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Technology Creates History | Kevin Weafer | TEDxAmherstCollege


[Music]

[Music] when I first read this quote I thought

when I first read this quote I thought

when I first read this quote I thought to myself Wow Karl Marx is really nailed

to myself Wow Karl Marx is really nailed

to myself Wow Karl Marx is really nailed it and he’s on to something of great

it and he’s on to something of great

it and he’s on to something of great consequence and so when I was putting

consequence and so when I was putting

consequence and so when I was putting this talk together I thought I would

this talk together I thought I would

this talk together I thought I would build my narrative around sort of a

build my narrative around sort of a

build my narrative around sort of a micro version of this a very personal

micro version of this a very personal

micro version of this a very personal version of technology creating history

version of technology creating history

version of technology creating history as well as a macro version of sort of a

as well as a macro version of sort of a

as well as a macro version of sort of a broader generic view of technology

broader generic view of technology

broader generic view of technology creating history and then feather in

creating history and then feather in

creating history and then feather in some past present and future aspects of

some past present and future aspects of

some past present and future aspects of technology and then leave you with a

technology and then leave you with a

technology and then leave you with a conundrum of sorts to ponder conceivably

conundrum of sorts to ponder conceivably

conundrum of sorts to ponder conceivably after we leave this August Kirby theater

after we leave this August Kirby theater

after we leave this August Kirby theater for years ago today I was invited to

for years ago today I was invited to

for years ago today I was invited to meet with a founder of a technology

meet with a founder of a technology

meet with a founder of a technology company in Los Angeles so I flew to LAX

company in Los Angeles so I flew to LAX

company in Los Angeles so I flew to LAX I get in a cab I get to their building

I get in a cab I get to their building

I get in a cab I get to their building and just for the visual the building is

and just for the visual the building is

and just for the visual the building is in the shadow of that massive Hollywood

in the shadow of that massive Hollywood

in the shadow of that massive Hollywood sign in the Hollywood Hills right up on

sign in the Hollywood Hills right up on

sign in the Hollywood Hills right up on the elevator or met by the founder and

the elevator or met by the founder and

the elevator or met by the founder and he gives me something that would have to

he gives me something that would have to

he gives me something that would have to be described as a delicious tour he

be described as a delicious tour he

be described as a delicious tour he introduces me to everybody in the

introduces me to everybody in the

introduces me to everybody in the company all the different departments

company all the different departments

company all the different departments and at one point is we’re sort of

and at one point is we’re sort of

and at one point is we’re sort of circling the area he said would you mind

circling the area he said would you mind

circling the area he said would you mind dropping into this office and I said not

dropping into this office and I said not

dropping into this office and I said not at all I go in and I realized it wasn’t

at all I go in and I realized it wasn’t

at all I go in and I realized it wasn’t really an office at all it was a lab

really an office at all it was a lab

really an office at all it was a lab there were all forms of deconstructed

there were all forms of deconstructed

there were all forms of deconstructed computers everywhere sensors and chips

computers everywhere sensors and chips

computers everywhere sensors and chips and and motherboards and all of it and

and and motherboards and all of it and

and and motherboards and all of it and of course the requisite Star Wars

of course the requisite Star Wars

of course the requisite Star Wars characters duct taped to the wall

characters duct taped to the wall

characters duct taped to the wall everywhere and sort of floating in the

everywhere and sort of floating in the

everywhere and sort of floating in the air which is the purest signal of a tech

air which is the purest signal of a tech

air which is the purest signal of a tech company for sure and so after we’re in

company for sure and so after we’re in

company for sure and so after we’re in he said would you mind putting on this

he said would you mind putting on this

he said would you mind putting on this headset it looks something like this one

headset it looks something like this one

headset it looks something like this one other than the the itab in this case it

other than the the itab in this case it

other than the the itab in this case it was a tab that went directly to the

was a tab that went directly to the

was a tab that went directly to the middle of my eyebrows and touched my

middle of my eyebrows and touched my

middle of my eyebrows and touched my forehead very lightly after i had this

forehead very lightly after i had this

forehead very lightly after i had this assembly john he said do you see that

assembly john he said do you see that

assembly john he said do you see that lamp across the way and it was about

lamp across the way and it was about

lamp across the way and it was about from me to the third or fourth row here

from me to the third or fourth row here

from me to the third or fourth row here I said of course and he said look at it

I said of course and he said look at it

I said of course and he said look at it and think of the word on

and think of the word on

and think of the word on which I did and then I turned the light

which I did and then I turned the light

which I did and then I turned the light on with my mind and then I turned it off

on with my mind and then I turned it off

on with my mind and then I turned it off and they turned it on and off and on and

and they turned it on and off and on and

and they turned it on and off and on and off and it was the most remarkable

off and it was the most remarkable

off and it was the most remarkable moment for me and it documented Karl

moment for me and it documented Karl

moment for me and it documented Karl Marx’s theory of technology making

Marx’s theory of technology making

Marx’s theory of technology making history in a very very personal way it

history in a very very personal way it

history in a very very personal way it changed my life in many ways and all of

changed my life in many ways and all of

changed my life in many ways and all of us have had a comparable experience in

us have had a comparable experience in

us have had a comparable experience in some sense with technology that moment

some sense with technology that moment

some sense with technology that moment either when you’re younger or at any

either when you’re younger or at any

either when you’re younger or at any point in your life where you think wow

point in your life where you think wow

point in your life where you think wow it’s something now to the more macro

it’s something now to the more macro

it’s something now to the more macro version of the generic version of of

version of the generic version of of

version of the generic version of of what technology can do is this is a

what technology can do is this is a

what technology can do is this is a video from a friend of mine David

video from a friend of mine David

video from a friend of mine David Lorenzini who we all in some sense owe a

Lorenzini who we all in some sense owe a

Lorenzini who we all in some sense owe a debt of gratitude to because in the year

debt of gratitude to because in the year

debt of gratitude to because in the year 2000 he invented something called

2000 he invented something called

2000 he invented something called keyhole which google bought and

keyhole which google bought and

keyhole which google bought and ultimately came Google Earth which we

ultimately came Google Earth which we

ultimately came Google Earth which we were all very familiar with and you sort

were all very familiar with and you sort

were all very familiar with and you sort of in some regular basis and this is his

of in some regular basis and this is his

of in some regular basis and this is his view of the year twenty twenty so four

view of the year twenty twenty so four

view of the year twenty twenty so four years from now and it has some great

years from now and it has some great

years from now and it has some great imaging imaging that I think you might

imaging imaging that I think you might

imaging imaging that I think you might appreciate it sets the stage for the

appreciate it sets the stage for the

appreciate it sets the stage for the rest of the talk

rest of the talk

rest of the talk [Music]

there are many historic flexion

there are many historic flexion inflections that have the document that

inflections that have the document that

inflections that have the document that technology creates history specifically

technology creates history specifically

technology creates history specifically these obvious cases were Industrial

these obvious cases were Industrial

these obvious cases were Industrial Revolution oil production transportation

Revolution oil production transportation

Revolution oil production transportation steal the computer itself in my view of

steal the computer itself in my view of

steal the computer itself in my view of these events historically are the

these events historically are the

these events historically are the technological developments Forge

technological developments Forge

technological developments Forge cataclysms that make a mark and here’s

cataclysms that make a mark and here’s

cataclysms that make a mark and here’s history on a parallel taking note to the

history on a parallel taking note to the

history on a parallel taking note to the more modern view of this progression the

more modern view of this progression the

more modern view of this progression the internet itself certainly social media

internet itself certainly social media

internet itself certainly social media in many ways certainly feeds into an AR

in many ways certainly feeds into an AR

in many ways certainly feeds into an AR v RI 0 TI 0 e web 3.0 which we saw in

v RI 0 TI 0 e web 3.0 which we saw in

v RI 0 TI 0 e web 3.0 which we saw in part in the video and artificial

part in the video and artificial

part in the video and artificial intelligence for those of you may not

intelligence for those of you may not

intelligence for those of you may not sort of know these acronyms augmented

sort of know these acronyms augmented

sort of know these acronyms augmented reality is a RV ours virtual reality

reality is a RV ours virtual reality

reality is a RV ours virtual reality mixed reality Internet of Things

mixed reality Internet of Things

mixed reality Internet of Things internet of everything that kind of

internet of everything that kind of

internet of everything that kind of stuff and each one of these platforms

stuff and each one of these platforms

stuff and each one of these platforms feeds one another lending itself to a

feeds one another lending itself to a

feeds one another lending itself to a progression in my personal world these

progression in my personal world these

progression in my personal world these days I’m involved heavily with AR and VR

days I’m involved heavily with AR and VR

days I’m involved heavily with AR and VR in particular augmented reality is a

in particular augmented reality is a

in particular augmented reality is a technology that allows for the

technology that allows for the

technology that allows for the superimposition of computer graphics on

superimposition of computer graphics on

superimposition of computer graphics on the real world what does that mean that

the real world what does that mean that

the real world what does that mean that means you can superimpose information on

means you can superimpose information on

means you can superimpose information on virtually any subject matter the Great

virtually any subject matter the Great

virtually any subject matter the Great Wall of China the Eiffel Tower any

Wall of China the Eiffel Tower any

Wall of China the Eiffel Tower any individual in this room even Williams

individual in this room even Williams

individual in this room even Williams College which lends itself to the the

College which lends itself to the the

College which lends itself to the the other forms of virtual reality which is

other forms of virtual reality which is

other forms of virtual reality which is a completely immersive technology and a

a completely immersive technology and a

a completely immersive technology and a mixed reality which Microsoft is

mixed reality which Microsoft is

mixed reality which Microsoft is developing a product that should be

developing a product that should be

developing a product that should be available early next year called

available early next year called

available early next year called hololens where we will be able to have a

hololens where we will be able to have a

hololens where we will be able to have a hologram of me being here giving this

hologram of me being here giving this

hologram of me being here giving this talk without being here so technology is

talk without being here so technology is

talk without being here so technology is at this stage where it’s about to

at this stage where it’s about to

at this stage where it’s about to accelerate very aggressively the best

accelerate very aggressively the best

accelerate very aggressively the best illustration of this is not so much even

illustration of this is not so much even

illustration of this is not so much even ioe or IOT but AI artificial

ioe or IOT but AI artificial

ioe or IOT but AI artificial intelligence and the pitchfork I have

intelligence and the pitchfork I have

intelligence and the pitchfork I have listed up here or sighting is just to

listed up here or sighting is just to

listed up here or sighting is just to suggest some of the core developments

suggest some of the core developments

suggest some of the core developments there are massive companies as well as

there are massive companies as well as

there are massive companies as well as individuals in their garage that are

individuals in their garage that are

individuals in their garage that are working towards the ends of these

working towards the ends of these

working towards the ends of these pitchfork comments

pitchfork comments

pitchfork comments which are places like robotics and

which are places like robotics and

which are places like robotics and machine learning and natural language

machine learning and natural language

machine learning and natural language processing all of which contribute to

processing all of which contribute to

processing all of which contribute to this sort of thing and the most powerful

this sort of thing and the most powerful

this sort of thing and the most powerful thing that I know over I can conceive of

thing that I know over I can conceive of

thing that I know over I can conceive of as a relates day I right now is that

as a relates day I right now is that

as a relates day I right now is that mankind person kind cannot think beyond

mankind person kind cannot think beyond

mankind person kind cannot think beyond aai at this point Bill Gates this year

aai at this point Bill Gates this year

aai at this point Bill Gates this year said we’re going to have to there’s a

said we’re going to have to there’s a

said we’re going to have to there’s a moment in time and not too distant

moment in time and not too distant

moment in time and not too distant future we’re going to have to have to

future we’re going to have to have to

future we’re going to have to have to ask a I how smart it is because we won’t

ask a I how smart it is because we won’t

ask a I how smart it is because we won’t be able to know ourselves the last

be able to know ourselves the last

be able to know ourselves the last thought about this slide is there is a

thought about this slide is there is a

thought about this slide is there is a fellow who is a TED talk or as name is

fellow who is a TED talk or as name is

fellow who is a TED talk or as name is tim urban he’s invented a concept that I

tim urban he’s invented a concept that I

tim urban he’s invented a concept that I find very compelling and he said he’s

find very compelling and he said he’s

find very compelling and he said he’s the acronym that he’s come up with is a

the acronym that he’s come up with is a

the acronym that he’s come up with is a DD you some of you may know but it’s a

DD you some of you may know but it’s a

DD you some of you may know but it’s a drop-dead unit and how he profiles this

drop-dead unit and how he profiles this

drop-dead unit and how he profiles this is you have to if you start with

is you have to if you start with

is you have to if you start with Neanderthal man you have to go to 1754

Neanderthal man you have to go to 1754

Neanderthal man you have to go to 1754 ddu one to two hundred thousand years

ddu one to two hundred thousand years

ddu one to two hundred thousand years give or take and that means if you take

give or take and that means if you take

give or take and that means if you take a Neanderthal you put him in 1750

a Neanderthal you put him in 1750

a Neanderthal you put him in 1750 overwhelmed by everything that he sees

overwhelmed by everything that he sees

overwhelmed by everything that he sees and knows drops dead on the spot 1752

and knows drops dead on the spot 1752

and knows drops dead on the spot 1752 1950 so 200,000 to then 200 years same

1950 so 200,000 to then 200 years same

1950 so 200,000 to then 200 years same scenario put somebody from 1750 1950

scenario put somebody from 1750 1950

scenario put somebody from 1750 1950 drops dead on the spot the next dee do

drops dead on the spot the next dee do

drops dead on the spot the next dee do dee dee you three will be 1952 2040 so

dee dee you three will be 1952 2040 so

dee dee you three will be 1952 2040 so I’ll drop dead in 2040 for sure but it’s

I’ll drop dead in 2040 for sure but it’s

I’ll drop dead in 2040 for sure but it’s a very compelling notion when you think

a very compelling notion when you think

a very compelling notion when you think of sort of the acceleration of

of sort of the acceleration of

of sort of the acceleration of Technology and what it can mean until

Technology and what it can mean until

Technology and what it can mean until this compression of time as it relates

this compression of time as it relates

this compression of time as it relates to all of it so then I got to a point us

to all of it so then I got to a point us

to all of it so then I got to a point us in think about this talk why why is all

in think about this talk why why is all

in think about this talk why why is all this going on what is it you know why do

this going on what is it you know why do

this going on what is it you know why do we do this and it’s somewhat clear to me

we do this and it’s somewhat clear to me

we do this and it’s somewhat clear to me that there is this sociological ego that

that there is this sociological ego that

that there is this sociological ego that mankind has globally and worldwide in

mankind has globally and worldwide in

mankind has globally and worldwide in sort of every fashion where technology

sort of every fashion where technology

sort of every fashion where technology is merely a reflective tool it’s a way

is merely a reflective tool it’s a way

is merely a reflective tool it’s a way for us to look at ourselves and provide

for us to look at ourselves and provide

for us to look at ourselves and provide information and identify ourselves in

information and identify ourselves in

information and identify ourselves in some consequential way there is a

some consequential way there is a

some consequential way there is a chicken and egg scenario about this in

chicken and egg scenario about this in

chicken and egg scenario about this in my mind as well which means and it

my mind as well which means and it

my mind as well which means and it relates back to Karl his thinking

relates back to Karl his thinking

relates back to Karl his thinking because isn’t it true that technology

because isn’t it true that technology

because isn’t it true that technology doesn’t does not create history but

doesn’t does not create history but

doesn’t does not create history but mankind creates how

mankind creates how

mankind creates how see that ultimately creates history and

see that ultimately creates history and

see that ultimately creates history and we get to a point in that that there are

we get to a point in that that there are

we get to a point in that that there are human beings sort of producing product

human beings sort of producing product

human beings sort of producing product that lends itself to something of great

that lends itself to something of great

that lends itself to something of great consequence and here’s the rub or here’s

consequence and here’s the rub or here’s

consequence and here’s the rub or here’s the way the final piece of the story

the way the final piece of the story

the way the final piece of the story unfolds in my mind it’s what happens

unfolds in my mind it’s what happens

unfolds in my mind it’s what happens when human beings are no longer the top

when human beings are no longer the top

when human beings are no longer the top species on the planet what does that

species on the planet what does that

species on the planet what does that mean when we become subjugated to a

mean when we become subjugated to a

mean when we become subjugated to a technology for example how do we feel

technology for example how do we feel

technology for example how do we feel what do we do when technology is

what do we do when technology is

what do we do when technology is devising itself for itself and

devising itself for itself and

devising itself for itself and ultimately getting to a point where call

ultimately getting to a point where call

ultimately getting to a point where call may be it may have been massively

may be it may have been massively

may be it may have been massively correct where technology will be

correct where technology will be

correct where technology will be creating history for itself I have a

creating history for itself I have a

creating history for itself I have a final piece of reassurance in some sense

final piece of reassurance in some sense

final piece of reassurance in some sense because there’s a dark side to that

because there’s a dark side to that

because there’s a dark side to that story and that is to say the good news

story and that is to say the good news

story and that is to say the good news is the future won’t happen until the

is the future won’t happen until the

is the future won’t happen until the president is ready for it and human

president is ready for it and human

president is ready for it and human beings are pretty obstinate in a way

beings are pretty obstinate in a way

beings are pretty obstinate in a way we’re going to hold on to our grip of

we’re going to hold on to our grip of

we’re going to hold on to our grip of control of the planet and consequential

control of the planet and consequential

control of the planet and consequential role there in until we’re ready to let

role there in until we’re ready to let

role there in until we’re ready to let go and that will transition over time so

go and that will transition over time so

go and that will transition over time so with that thought in mind I’ve put

with that thought in mind I’ve put

with that thought in mind I’ve put together a small owed that I’ll read too

together a small owed that I’ll read too

together a small owed that I’ll read too if you don’t mind our stewardship of the

if you don’t mind our stewardship of the

if you don’t mind our stewardship of the planet and ultimately our storytelling

planet and ultimately our storytelling

planet and ultimately our storytelling to future generations must include a

to future generations must include a

to future generations must include a coexistence philosophy and importantly

coexistence philosophy and importantly

coexistence philosophy and importantly safeguards with technology to ensure our

safeguards with technology to ensure our

safeguards with technology to ensure our fate and the fate of human history

fate and the fate of human history

fate and the fate of human history moving forward thank you

”

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