Ted - thank you for sticking your neck out and writing this seminal piece. I do believe it has some basic fundamental missed. Allow me to explain in simpler "energy equivalence" terms.
Let us take an elementary task say driving in moderate traffic for say 60 minutes or 30-40 km. The total task will involve say ~250-500 decisions (accelerate/ decelerate/ halt, turn) and some 100,000-10,000,000 micro-observations depending upon the external conditions, weather, etc. A human body (brain + senses + limbs) can simulate all the changes on just a grain of rice (less than 10 kJ of energy)
In order to do similar tasks (even if we achieve near free electricity), the cost in terms of energy (kJ consumed) will be far too high.
Am I making sense?
Steve Jobs said, a human with a bicycle is more efficient than a gazelle (the most efficient animal). And thus the corollary, a human with a computer is the most efficient being. Using a computer to replace a human is also the most inefficient conquest - doomed to fail; time immaterial.
Ted - thank you for sticking your neck out and writing this seminal piece. I do believe it has some basic fundamental missed. Allow me to explain in simpler "energy equivalence" terms.
Let us take an elementary task say driving in moderate traffic for say 60 minutes or 30-40 km. The total task will involve say ~250-500 decisions (accelerate/ decelerate/ halt, turn) and some 100,000-10,000,000 micro-observations depending upon the external conditions, weather, etc. A human body (brain + senses + limbs) can simulate all the changes on just a grain of rice (less than 10 kJ of energy)
In order to do similar tasks (even if we achieve near free electricity), the cost in terms of energy (kJ consumed) will be far too high.
Am I making sense?
Steve Jobs said, a human with a bicycle is more efficient than a gazelle (the most efficient animal). And thus the corollary, a human with a computer is the most efficient being. Using a computer to replace a human is also the most inefficient conquest - doomed to fail; time immaterial.
Lots of love,
Sachin