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

[malasadas.livejournal.com]

How am I supposed to glean any helpful perspective on the questions when the illustrative examples are of technology you have never yet bothered to demonstrate is past the science fiction writer's stage of contemplation even while you directly say it is project of military engineers currently? You may as well be asking us to judge the subject based upon the experience of having read Ringworld.

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

The scientific principles upon which neural wave technology is based are fairly basic. Making a neural wave machine is simpler than putting a missile into orbit.

[malasadas.livejournal.com]

I could waste endless hours trying to get you cough up anything that is actually real but past experience dictates the most that would come of it would be as useful as a hairball only less tangible.

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

You could start here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioelectrodynamics) and work your way up.

[malasadas.livejournal.com]

Right. "As useful than a hairball only less tangible."

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

Until you actually use the equipment yourself you will remain in the dark.

[malasadas.livejournal.com]

I have no idea why you appear to think you are clever.

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

You've learned well from religion!

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

Exactly. I have come to recognize a religious closed-mindedness when it comes to science. Scientism is a religious devotion to a limited definition of scientific inquiry. If it does not appear in a peer reviewed publication, it did not happen. The irony of this is that the stuff that is published in the press typically omits a great deal of information about what happened.

[kylinrouge.livejournal.com]

I think malasadas is looking for technology that's actually implemented, practical, something more in the field of applied science than theoretical.

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

You assume that no work has been done to develop neural wave equipment.

[kylinrouge.livejournal.com]

I assume nothing. A product is implemented when someone can use it aside from the original creator.

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

Since the first prototype was demonstrated a great deal of progress has been made by people other than the inventor.

[kylinrouge.livejournal.com]

Source?

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

When you eventually experience a neural wave net connection you can cite yourself.

[kylinrouge.livejournal.com]

Ah, so it's the same as divine intervention. I didn't know you were so religious!

[telemann.livejournal.com]

It's just another way to sneak in a entry by the skin of Caesar's teeth, as a politically related post and tying it to "neural wave technology" mumbo-jumbo shit.

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

Neural wave technology is more real than the body and blood of the Jewish prophet.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we got that like 1000 comments and 1000 posts ago.

[wuvvumsoc.livejournal.com]

I keep seeing the politics of neuromania pop up and I have yet to know or even care what it's about or why it seems to be a common theme here. I guess everyone else is tired of it by now?

[kylinrouge.livejournal.com]

Tired of it implies at some point it was accepted.

[dwer.livejournal.com]

by now?

[wuvvumsoc.livejournal.com]

I'm a little slow. Basically I've been seeing this headline for awhile now and didn't know how many people actually put up with it, if they even did.