“Grossman pointedly questioned Kurzweil about the potential loss of our “human nature” in a world dominated by artificial intelligence. But Kurzweil linked the future of our “human-machine civilization” to the full sweep of human history: “Ever since we first picked up a stick to reach a tree branch,” he said, we have been creating tools to aid our existence. So he sees the futuristic nanotechnology and artificial intelligence purely as tools that will serve as extensions of our humanity. Also: Just as today the data one access on their iPhone exists both within the phone and out in the cloud, he envisions a future where not only are nanobots being added to our bodies but where our brains being augmented by processing power in the cloud. Where search engines do not need to be prompted to offer helpful information, but instead grow intuitive, providing us information as we need it. As Kurzweil sees it, this is about expanding our intellect, and our capabilities, not deferring all this to machines.” - Time Techland

futuristgerd:

(via Inside the Mind of Futurist Ray Kurzweil: When Robots Rule the World (and Humans are Immortal) | Techland | TIME.com)

Worth watching … if a bit scary:))

What are the most epic and memorable structures of human history? You could say churches, mosques, castles, skyscrapers, but one structure that has remained with us is the stadium (ever since we had enough time to be entertained on mass scale).  From the Coliseum to the Hippodrome, the stadium is a great monument of human history.  In light of this summer’s games, Populous, designer of the London Olympic Stadium has sponsored a new exhibition at London’s Soane Museum that looks at the origin of these venues and how they have evolved.  Whether housing gladiator fights, football matches or Beyonce’s local fan base, the legacy of the stadium carries on.

Coolhunting.com: “Stadia: Sport and Vision in Architecture”

Warp Records, a record label that works with the best of avant garde music makers including everyone from !!! to Aphex Twin to Autechre to Grizzly Bear to Brian Eno, started an online record shop for individuals to download music or purchase it in physical form.

They have recently compiled A Guide to Electronic Music - “a 55 track compilation charting the historical emergence of electronic music by looking at landmark tracks from the 1930s to present day.”

The compilation is as enjoyable as educational, and takes you on a chronological journey through all the best songs that have utilised electronic and digital technology in an innovative way.

You can buy it here for about £15.

Also, check out their uber cool electronic music timeline on Facebook.

urbanterritory:

Imperial and Contemporary Architecture in Beijing 北京

by Gedsman on Flickr.

(via urbanterritory-deactivated20121)