The theoretical implications of certain technologies

[Iwasamwillbe]

What would be the implications, globally, societally, economically, and otherwise, if these two technologies were to be invented:

1. A device (like a microchip) that is implanted into your brain that instantly connects it to the internet, downloading all useful information in the world into your brain, and constantly feeds your brain new useful information, while updating old or outdated information.

1a. The device also expands your brain's "storage space" and "bit rate" so it can better process all that information.

2. A device that links the brain of the user to some sort of "internet of minds" with other users, where people around the world instantly share their thoughts to each other telepathically.

 

[ConfederateIrishman]

A ticking timebomb.

 

[Shadfan666xxx000]

Well the 1st and 2nd inventions combined would mean smartphones and laptops are obsolete for most tasks. As well, lying purposely would be removed as an option for most people until workarounds are enabled which could honestly devastate certain social interactions.
Another issue would be the ability to hold differing opinions and to research facts on your own outside of the mainstream consensus. If everyone the world over had this chip installed, they would physically be unable to absorb contrary information without a prebuilt counterargument meaning most people would have an even more deeply written bias than today on social media. Overall, these inventions are probably going to be terrible for humanity.

 

[NIGGER ASS PEE POOPY RAPE]

1. NPCs take the final step to complete the nigger cattle ultimatum, everyone who isn't retarded refuses the implant
2. getting DNA-banned from all but a few webzones for wrongthink, using dirt poor people from third world countries as brain-proxies to bypass your DNA ban

 

[Pen Stroke]

1) Your brain would experience an overwhelming amount of information. The human brain can hold around 75-100 terabytes of information. The total amount of data put onto the internet in even a conservative amount heavily outstrips this. This doesn't account for what information is counted as useful, which is an infinite and highly subjective way to organize information. It would basically overwhelm your brain. Imagine having an Iphone in front of your face 2 hours a day that you can't turn off. You'd likely see a massive rise in mental illness, psychotic behavior, and general violence and societal breakdown.

2) There would be a similar effect. With so many minds bearing down on others connected to this 'network' you'd see an increase in mental illness and psychotic behavior. There would be no privacy, and individuality would dissolve over time. Literal hive minds where the majority of users can combine and crush or severely damage weaker individuals.

Both are horrifying really.

 

[Freya]

jesus. Imagine the schizo posts on 4chan but its actually IN YOUR MIND.

1) Your brain would experience an overwhelming amount of information. The human brain can hold around 75-100 terabytes of information. The total amount of data put onto the internet in even a conservative amount heavily outstrips this. This doesn't account for what information is counted as useful, which is an infinite and highly subjective way to organize information. It would basically overwhelm your brain. Imagine having an Iphone in front of your face 2 hours a day that you can't turn off. You'd likely see a massive rise in mental illness, psychotic behavior, and general violence and societal breakdown.

2) There would be a similar effect. With so many minds bearing down on others connected to this 'network' you'd see an increase in mental illness and psychotic behavior. There would be no privacy, and individuality would dissolve over time. Literal hive minds where the majority of users can combine and crush or severely damage weaker individuals.

Both are horrifying really.

"increase in mental illness" is such a huuuuuuuge understatement. how could anyone be mentally well?

 

[Lemmingwise]

The ideal use of technology is never the way it's being put to use. We're able to design mouses, keyboards, phones that last decades, but it's more profitable to have planned obsolescence so we design products to fail.


1. In case you hadn't noticed, the internet has been getting less open, not more, so the more likely result is that this technology will be used to get the latest news from CNN or FOX news, download the latest microsoft genuine verification and feed your brain the latest facebook updates that are curated and paid for.

2. In case of telepathic connection, I don't think you've fully begun to think about the implications. How are you going to put a bit of tape over the camera inside your head? Now your thoughts lay bare. On top of that, there is an entry into your thoughts. Did you decide to buy that bottled water or did Evian pay apple for the subconscious ad?

Though to reach any noteworthy levels of adoption, it would first have to come with amazing perks, so it would probably have really good educational, pornographic and social value at first.

 

[Positron]

downloading all useful information in the world into your brain

Who decide what is "useful" information? Most info I encounter is trash.

A device that links the brain of the user to some sort of "internet of minds" with other users, where people around the world instantly share their thoughts to each other telepathically

Cybernetic schizophrenia. What's not to love?

 

[WonderWino]

We all know where this would inevitably lead....

How twitch thottery would look circa 2035:

 

[ToroidalBoat]

Steve Hoffman gave a rather over-excited talk about that at some university in China. And he kind of casually mentioned how others could make your life a digital hell or control you in ways you aren't even aware of. I think I'd pass on becoming a cyborg...

 

[Iwasamwillbe]

Who decide what is "useful" information? Most info I encounter is trash.

Here, it's defined as "anything that may be useful for understanding or better interacting with the outside world". Such "useful information" could come from a blog post, a news article, a series of Tweets, a forum thread, a chatroom, an imageboard, a website (mainstream or otherwise), or even a Wikipedia article. This "useful information" is not filtered to align better with any given ideology or political stance, in this hypothetical.

 

[Linako 2.0]

I KNOW KUNG FU!

 

[wtfNeedSignUp]

As someone who deals with modern software, this will get immediately fucked over by shitty programing, viruses and idiot users to the point that it will kill the people that are idiot enough to put it on, which is an overall net benefit to humanity.