11th November, Week 13, Session 12: Presentation by classmates

Hello!

Today's lesson was mainly presentations by our classmates. Peer learning!

First presentation: Mind controlled prosthetics (my group's presentation)

We introduced the history of prosthesis and its purpose. While prosthesis has evolved throughout the years, from wooden legs to becoming mind-controlled, the purpose doesn't change. Prosthetic is supposed to help handicap users integrate back into their daily life. After which, we presented on the current level of prosthetic and current research that is on going, what are the current capabilities of prosthetic.

With every form of technology, it must undergo assessment and evaluation. I shared my evaluation of mind-controlled prosthetic with our classmates.

The evaluation is broke down into 3 areas:
1) Limitations
2) Solutions
3) Improvements

Limitations:
It is further broken down 3 main points:

1) Economic: Mind-controlled prosthesis cost a hefty sum of US$8 million dollars and most users will not be able to purchase it. This will make such a technology only available to the rich, and thus widening the rich-poor divide.

2) Social: The friction between humans and athletes. Currently, prosthesis which are not even mind-controlled performs better than the human limbs. Oscar Pistorius's prosthetic leg allows him to use 25% less oxygen while sprinting and 17% less oxygen while jogging. This provides an unfair advantage for 'enhanced' athletes.

3) Safety aspects: Currently, an open skull surgery has to be done in order to implant a chip into your brain which monitors the electroencephalogram (EEG) waves and translates them to signals for your prosthetic to pick up. This form of surgery is extremely dangerous to the patients and can be reduced.

Solutions:
To address the aforementioned limitations:

1) Using the 3D printing technology, mind-controlled prosthetic's cost has been brought down to US$500. This makes it readily affordable to users.

2) Instead of allowing enhanced and natural athletes to compete together in the Olympics. We should create a sub category for enhanced athletes to compete in, this will not only reduce the friction between athletes but also encourage innovation of technology.

3) Instead of performing an open skull surgery, users of mind-controlled prosthetic could wear a cap or hat which monitors EEG waves. Currently, iPhone has an application called Neurocam which does exactly that. However, strapping an iPhone to our head seems ridiculous but this form of technology is definitely within reach.

Improvements:

1) Use regenerative materials when making mind-controlled prosthetics. This will greatly reduce the inconvenience that occurs when users accidentally damages their 'limbs'.

2) Allows prosthetics to have a sense of touch. Without the sense of touch, users are unable to control the amount of force exerted and this makes daily activities such as holding a cup, typing on keyboards or even opening doors difficult.

After evaluating and assessing mind-controlled prosthesis, my group went on to present on future applications. Future applications includes warfare, animals, helping the old and sick to regain their motor abilities.

Here's a link to my group's website: http://wngyiting.wix.com/prosthetics
Do feel free to visit our website and browse at your own free time!

Second presentation: Trans-humanism

This group presented on how humans are going to evolve into something better, in terms of both physically and intellectually.

In particular, I was interested in their environmental view on trans-humanism. They went on to discuss about how humans can be modified to live in outer-space. If any of you wish to watch an entire movie on this topic, go catch Elysium. Basically, Elysium gives you a scenario whereby rich humans who are able to afford these technologies get to live in outer-space, and the poor gets left behind. Will technology eventually boil down to affordability? Their project bears great resemblance to my group's, most of the implications are similar! Find out more at: http://michaellwee2013.wix.com/transhuman

Third presentation: Food of our future

Poverty is not an accident. It is man-made and can be removed by the actions of human beings. -Nelson Mandela

The group focused on Yali's question: " How is it that you white men have so much more cargo? "

They illustrated this point through a short skit at the beginning of their presentation. The rich and affluent countries employing in latest technology to have better yielding, drought, and pest resistant crops. On the other side, poor and developing countries employ little to no technology and often have bad harvest. It was a short 3 minutes skit, but it encapsulated the entire TWC module.

I remember that during one of our TWC lessons, we discussed about how the world has sufficient food to support everyone's needs, but not everyone's wants. 

The group shared new ways of increasing supply of food. The news ways are: GM food and in-vitro meat. 

One interesting aspect will be the FUTURE ways of farming: Such as hydroculture& aquaculture, precision farming, autonomous agricultural systems. I remember how at the start of the presentation, only the rich and affluent countries were able to engage in using these forms of technologies. 

Will these future forms of agricultural technology only be available to the rich? How can we help in making sure that developing countries gain equal access to use these technologies? I think that is one question the group failed to answer.

Link to their website: http://hellotwc.wix.com/foodofthefuture
Do pay their website a visit if you want to find out more!!

Fourth Presentation: Advertising and Reality

This group showed us how technology could be used to could be used to determine each individual's taste and preferences. Through monitoring your most visited websites, marketing researchers are actually able to determine your preferred taste. By having that knowledge, they will then be able to better refine their advertisements to suit each individuals.

Imagine going into a mall and the glass walls of Calvin Klein actually shows you a ripped male model with a brunette. Advertising companies are able to better specifically target each individuals. Why brunettes and not blondes? Why not asian models? By engaging in advance monitoring technologies they are able to understand your taste and preference.

This is scary if you think about it. To me, its akin to infringing on my privacy. 

Link to their website: http://twc2013-sexad.wix.com/twc2013-sexads
Visit their website and learn more about technology and advertisements!

Fifth Presentation: Virtual Reality


This group managed to illustrate the entirety of virtual reality in just 2-3 minutes of their skit. I was really taken aback by their novelty! 

Virtual reality already has its place in simulation machines! I remember going for simulation exercises for my military driving course back in army! I sat in a simulation exercise and drove through Yio Chu Kang! While the graphics wasn't fantastic, it taught me how to brake in time and practice safe driving.

I believe pilots,surgeons,doctors,firefighters,policemen will benefit greatly from virtual reality. Having an alternative scenario where they are able to explore the possibilities and consequences of their actions will allow them to hone their skills without any real negative effects!

The group even showed us how Ikea has incorporated augmented reality, when they placed their iPhone over a Ikea magazine, a chair actually popped up and you're able to judge how the chair will fit into the room. Consumers will better understand the dimensions of their intended purchase without going down to Ikea. This will definitely help save a lot of time!!

P.S. CANNOT WAIT FOR GOOGLE GLASSES !

Link to their website: http://twcvirtualreality.wix.com/twcvirtualreality
I believe this form of technology will be in the near future!

Link to Masterblog: http://twcshahi13.blogspot.sg/
My favourite TWC blog to read and check if i've missed out anything would be Sylvestor's blog: http://twcsylvesteryeo2013.blogspot.sg/

Cheers!