“I am thankful that during ‘traditional schooling’ I read sci-fi
instead of paying attention in class. It turned out to be more
relevant.”
I love it when a “truth” like that bounces back from a friend,
pointing to a bigger truth — one I hear from hackers itching to
leave school so they can learn. Their curriculum-driven teachers
often obstruct their hunger for knowledge. Few are mentored by
teachers with imagination and a willingness to partner with
students in new ways.
A year ago I wrote an article on biometric identification that
explored teleportation. Some readers thought that was crazy. Yet
scientists recently achieved quantum teleportation in the
laboratory.
“This opens the possibility of quantum memories,” says a
researcher, referring to quantum computing — but also reminding
us that all organisms are temporary storage devices for energy
and information, dissipative structures like whirlpools that hold
their shape while exchanging data.
Imagination bounces down a branching path of possibilities.
Science fiction is the right brain dreaming of a left brain
society. Some sci-fi explores changes in societal structures and
human identity. As we learn to live with “aliens” from other
planets and self-consciously direct our evolution through
biomechanics and genetic engineering, the individualism of the
last few centuries — unique in human history — will be
transformed. We will think of ourselves as a single body with a
hive mind, a collective already imagined on the Net.
Our spiritual traditions have always affirmed that individuals
are fulfilled in community, cells in a single body. That
community will include beings from other planets and replicants
indistinguishable from self-conscious machines.
From those raised on science fiction … Yeah? <shrug> So what’s
the question?
The question is really a prayer … for ears to hear, eyes to
see, and a heart unafraid of the dark.
