11. Technologies
Since technologies can cause profound change, it’s important to understand them – their past, present, and possible future.
11.1 Industrial revolutions
11.1.1 The structure of industrial revolutions
“Capitalism, technology and innovation” by Carlota Perez
11.1.2 Technologies and overhang
11.1.3 The fourth industrial revolution
Conversation about “NBIC” on Humanity Unshackled
11.2 Products and platforms
Erik Brynjolfsson on “Machine, Platform, Crowd” at the RSA
11.3 Core technologies
11.3.1 Nanotech
Nanotechnology explained at 5 levels of difficulty, by George Tulevski
11.3.2 Biotech
“The Genesis Machine” – Amy Webb and Andrew Hessel ,Talks at Google
11.3.3 Infotech
Machine Learning explained at 5 levels of difficulty, by Hilary Mason
“The Power of Self-Learning Machines” with Demis Hassabis
“AI for the Next Era” – Sam Altman in conversation with Reid Hoffman at Greylock
11.3.4 Cognotech
“How the brain will be enhanced in the future” by Tan Le at TEDxSanFrancisco
The brain support for memory, explained at 5 levels of difficulty, by Daphna Shohamy
“Kernel, Bryan Johnson, and Neuralink” by Ryan Tanaka
11.3.5 Quantum tech
Quantum computing explained at 5 levels of difficulty, by Talia Gershon
“How Quantum Computers Break Encryption: Shor’s Algorithm Explained” by MinutePhysics
11.4 Technology applications
See also – elsewhere in the Vital Syllabus
- Augmentation (5)
- Health technology (7 and 8)
- Education technology (11.5)
- Social tech (11.5)
11.4.1 Energy
“How space-based solar power can save the planet” by the Financial Times
“Why don’t we all just use Geothermal Energy?” by Just Have A Think
“Is Nuclear Power Green?” by Sabine Hossenfelder
“How close is nuclear fusion power?” by Sabine Hossenfelder
Good sources of supplementary information:
11.4.2 Food
“The End of Animal Farming” by Jacy Reese Anthis at TEDxUniversityofMississippi
“Moo’s Law” – Jim Mellon at Animal Humans
11.4.3 Clothing
11.4.4 Shelter
“How we can turn the cold of outer space into a renewable resource” (improved cooling for buildings) – Aaswath Raman at TED
11.4.5 Robotics
11.4.6 Extended Reality
Virtual Reality explained at 5 levels of difficulty, by John Carmack
11.4.7 Space tech
11.5 Social tech
11.4.1 Access to finance
11.4.2 Access to computation
11.4.3 Access to data
“What is Ethereum? A Beginner’s Explanation in Plain English” by 99Bitcoins
11.4.4 Access to markets
11.4.5 Access to regulations
11.4.6 Access to privacy
11.4.7 Access to security
11.4.8 Access to education
11.4.9 Access to politics
Vital Syllabus 