I've had a lifelong fascination with thinking about the future,
but the next few decades concern me. The experts -- men like
Kurzweil and Moravec -- believe that our machines will surpass us
in intelligence, even merge with us to form something radically new.
Leading edge technologies are
rapidly changing our
lives; most of us feel it's for the better, but the issues are pressing
closer. It has become clear the sciences of artificial
intelligence, robotics, nanotechnology and genetic engineering will be
the primary agents of change. In addition, the worst computer
virus attacks are yet to come, especially when the viruses are guided by
artificial intelligence (such as PeaceMaker).
The following are a few of the books that deal with these subjects.
Please select a review from the list to the left or just browse the pages.
I am solely responsible for the ratings -- each work has been evaluated
for its ability to educate and entertain. You may
conveniently order one of these interesting texts by clicking on an
Amazon or Barnes & Noble button. If you would like additional
information, click on the book title above the button to link to Amazon
without ordering the book. I plan to add to this list on a continuing basis, so stop back
frequently.
The Age of Spiritual Machines
is a 388 page non-fiction paperback book by Ray Kurzweil published in 2000.
This is flat-out the most
intelligent and provocative look I’ve seen describing the development
and direction of artificial intelligence. Ray Kurzweil is a true
believer in AI, and he makes a convincing case for the emergence of a
superior intelligence. And he’s talking this century, folks, maybe
within the next four or five decades.
These are the key points of his
thesis, as I see them:
Computational
power is growing exponentially and will continue doing so for the
foreseeable future. By 2020, the computational power of a $1,000
computer will be about equal to that of the human brain. After
that, computers leave us in the dust.
Biological
evolution is slow and has taken us about as far as it can. It’s
already being replaced by technological evolution, the enhancement
(or replacement) of slow, biological processes by engineered
processes (e.g. neural networks).
The mind is just
a complex machine. Issues such as consciousness, free will and the
soul can be endlessly debated, but fundamentally, we are just a
complex machine, currently the most complex one on the planet. But
that will change.
Our bodies, also
a complex machine, can also be re-engineered or replaced. Great
strides are being made to simulate or replace our senses.
Technological
innovation proceeds inexorably during the next few decades, rapidly
transforming our objects and ourselves. By the end of the century,
there will be virtually no distinction between human and artificial
intelligence.
This is a fascinating thesis, a real
mind-blower. Forget about a Star Trek or Star Wars future; that’s not
where we’re going. Well, maybe Star Trek. Consider the Borg with
personality and a sense of humor.
Robot:
Mere Machine to Transcendent Mind
is a 240 page
non-fiction paperback book by Hans Moravec published in 2000.
Hans Moravec is both a practical
robotics engineer and a transcendent dreamer. Robot: Mere Machine to
Transcendent Mind is a work of pessimism delivered by an optimist.
It’s complex, compelling, naïve and frightening. Is this the world
we’re building for our children? I mean human children, not mind
children.
Robot
begins with a good overview of robotics, outlining the work of
cyber-pioneers such as Alan Turing, John McCarthy and Marvin Minsky;
then progressing into the late nineties. Moravec is a first-class
robotics scientist and engineer, explaining technical issues and
solutions in a concise, interesting manner. Good stuff, if you’re
interested in understanding robotics (why else would you be reading this
book?).
Moravec then projects the growth of
robotics and artificial intelligence employing a model similar to that
of Ray Kurzweil in The Age of Spiritual Machines. Both men base
this growth on the exponentially increasing power of inexpensive
computers, which they believe will match the computing power of the
human mind by approximately 2020. They both present strong arguments
that the human mind is fundamentally a complex machine; therefore, it’s
not a stretch to believe an equally complex mind can be developed in
silicon. Moravec then provides his assessment of robot capabilities for
each decade of the twenty-first century. It’s fascinating and not
unreasonable.
Okay, we all know the future is not
going to look like Star Trek, but Moravec’s vision for the coming
centuries is just too unbelievable: robot corporations in outer space,
some planet-sized, virtually all of humanity living on a dole provided
by taxing robot corporations, “execs” with almost supernatural powers …
you get the idea. Who knows – maybe he will be right – but these
speculations don’t fit well with the practical, science-based tone of
the bulk of the material.
Nevertheless, this is an excellent
work if you enjoy thinking about the near-future. Read Kurzweil and
Moravec back to back – throw in Flesh and Machines by Rodney
Brooks – and you’ll have a persuasive picture of what the next few
decades may hold.
Viruses Revealed is a 665 page
non-fiction trade paperback
book by David Harley, Robert Slade, and Urs E. Gattiker published in
2001.
Viruses Revealed is a
comprehensive review of the subject, written from the perspective of a
security professional. If you’re searching for an in-depth
understanding of virus programming, keep looking. But if you’re a
system administrator or technology manager responsible for minimizing
risk, then this is an important reference to study. I’d also recommend
this book to any IT professional who wants to develop a good overview of
virus technology.
The authors really know their field
and they have a bit of an attitude, but it’s generally amusing. They
assume the reader has a modest technical background and carefully cover
the fundamentals, provide a brief historical overview, then dive into
virus structures and mechanisms. Good stuff, but you’ve seen much of it
before, so pick and choose. The next section – a good overview of
management solutions – is worthwhile. Then the authors select a
representative sample of the better-known viruses roughly in the
chronological order they were released. Each virus is discussed, but
the value of such a lengthy section eludes me. Another place to pick
and choose. Finally, the authors examine non-technical (social)
aspects, such as social engineering, legal issues, ethics and so on. No
light bulbs went off, but it’s useful information.
Excellent overview of the field, but
not worth reading cover to cover unless you’re new to the subject. The
authors should have culled out much of the repetitive information and
tightened the rest. Viruses Revealed is good, but pick your
spots.
Virus Detection and Elimination is
a 290 page non-fiction trade paperback book by Rune Skardhamar published October, 1995.
Over the last decade, computer virus
attacks have become more frequent and costly. Virus Detection and
Elimination was one of the first – and one of the best – books on
the subject. It was my reference guide when I began researching the
subject six years ago. Skardhamar provides a good overview of the basic
concepts and history of virus technology in the early chapters and then
moves into design and programming techniques. Although a layman could
understand the first section, the book is targeted at software
professionals.
Although still a sound reference,
more current and comprehensive texts are available. For example, an IT
professional might prefer Viruses Revealed by David Harley.
