Comic Discussion > QUESTIONABLE CONTENT
WCDT 22-26 August 2011 (1996-2000)
DSL:
Betting on rocket advances, hoping for space elevator.
stoutfiles:
--- Quote from: pwhodges on 26 Aug 2011, 14:16 ---
--- Quote from: stoutfiles on 26 Aug 2011, 13:53 ---There is an algorithm for everything, just because it seems impossible to comprehend the human algorithm doesn't mean it isn't there.
--- End quote ---
Er, see Gödel after class. Then read up on computability. Also there are algorithms which can be described, but which are not executable in this universe.
--- End quote ---
Why are you comparing our universe with one that has many scientific breakthroughs? As it stands the scientists of QC appear to have emulated the human algorithm and improved upon it.
--- Quote from: Boradis on 26 Aug 2011, 14:27 ---
--- Quote from: DSL on 26 Aug 2011, 03:50 ---I'll keep my optimism, thanks.
--- End quote ---
I'm very much an optimist. I am simply saying the reason things have slowed down is not due to a lack of desire. What's holding us back is a non-trivial technical hurdle -- that's all. If anyone's a pessimist it's Jeph who seems to think we stopped going into space because it was boring.
I firmly believe real human spaceflight is right around the corner, possibly within the next few decades. I believe that we just need a major advancement in propulsion or materials science and bam we'll be building orbital colonies and Moon cities like mad. Now that they can make big sheets of carbon nanotubes I'm betting on a space elevator and/or tethers.
--- End quote ---
A lot fo the reason is cost/benefit. Our country, along with most others, is having huge money issues. How much time and money can we throw into a future that many of us won't see when people are struggling to find work right now? We aren't bored, we're just prioritizing.
pwhodges:
--- Quote from: stoutfiles on 26 Aug 2011, 14:30 ---Why are you comparing our universe with one that has many scientific breakthroughs?
--- End quote ---
Scientific advance cannot change the basis of mathematical and computational theory.
Boradis:
--- Quote from: stoutfiles on 26 Aug 2011, 14:30 ---
A lot fo the reason is cost/benefit. Our country, along with most others, is having huge money issues. How much time and money can we throw into a future that many of us won't see when people are struggling to find work right now? We aren't bored, we're just prioritizing.
--- End quote ---
Contrary to popular belief, NASA's budget isn't that large. It's been at or below one percent of total Federal expenditures (PDF file) since 1976.
That doesn't help the public perception problem, but still.
stoutfiles:
--- Quote from: pwhodges on 26 Aug 2011, 14:35 ---
--- Quote from: stoutfiles on 26 Aug 2011, 14:30 ---Why are you comparing our universe with one that has many scientific breakthroughs?
--- End quote ---
Scientific advance cannot change the basis of mathematical and computational theory.
--- End quote ---
I'm confused at what you're arguing now. I'm suggesting no more that what the QC universe has currently shown us, and then mixing in technology we already have. Please tell me, based on what we have seen in QC, that a robot could not be programmed to do a task or express an emotion.
Besides, mathematical and computational theory is just that, theory. There are huge possible advances such as P=NP that have not been proven or disproven, and then there are accepted laws that are possibly changing, such as the speed of light not being a constant. Nothing is impossible, especially in the QC world.
--- Quote from: Boradis on 26 Aug 2011, 14:41 ---
--- Quote from: stoutfiles on 26 Aug 2011, 14:30 ---
A lot fo the reason is cost/benefit. Our country, along with most others, is having huge money issues. How much time and money can we throw into a future that many of us won't see when people are struggling to find work right now? We aren't bored, we're just prioritizing.
--- End quote ---
Contrary to popular belief, NASA's budget isn't that large. It's been at or below one percent of total Federal expenditures (PDF file) since 1976.
That doesn't help the public perception problem, but still.
--- End quote ---
I don't agree with the public but it's an easy cut when it comes to money for politicians. Kick the can down the road.
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