Do you agree that Technology is going too far?

[Crossbreed]

Apple MacIntosh, Super Bowl Ad (1984)​

 

[Aspergers_Aspie]

Yes I read and saw the film 1984, I also recommend movies like they live I think it's a 1988 film

 

[Shevek]

Although I read Orwell's 1984 about 20 years ago. I remember the 'telescreen'. I am wondering if any comparisons with that could be made with tech today

Ha ha! Yes, today people carry telescreens around with them at all times so that Big Brother always knows where they are, and the screen has content personalized to control opinions and actions.

 

[Aspergers_Aspie]

I see that the Gothenburg Museum of Art had a presentation on visibility and verticality intrinsic to the operations of drone technology and its meanings for artistic and political praxis link
I understand that technology is evolving and that drones are used in warfare. I have mix-views on the UK forces, some of my family served in the forces and I am British, some Scots don't consider themselves British. I am definitely interested in documentaries about armed forces, I definitely appreciate the physical and mental exercise. Drones generally I am not in favour of especially if drones are equipped with facial recognition

 

[Outdated]

I see that the Gothenburg Museum of Art had a presentation on visibility and verticality intrinsic to the operations of drone technology and its meanings....

These drones turned out to be a real game changer. No one would call them aesthetically pleasing, made from cardboard and rubber bands. But they're incredibly cheap and they have the advantage of being difficult for radar and infra red systems to see.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09...ade-cardboard-drones-russia-warfare/102804120

 

[Crossbreed]

Weren't boomerangs the original drones...?

 

[Outdated]

Weren't boomerangs the original drones...?

The boomerang that most of the world knows about is a ceremonial boomerang used during dances, that's the one that comes back. Everyday boomerangs came in many different varieties and had many different purposes.

Amongst others there was a small one that made a whirring sound as it flew. They'd skim it across the top of long grass frightening birds in to flight and it would hit a few birds as it flew. Then there was another used in warfare that had a large hard knob on one end, it's special characteristics were dead straight flight and absolutely no noise, intended victims wouldn't hear it coming.

 

[Joshua the Writer]

I do!

I am against this!

I find that I have a lack of interest in these therapy AI thingies. Right now, they cost multiple times more than a real therapist and they still don't provide the emotional connection a human would. I tried one therapist chatbot somebody made on one of the many AI character type sites, and, I kid you not, it gave up on helping me and then the site's programming decided it should be horny, so I cut that out immediately.

I find AI chat bots to be a fun way to pass the time for a few minutes, but nothing more. They just can't replace real human friendships.

I already have a solid friend group. I have no reason to turn to chat bots to replace the connections I already have. You know, the real deal connections. Not just an internet connection.

 

[Aspergers_Aspie]

I heard that some people who use supermarkets and GP surgeries prefer the human interaction even if it's only brief, maybe they are lonely for example or don't socialise much

 

[Aspergers_Aspie]

I heard that some people who use supermarkets and GP surgeries prefer the human interaction even if it's only brief, maybe they are lonely for example or don't socialise much

I meant instead of saying you've arrived now at reception there's computers to do this and in shops self scan tills

 

[Crossbreed]

Our grocery store only allows self-checkout if you are using a card to pay.
You have to use the wo/manned checkout if you are using cash or you want cash in change.

 

[Aspergers_Aspie]

I couldn't find a more recent story but I had heard self check outs are under review and this story confirms that some disabled people struggle with themStory

 

[Aspergers_Aspie]

I have been telling friends about and promoting this organisation, one of their campaigns is anti-facial recognition. I think the organisation's name is a reference to George Orwell's book 1984. I need to read it again, it was about twenty years ago when I originally read it! Organisation

 

[Boogs]

I couldn't find a more recent story but I had heard self check outs are under review and this story confirms that some disabled people struggle with themStory

Self checkouts are even worse than this. They cause unemployment, they degrade community spirit, they drain the local community of resources, reduce tax income for government, they even reduce how much locals have to spend in those very shops.

But it's just a symptom of short termism and profiteering along with monopolies and commercial political influence etc. But are we all prepared to put up the inconvenience of boycotting for change, in a world obsessed with instant gratification? In general it would seem not, even as we watch our communities crumble into commercial deserts.

 

[Judge]

Self checkouts are even worse than this. They cause unemployment, they degrade community spirit, they drain the local community of resources, reduce tax income for government, they even reduce how much locals have to spend in those very shops.

There's another interesting subject. Self checkouts here are on the decline among major retailers all for the same reason. - Organized shoplifting. So much for technology.

The economics of dealing with far fewer humans at counters has backfired here, given the advantages self-checkouts to thieves, despite technology used to monitor them. With certain key retailers having drastically reduced the number of automated checkout stations in use, versus those they can monitor in real time using human eyes.

Ironically there are forms of AI that could potentially be employed along such lines, but it may come down to that all-too-common denominator, relative to costs of such technology. Much as the technology employed by casinos to catch patrons cheating. Even then, such technology may never surpass that of trained human eyes used in real-time.

 

[Boogs]

There's another interesting subject. Self checkouts here are on the decline among major retailers all for the same reason. - Organized shoplifting.

The economics of dealing with far fewer humans at counters has backfired here, given the advantages self-checkouts to thieves, despite technology used to monitor them. With certain key retailers having drastically reduced the number of automated checkout stations in use, versus those they can monitor in real time using human eyes.

That is SO ironic! Not just that they've created the situation that enables easier theft, but they've also exacerbated it by being a good part of the cause of inflation in the food market that's fuelled the increase of amateur and professional shoplifting.
I did also read recently of a supermarket chain in the States who were publicly disparaging self checkouts and refusing to install them, saying they considered themselves part of the community, and wanted to help the community they profit from, employ locals, provide help to shoppers, and a human environment, etc etc. And from the local opinions they seem to have hit a chord with most people, who were in turn providing the shops with more customers and more profits.

I think many more people are becoming more aware of the excesses of unrestrained commercial interests, and even the middle classes are now suffering from the damage done for so many decades.
Finally learning the true legacies of the Reagans and Thatchers of the 80's were the opposite of what they were sold as. The 'American Dream' has become the American nightmare.

 

[Judge]

That is SO ironic! Not just that they've created the situation that enables easier theft, but they've also exacerbated it by being a good part of the cause of inflation in the food market that's fuelled the increase of amateur and professional shoplifting.
I did also read recently of a supermarket chain in the States who were publicly disparaging self checkouts and refusing to install them, saying they considered themselves part of the community, and wanted to help the community they profit from, employ locals, provide help to shoppers, and a human environment, etc etc. And from the local opinions they seem to have hit a chord with most people, who were in turn providing the shops with more customers and more profits.

I think many more people are becoming more aware of the excesses of unrestrained commercial interests, and even the middle classes are now suffering from the damage done for so many decades.
Finally learning the true legacies of the Reagans and Thatchers of the 80's were the opposite of what they were sold as. The 'American Dream' has become the American nightmare.

Worse still is how these same retailers have also done something far more detrimental to sales. Reacting harshly by locking up so many items, right down to razor blades and most items of clothing.

To even take a look at such items, you have to flag down an employee (before they get laid off) to unlock a case just to actually see an item. And some items are so poorly displayed within a locked glass case that it isn't worth even trying to get a look at them. With stacks of pants which doesn't allow patrons to see if they even have their size.

Easier now to go somewhere else where you can physically handle the goods before buying them.

Discouraging shoplifters is one thing, but your customers? That's quite another matter.

 

[Aspergers_Aspie]

According to this article six million people are using self checkouts to commit theft Article

 

[Ghostinthemachine]

With AI yes

 

[Boogs]

According to this article six million people are using self checkouts to commit theft Article

Yes, well, that is the Daily Heil remember! "Sensationalism Before News" is their motto!