“The Evolution of Technology”

November 20, 2006

Lately I’ve been watching videos from the TED (Technology Entertainment Design) conferences, which—as you might imagine—cover a wide variety of people and topics.

Of particular interest here are a pair of talks, each billed as addressing “the evolution of technology.” Interesting stuff.

Inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil illustrates the increasingly exponential evolution of technology, predicting a sharp rise in computing capability, robotics and life expectancy within the next 15 years. He outlines the shocking ways we’ll use technology to augment our own capabilities, forever blurring the lines between human and machine.

Wired Editor-at-large Kevin Kelly traces the remarkable similarities between the evolution of biology and technology, ultimately declaring technology the “7th kingdom of life.” He poses an intriguing question: “What does technology want?” As we hurdle forward, evolving increasingly complex, biological and independent machines, how will it affect our humanity?