Learning About Energy

Book Challenges Fearful Predictions of Machine Domination of Humanity

As machines get smarter and smarter, the pundits rush in to scare us with their idea of what the future world will be like.  Generally, it’s not a pretty picture they see.  There seem to be only two possibilities.  Either machines will annihilate the entire human race in an unearthly blast of shock and awe.  Or we will all be gradually dehumanized into a race of zombies, mechanically following every wish of the new masters.  “If we’re lucky, they’ll keep us around for pets,” goes the dark humor.

A new book now challenges that dreary view.  “The Virtual Librarian: A Tale of Alternative Realities,” a visionary science novel by Ted and Bob Rockwell, suggests another outcome: the machines will teach us the importance of our being completely human, so that the machines can fully carry out their necessary and complementary mechanical functions.

Librarians Intrigued by Virtual (Software) Assistants

The idea of assistants who manifest as human librarians, but are in fact wholly software, is sparking animated discussion among librarians and information technologists.  These “virtual librarians” appear on a user’s computer screen as friendly “tech support” personnel, ready to answer questions and search out additional information sources.  If desired, the user can select the gender, ethnicity and other traits of these friendly helpers, who apparently never become impatient or lose their tempers.  So what’s not to like?

The possibility that these “librarians” could become autonomous figures with “ideas of their own” presents new problems as well as new opportunities. 

Virtual Book-Launching Party Stirs up Interest in ‘The Virtual Librarian’

In some ways, it was just another book-launching party.  The chatter of the literati, the excitement of meeting a new author, discussing new ideas.  But, in many other ways, it was literally out of this world.  The venue, for one, was different; a very stylish and attractive lounge called the Activ8 Café.  There were some handout booklets available, with the book’s cover, “The Virtual Librarian,” on the front, complementary “blurbs” on the back cover, and some teaser excerpts inside. 

Although there were only three copies of the booklets on display, that number remained unchanged even as copies were being snatched up and carried off by eager participants, whose dress and demeanor ranged from jeans-and-teeshirt to extravagantly elegant gowns.  Everyone seemed to know each other, but there were no name-tags.  Instead, all the names were printed in the air above them, and the names were exotic: imposing monikers like Evis Blackflag and JPatrick Mayne, curious handles like Persis Trilling, and playful names like Twirling Tornado.