Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Have you ever thought of the idea of living forever? Or at least expand your life span to heights never seen before? Well, thanks to transhumanism this could all be possible. In the past decades, scientific breakthroughs have been made that point us in the right direction. In the following, I will expand on this fascinating topic to the best of my ability.
Cambridge Dictionary defines transhumanism as "the theory that science and technology can help human beings develop beyond what is physically and mentally possible at present time". Quite straight forward concept. Being able to upgrade ourselves to become physically stronger, smarter, and immune to most diseases seems like a unattainable dream for most. Is it however?
The first bionic limb was created back in 1993 in Edinburgh, UK by a team from Margaret Rose Hospital. A landmark in science history without a doubt. One which particularly aided a man with muscular cancer recover a movable arm. Be that is may, we have come a long way since then. Bio-engineering and surgery have made several more major improvements since then. Not to mention the aforesaid was but one of the countless examples we could find from science in our time.
What is more, going a step further, we could be able to upload our consciousness into a computer or online network. Thus, we could live endlessly. In 2002, scientist Kevin Warwick had 100 electrodes fired into his nervous system. Consequently, this allowed his nervous system to be linked with a computer. He could feel what a robot hand was feeling and even control it with his mind from a far away distance through the internet. Even though the aforementioned is a huge breakthrough, downloading our entire mind into a digital network would be a much more complicated endeavor. One that could take decades and perhaps a hundred years from now.
In summary, the possibilities for what transhumanism can accomplish are endless. Many believe that only the wealthy will have access to this technology. Albeit, as time goes on, it could be more accessible to different kinds of people. We could also argue that people not dying could be counter-productive since the world would be overpopulated and resources would run out. Contingency measures would have to be made in that respect. Singularity is another major issue that could arise. It basically means AI taking over the world. Only time will tell what happens. For now, all we can do is be patient and hope for the best.
Sources:
- Cambridge Online Dictionary
-https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/60at60/2015/8/1993-first-bionic-arm-392887/
- BBC News YouTube Channel.
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Despite the fact that I try to keep posting at least once a month, it is not always an easy task. Oftentimes inspiration takes longer to reappear as it used to before. Not to mention that to find the right time and topic to address are of utmost importance. Today I have chosen to talk about how to reset your life. Something that people need to do from time to time so as to reinvent themselves and start anew.
There is no such thing as a reset button. I have already touched on that before. Notwithstanding, you do not necessarily need to go back to the start. Through trial and error you grow in many different ways. Thus, you can adapt and make some changes throughout your journey. The most successful people on Earth are the ones who despite having failed 100 times, kept on trying new methods.
For instance, I decided to take some time off from my routine recently. That alone has helped me no end in ways I did not think possible. Have I made quite a few discoveries and devise new plans for the future. None of that would have been a reality had I not taken a well-deserved break.
There is such thing as an outlier. Someone or something that does not fit the norm when it comes to statistics. A person who makes it to a 100 years old would be called a genetic outlier. Well, who says you cannot be one yourself? It does not have to be about age. It could be about anything that comes to mind. Someone who achieves something people have never managed to do before would be called an outlier as well. Be that as it may, reaching success is not going to happen if you are not fully committed and passionate about what you do. Probably you are not at the right place if you feel stuck at your job, relationship, or whatever is holding you back. More often than not. rethinking your strategy is the best way to reinvent yourself.
In summary, there are always going to be times where you feel like there is no hope. Traumatic events such as the loss of a loved one can hit you so hard. Even so, dwelling on the past is not going to help you find peace and clarity. Having some time by yourself can help you find the answers you need. However, spending time on your own does not mean being in your room crying all day long. Instead, it means going out and looking for something you enjoy doing. That way, everything will start falling into place. You will be able to build yourself up progressively and become an even better version of yourself that you were before.
Sources:
- TedEx Talks YouTube Channel.
- Personal experience.
Saturday, June 29, 2019
It has indeed been over a month since my last post. Needless to say that I encountered some unforeseen setbacks during this time. Even though it may take me slightly longer than anticipated to resume my usual activities and find new paths so as inspire and improve myself, it will all fall into place in due time. The topic for today is one that I have touched on in the past. With a twist and additional pieces of advice that is. How to memorize content for a test has never been as important as it is in today's world, where technology has made us lazier and less able to search for information properly.
On our daily lives, there are actions we do we do not seem to recall later on. Of course, it would be virtually impossible to remember every single thing we have done throughout our entire lives thus far. Thus, the reason why memories are divided into two kinds. Implicit and explicit memories: Implicit memories are those related with minor and mundane everyday activities. Such as washing your hands or taking out the trash. We mostly do these unconsciously. On the other hand, we have explicit memories. These are actions we consciously remember. Case in point, studying for a test, applying for a job, among others. We make an effort to remember the aforesaid. Since they have a significant impact in our lives.
When it comes to memorizing academic content, many people used to believe that reading silently was the most effective way. Be that as it may, recent studies have proved otherwise. Vocal production. In other words, saying things outloud in fact delivers better results. It seems as though the fact that you are more actively aware of what you are reading makes you better able to remember. This also works for when you are following a recipe, learning to drive or doing anything that deals with steps. Another study technique that has stood the test of time is note-taking without a doubt. Even though it may be hard to follow a professor going through slides, it is worth it in the end. The process of trying to grasp the main points of a lecture and erasing unnecessary words is what helps you recall information. This has been backed up by studies as well. Moreover, contextual cues can also be used to retrieve useful information. As an illustration, imagine you are studying for a presentation at home. You decide to take a short break and eat fruit while in the middle of your session. Well, that break you took not only helped you rest and find more motivation to keep going. Your brain actually paired the fruit you were eating with the part of the presentation where you left off. Hence, giving you the extra boost you needed to perform well in class. Finally, most people believe that alternating between subjects on different days while studying will provide you the best outcome. Even so, swiching between subjects during the same day is not a bad idea whatsoever. This technique is called the spacing effect. Taking short breaks and moving to different topics aids the brain to internalize the information in a more efficient manner.
In review, there are countless techiques you can use to maximize your learing. The ones listed above are but a few of the most well-known ones. Notwithstanding, I myself would add audio-recording the most crucial parts of the lecture. Since this also helps while running through your notes. Other than that, I would add yet one more of the techiques explained in the video. Memory games such as sudoku and puzzles serve as mental warm-ups. Consequently, sharpening your memory and enhancing your focus.
Sources:
- TopThink YouTube Channel.
- Self experience.
Thursday, May 16, 2019
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