Unit Ten
Brave New World

READING


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Chapter Nine dicussed some of the many changes in computers that are happening now. We learned one way that humans and robots will become more similar: with tiny computers becoming parts of our body. Yet another development is making us and our computers more like each other.

All life that we know of is based on carbon, from the smallest bacteria to the most advanced mammals. Science fiction often speculates about life forms based on silicon. As you know, today s computer chips are made of silicon. However, as computer chips become smaller and smaller, new methods of making these chips will need to be found. One way to make these chips smaller is to make them organic, that is, carbon-based, rather than silicon-based. In this scenario, computer chips would be living cells. They would grow, be able to reproduce themselves, and even learn. They would be alive.

At the other end of the scale, the other big changes have to do with connecting everyone and everything on the planet. You can see how your cellular phone is already making this a reality. However, this is just the beginning. Satellites will make connecting Third World countries to the infrastructure much more rapid than if copper wires or optical cable were to be used. Not only people and computers will be connected, but all our appliances and everything we own.

At the end of the twentieth century, the Internet seemed like a great miracle that symbolized the peak of human achievement. Only a few years later, we can see that the Internet is merely a primitive model for much greater accomplishments that we can hardly imagine as we look to the next century.


Why notkeep a record of your reading score?
That way, you'll be able to see how much you improve.

Questions

  1. It's likely that humans and robots will continue to become more like each other.


  2. All life is based on silicon.

  3. Chips based on carbon could be smaller than those based on silicon.

  4. Third World countries will have a hard time getting connected to the Internet.

  5. Which of the following life forms are based on carbon-based?

  6. In the future, it's possible that computer chips will be

  7. Which of the following will help Third World countries "get connected" quickly?

  8. What is an example of the trend to connect everyone and everything on the planet?.

  9. Where is silicon-based life found today?.

  10. In the future, today's Internet will seem like a.

correct on first try

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Vocabulary

accomplishment - significant thing one has done, usually with great effort

carbon - 炭素

infrastructure - all the man-made connections that help us travel, communicate, and live

primitive - old, simple, and limited by design

silicon - シリコン

symbolize - be a sign (symbol) of, represent

Things to think and talk about:

Compare our world with the world of 100 years ago (1900). What do you think the biggest changes have been? Why?

Imagine the world 100 years from now (3000). What do you think will have changed? What will be the same? Why?

What kind of world do you want for your children and grandchildren? What do you fear the most about the future?

Interesting links:

A very interesting look at ideas about the future:
http://www.fortune.com/fortune/broadband/frame.html5

OK, so you've finished these chapters, and I hope they weree fun and useful. I'd really appreciate hearing what your impressions are. I'd love to read your comments, so please send them to tonysilva@mac.com.

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