- Brief biography of each author.
Gordon Moore was an engineer and one of the founders of the technology company named Intel. He is the creator of Moore’s Law. Moore’s Law in its simplest form is that technology and its components double every two years.
Richard Buckminster Fuller was an architect and inventor. He is credited with the creation of the knowledge doubling curve and the geodesic dome. If you have ever had the chance to go to Disney’s Epcot and saw the silver dome-like structure at the front of the park then you have seen a geodesic dome. The knowledge doubling curve originally looked at knowledge and how quickly the data was doubling. From 1800 to 1900 the doubling curve took 100 years and then after World War II the doubling was happening in approximately 25 years. Current day the information is doubling constantly.
Ray Kurzweil is an inventor and a futurist. He best known creation is the text-to-talk feature for computers and smart phones. This creation takes our voice and turns it into text. I am not a quick typist so I use software that allows me to speak into my computer and my phone and my spoken words turn into written words. This has allowed me to be even more successful in my studies. He is also credited with the Law of Accelerating Returns. In this theory he says that technology is accelerating at a greater pace now than ever before. Technology is no longer growing at an even linear pace but instead it is growing exponentially.
Peter Thiel is an entrepreneur and he is known best for his creation of PayPal. He is also credited with the End of the Future Theory. In this theory he points out the fact that technology is growing exponentially while healthcare, transportation, and energy are not growing at the same rate and are falling behind. If we keep upgrading technology and not upgrading our infrastructure then we could face problems in the near future.
2. Description of each theory in your own words.
Moore’s Law in its simplest form is that technology and its components double every two years.
Fuller’s knowledge doubling curve originally looked at knowledge and how quickly the data was doubling. From 1800 to 1900 the doubling curve took 100 years and then after World War II the doubling was happening in approximately 25 years. Current day the information is doubling constantly. If you have ever had the chance to go to Disney’s Epcot and saw the silver dome-like structure at the front of the park then you have seen a geodesic dome.
Kurzweil is credited with the Law of Accelerating Returns. In this theory he says that technology is accelerating at a greater pace now than ever before. Technology is no longer growing at an even linear pace but instead it is growing exponentially.
Peter Thiel is an entrepreneur and he is credited with the End of the Future Theory. In this theory he points out the fact that technology is growing exponentially while healthcare, transportation, and energy are not growing at the same rate.
3. Similarities and differences between the theories
Moore’s Law, Fuller’s Doubling Curve theory, Kurzweil’s Law of Accelerating Returns and Thiel’s End of the Future Theory all push towards the exponential rate of growth in the technical and computer industry. Of the four theorist presented Thiel steps outside of the pros of technological growth and points out the large con that is developing because of this growth. He points out that healthcare, transportation and energy are not growing at the same rate as technology. He also points out that the breakdown in infrastructure over time will cause problems. While the theorist discuss growth there does not seem to be an end goal of where we see ourselves in the near and distant future.
4. Aspects of these theories you found surprising and/or interesting.
After reading and watching everything for this week I find technology to be help full but I now also look at it with concern. I am thrilled with growth and tools I can use in school but I am scared that my basic needs are being left behind. What good is a smartphone or superfast computer if our healthcare, transportation and energy sources are not functioning at capacity. What good is technology without the primary needs to survive?
References:
Foundation, P. P. (2017, April 03). BUCKMINSTER FULLER IN 3 MINUTES. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQp6AnKRA8A
News, C. 4. (2014, October 06). Peter Thiel on innovation | Channel 4 News. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAyffH0_HYI
Over 50 Years of Moore’s Law. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/silicon-innovations/moores-law-technology.html
Technology Feels Like It’s Accelerating – Because It Actually Is. (2019, March 14). Retrieved from https://singularityhub.com/2016/03/22/technology-feels-like-its-accelerating-because-it-actually-is/#sm.00019d6f85ellcxcpib11wqf8e9hc
Video, M. (2009, August 06). BUCKMINSTER FULLER segment on CBS Sunday Morning show. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0_DKeFfObI
Tech for Leading and Learning - McElroy 