Re: Asimov Site

[pausch@saafNOSPAM.se (Paul Schlyter)]

In article <C4bq5.74793$rd1.12841689@typhoon-news1.southeast.rr.com>,
**** **** <***@***.com> wrote:
 
>     I can tell you this, though. I get the feeling that 2 new evils of the
> modern world will be creeping up on us, and they have a bit to do with the
> current debate. #1 is all-pervasive advertising, unlike anything we are
> capable of imagining today. Yes, it is bad now, but get ready for the 'real
> thing'. No longer satisified with informing a potential customer that there
> might be a product they'd be interested in, they have moved over to
> brainwashing. And the 21st century will give them technology that they've
> been yearning for for decades.
 
George Orwell, author of "1984" (which was written in 1948 btw)
warned about that in another book he wrote later, titled "The Future
World".  He was worried about very quick, split-second, commercials,
embedded in movies, TV programs, etc, which the viewer hardly noticed
but which might enter the unconscious and, in time, "brain-wash" the
viewer.  I think that kind of commercial has since then been made
illegal at least in the US.
 
But aren't you brainwashed enugh already?  The average american is said to
spend some 6 hours daily watching TV -- and of this time, about 1/3 will
be commercials.  Thus 2 hours daily the average american spend watching
commercials on TV.....
 
> #2 will be "everything is IP(intellectual
> property)". When physical property is so easy to create, that our
> slavemasters can no longer use it as our manacles, they'll be scrambling to
> find new chains. $5 nanobots can build you a lambourghini look-a-like for
> the cost of 3 tons of landfill garbage and 6 days of sunshine? Creating
> sports cars out of nothing without a license will be a major felony. Wait
> and watch.
 
We're getting there!  Who could ever imagine that a mathematical
algorithm could be patended, for instance?  But that has happened --
the RSA encryption algorithm is patented in the US, but not in Europe.
Which means European software comapnies can freely use RSA in their
products if they want, but US companies must first obtain a permission
from RSA security before they can do so....
 
-- 
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