The Politics of Neuromania: The Impotence of Vision‏

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

In a previous posting I considered the difference between science and engineering as a difference between theory and practicality. In considering the work of military contractors developing neural wave technology the issue of distinguishing between invention and engineering came up. The military engineers have been handed the task of devising an electronic gadget with the capacity to alter the thought patterns of a target individual. Are they inventing the machine or are they engineering it? What is the basic difference between the two activities?

Invention of a device has very strict legal implications. Once the device has been invented the inventor has no control over how it is subsequently used. The best she can hope for is material compensation for her "genius" in crafting the prototype. Two individuals working independently can craft the same device but only one of them will be recognized as the lawful inventor with intellectual property rights. The other inventor receives no compensation for her efforts and may lose further in the legal proceedings that ultimately determine the disposition of the intellectual property rights.

An American or British entrepreneur may have the vision to create a gadget that alters or restricts the thought patterns of an individual but that vision is powerless without a team of engineers who are ready, willing, and able to implement the vision. Once they come up with a prototype device the cat is out of the bag. The original visionary has no way to rein in how or where her invention is subsequently used. Other entrepreneurs will take the ball and run with it in completely unexpected directions. If the technique can control a mind, it can also de-control a mind. Anglo-American monopoly cannot be guaranteed outside of Anglo-American jurisprudence. An inexpensive Chinese version is inevitable.

Do you see the limits on intellectual property rights as a benefit or a hindrance to human progress? With whom do your sympathies lie: with the inventor or with the engineer?

Links: Claude Crampes and Corinne Languinier on patent enforcement issues.

Comments

[notmrgarrison.livejournal.com]

An inexpensive Chinese version is inevitable.

Will I get free fortunes without having to open a cookie?

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

Ask and ye shall receive (http://www.fortunecookiemessage.com/).

BTW, the fortune cookie was not invented in China.

[malasadas.livejournal.com]

I fail to see the least bit of connection between your question and the fanciful word salad that precedes it. I'd ask for clarification, but I know bettercthan to expect it. Ever.

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

The second question relates to the word salad. The first question was intended to expand the topic to consider the impact of intellectual property rights on the advancement or retardation of human progress.

[pastorlenny.livejournal.com]

My sympathies lie with the Spurs.

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

There are more humane ways to urge on a horse.

[devil-ad-vocate.livejournal.com]

Ditto.

[comeonyouspurs.livejournal.com]

I'm flattered. X

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

Vision that's impotent? Needs a little heat in it!

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Superman has quite the legs.

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

The x-ray visionaries contemplated the ability to peer through a woman's blouse. There is no need for x-ray vision:

[dexeron.livejournal.com]

[comeonyouspurs.livejournal.com]

I thought that I was impotent, but then I realised that I wasn't sleeping enough. & I fancied another girl. :/

[policraticus.livejournal.com]

that vision is powerless without a team of engineers who are ready, willing, and able to implement the vision

That vision is also powerless without a fundamental change in the nature of our physical reality. But why strain at a gnat, amirite?

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

What change in the nature of our physical reality would be necessary?

It has been nearly 24 hours and you have yet to come up with an answer. Let me give you a hint. Back when people thought that the Earth was static, what change in the nature of physical reality was needed in order for people to think of the Earth as in motion?

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

Well, might as well do my standard stupid video response

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

That is a bad ass penguin!

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

And yet again, what does this have to do with politics?

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

So, intellectual property regulation has no relation to public policy?

[luzribeiro.livejournal.com]

Oh. Seems like it's Monday again.

[muscadinegirl.livejournal.com]

Watch out for the Orbital Mind Control Lasers.

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

You remind me of a movie.

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

BTW, a thorough neural wave test environment requires some form of isolation from satellite based carrier waves. We recommended a submarine platform to the military guys.

[kylinrouge.livejournal.com]

It's hard to comment on intellectual property rights of things that only exist theoretically.

[malasadas.livejournal.com]

"Theoretically" implies that somewhere out there is an equivalent to Einstein's Zur Quantentheorie der Strahlung for Sophia's constant references to "neural wave machines". But it has been at least a year and half since she told me flat out that her "sources have not been published yet" even though here she is outright saying there are military engineers who have been "handed the task of devising an electronic gadget with the capacity to alter the thought patterns of a target individual."

So rather than such a device being theoretical at this point, I'd say the more apt terms of art are "hokum", "balderdash" and "bull plop".

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

the work of military contractors developing neural wave technology

WTH is NWH?

SkyNet was a neural net, but I don't know of what you speak other than that...

The military engineers have been handed the task of devising an electronic gadget with the capacity to alter the thought patterns of a target individual.

Like a record player? Or a light show?


Are they inventing the machine

Given my utter ignorance of any such technology, they must be inventing it AND using the tools of the engineering discipline to realize the invention. I'm not certain these things are even separable.


Do you see the limits on intellectual property rights as a benefit or a hindrance to human progress?

Benefit. These people who think they have some original thought are pretty self centered members of our species. No one is an island, no one is the sea.

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

Also, having just read that comment to Telemann. I lost many friend to AIDS during the years, I am extremely disappointed with your cruel homophobic comments to Telemann.