> At some point, goes the theory, computers will get so fast that they
> will surpass us in ability to design new technology. When this happens,
> the rate of change itself will begin doubling, which will feed back
> into the power of the computers doing the design, which will make the
> rate of change even faster, producing...
>
> The Singularity.
>
> I recently had lunch with Eric Drexler, author of what is certainly one
> of the best science books ever written, Engines of Creation.
> (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0385199732/memecentralA/) Eric
> predicts The Singularity will occur in about 25 years. After that, we
> may all live forever, look like we're in the prime of life, and eat hot
> fudge sundaes without getting fat.
Terance McKenna is a little more optimistic. His predictions for the
explosion in the rate on Novelty (his term for the index of the rate
of change) puts the Singularity at 2012.
-Prof. Tim