the transporter, however, I am constantly amazed at how much Star Trek tech is taken for granted these days because we have it in real life! Of COURSE it makes sense to have direct, wireless communication to the ship in the form of communicators, to have wireless technology to help with study, exploration, science, and medicine, even to have doors that whoosh open when you walk towards them. It blows my mind that none of that existed then, though! The writers and creators had to make those, if not the physical reality of them, the idea and vision of them. It's so common today to have a cellphone, to have ipads, to have automatic doors! Isn't it wild to imagine being the creators of Star Trek when that just didn't exist and so someone just thought it up!
STARLOG V
Where do you see artificial intelligence going? Will it be Data, the Doctor, or something new? Do we need to fear it, embrace it, or something in between?
Artificial intelligence has already come so far, and gone in a lot of different directions. I do enjoy the AI robots that physically imitate humans- they're both fascinating and a little unsettling, if I'm honest. As for whether we should fear it or embrace it, I think a little of both is the healthiest option. That is not to say that I think AI's are inherently to be feared, BUT they are created by and used for the purposes of humans. They are only as trustworthy as the people making and controlling them, and that can, of course, vary wildly.
On one hand, this tech is so innovative, and can do so many good things for so many people, whether that is simplicity and convenience, or something that can be life-changing for people with disabilities. Tech like this can be and has been developed for people with all kinds of limitations, and I think that's incredible! On the other hand, as I'm sure many people are aware, it also results in so much personal information potentially being mined. I don't know if there is a good answer, to be honest-I think some people need this tech, and with continuous development it can be such an amazing resource- but there's also always the risk of invasion to personal lives and information.
STARLOG VI
Think of a global issue that we are facing today that causes fear or concern. what would be the plot of a television show that depicted a utopian and optimistic vision of the future of that issue?
One obvious global issue that we're facing is that of climate change. While this is only partially social and much more physical, I would love to see an optimistic future take on this issue. The plot could be something like: a small portion of the globe that has survived/thrived within a limited ecosystem that is helping the rest of the world rebuild from the inevitable problems already arising from climate change. In an educational spin, it could tackle each individual aspect of climate change- melting ice caps, unpredictable/wild storms in places like the Gulf of Mexico and the midwest. Melting permafrost and the various objects and bacterial elements that are being thawed along with it. I like the idea of taking a major global issue ( and there are SO many) and addressing it in a way that doesn't make you feel hopeless. Knowing the consequences of the current course is so important, and acknowledging and even "throwing it in people's faces" does have value- if they're not concerned, why would anything change- but there is also value in tackling it from an angle of "okay, what can we do to fix it, what can we do so that the future doesn't look so bleak."
STARLOG VII
At the end of the video Margaret says that space exploration was controversial in the 70's and 80's. People wondered why the govt was spending time and money exploring the solar system when critical problems existed here on earth. What do you think? should the government resolve earthly issues before exploring space? or is a scientific investigation of distant worlds a fundamentally human endeavor of exploration? explain your argument
That is actually kind of a hard question for me. One side of my brain, the hard logical side says that space is cool but we have more immediate needs to address. That's not even to say that space exploration and NASA's current endeavors should stop, it's more that they can continue on as they are but perhaps additional effort doesn't need to be put into those programs. We've survived this long not knowing the things we don't know about space, we'll probably be fine if it takes a little longer to do more. There are things that could benefit from the money and effort that could go to NASA that might help people in a more immediate way.
The other side of my brain loves the idea of exploration and discovery. I think it might really be an inherent part of human nature to be drawn towards the unknown and the potential for "new life and new civilizations," or even just some cool, new, science stuff. There's a lot to be said for things that aren't "strictly necessary." Art, reading, music, dancing, media, even arguably this class, aren't things you will die without. But they do enrich your life to be worth living, they do increase mental health, and they excite. Space exploration is less "arts and humanities," but it awakens the same kind of wonder, and can actually lead to things that benefit humanity both scientifically and in that more emotional sense.
I do think that if we can help someone now, we should do it. I don't know that that is mutually exclusive of continuing or expanding NASA's current work. There are certainly other places national budgets could be altered. Maybe these two possibilities, space or welfare, don't even have to be in the same discussion. I do think further exploration, physical and research/experiment- based has a lot of value, and we shouldn't abandon it, in any case.
Hello friends! I've gotten a little behind due to life things, but I am determined to finish this course within the allotted time. So here we are! I thought I would put all the Starlogs I'm behind on into one post
STARLOG IV
"What star trek technology is on your list of must haves? could the star trek universe exist without this type of tech? Would it be better or worse with or without this tech.
I have to agree with the video- I would really love to have a transporter. It would be the best thing to be able to transport across thousands of miles in a matter of seconds. I think the Star Trek Universe could exist without this tech- there have been a few instances where they have had to, if I recall correctly. It does undoubtedly make their jobs better and easier- while other methods of transport are possible, this tech makes it so that they don't have to land a massive star ship on every planet they come to. It also significantly decreases the time they have to take to get on or off of those planets or bases.
With the exception of the transporter, however, I am constantly amazed at how much Star Trek tech is taken for granted these days because we have it in real life! Of COURSE it makes sense to have direct, wireless communication to the ship in the form of communicators, to have wireless technology to help with study, exploration, science, and medicine, even to have doors that whoosh open when you walk towards them. It blows my mind that none of that existed then, though! The writers and creators had to make those, if not the physical reality of them, the idea and vision of them. It's so common today to have a cellphone, to have ipads, to have automatic doors! Isn't it wild to imagine being the creators of Star Trek when that just didn't exist and so someone just thought it up!
STARLOG V
Where do you see artificial intelligence going? Will it be Data, the Doctor, or something new? Do we need to fear it, embrace it, or something in between?
Artificial intelligence has already come so far, and gone in a lot of different directions. I do enjoy the AI robots that physically imitate humans- they're both fascinating and a little unsettling, if I'm honest. As for whether we should fear it or embrace it, I think a little of both is the healthiest option. That is not to say that I think AI's are inherently to be feared, BUT they are created by and used for the purposes of humans. They are only as trustworthy as the people making and controlling them, and that can, of course, vary wildly.
On one hand, this tech is so innovative, and can do so many good things for so many people, whether that is simplicity and convenience, or something that can be life-changing for people with disabilities. Tech like this can be and has been developed for people with all kinds of limitations, and I think that's incredible! On the other hand, as I'm sure many people are aware, it also results in so much personal information potentially being mined. I don't know if there is a good answer, to be honest-I think some people need this tech, and with continuous development it can be such an amazing resource- but there's also always the risk of invasion to personal lives and information.
STARLOG VI
Think of a global issue that we are facing today that causes fear or concern. what would be the plot of a television show that depicted a utopian and optimistic vision of the future of that issue?
One obvious global issue that we're facing is that of climate change. While this is only partially social and much more physical, I would love to see an optimistic future take on this issue. The plot could be something like: a small portion of the globe that has survived/thrived within a limited ecosystem that is helping the rest of the world rebuild from the inevitable problems already arising from climate change. In an educational spin, it could tackle each individual aspect of climate change- melting ice caps, unpredictable/wild storms in places like the Gulf of Mexico and the midwest. Melting permafrost and the various objects and bacterial elements that are being thawed along with it. I like the idea of taking a major global issue ( and there are SO many) and addressing it in a way that doesn't make you feel hopeless. Knowing the consequences of the current course is so important, and acknowledging and even "throwing it in people's faces" does have value- if they're not concerned, why would anything change- but there is also value in tackling it from an angle of "okay, what can we do to fix it, what can we do so that the future doesn't look so bleak."
STARLOG VII
At the end of the video Margaret says that space exploration was controversial in the 70's and 80's. People wondered why the govt was spending time and money exploring the solar system when critical problems existed here on earth. What do you think? should the government resolve earthly issues before exploring space? or is a scientific investigation of distant worlds a fundamentally human endeavor of exploration? explain your argument
That is actually kind of a hard question for me. One side of my brain, the hard logical side says that space is cool but we have more immediate needs to address. That's not even to say that space exploration and NASA's current endeavors should stop, it's more that they can continue on as they are but perhaps additional effort doesn't need to be put into those programs. We've survived this long not knowing the things we don't know about space, we'll probably be fine if it takes a little longer to do more. There are things that could benefit from the money and effort that could go to NASA that might help people in a more immediate way.
The other side of my brain loves the idea of exploration and discovery. I think it might really be an inherent part of human nature to be drawn towards the unknown and the potential for "new life and new civilizations," or even just some cool, new, science stuff. There's a lot to be said for things that aren't "strictly necessary." Art, reading, music, dancing, media, even arguably this class, aren't things you will die without. But they do enrich your life to be worth living, they do increase mental health, and they excite. Space exploration is less "arts and humanities," but it awakens the same kind of wonder, and can actually lead to things that benefit humanity both scientifically and in that more emotional sense.
I do think that if we can help someone now, we should do it. I don't know that that is mutually exclusive of continuing or expanding NASA's current work. There are certainly other places national budgets could be altered. Maybe these two possibilities, space or welfare, don't even have to be in the same discussion. I do think further exploration, physical and research/experiment- based has a lot of value, and we shouldn't abandon it, in any case.
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