技術上來說，其實這不算新聞文章，Cre Comm課程要求學生出版一本雜誌，我們這組想出要寫"預測未來"的雜誌，加入Discovery跟National Geography的元素，我就負責寫"未來技術"的文章，沒想到當肯很愛，給我了個A+，看來我當技術翻譯果然不是白幹...(雖然後來不小心晚交一小時，變成F，可是...我不管啦，A+就是A+，雖然專業態度只有F，吉利安的西方哲學第一課，專業態度比什麼都重要。)不喜歡硬性新聞的人，一定會喜歡這篇：
One day in 2020
New York, America
Morgan Fernandez, a-55-year-old Brazilian immigrant and a successful businessman, runs an e-translation software design company. His invention, applied almost on every computer, has dramatically decreased the need for translation agencies and language education institutes. Now the whole world can communicate in their own mother tongues on line with fewer needs to learn English. Voice interaction used for e-translation is still a challenge to him since the accuracy of translation is highly influenced by the accent and word variation of different individuals. No matter how advanced technology is, human nature is always more complicated.
Fernandez was born in the 70’s and sometimes he misses those good old days where people had to physically meet to speak. But now, people can have meetings on the TV screen, on the Internet, on cell phones and even with the 3D fax machine that can project any object with 3D effect on the fax paper.
“Everything is virtual, virtual, and virtual. I’m so sick of it,” he thinks in bed before he gets up. The central control computer in the house receives his feeling via the implanted chip under his skin and then starts to play his favourite music by Pearl Jam. He stands up, looking out to the virtual window which is playing CNN News in Portuguese. He has lived alone since his wife Maria died in a car accident.
Since computer technology has taken over driving, there are fewer car accidents. Chrysler and GM already invented the original prototypes for this vehicles back in 2000 and had the government encourage car buyers to purchase their cars that prevented accidents by 40% more than conventional cars. Although the computer-controlled car can predict a possible crash and then takes over the driving, there are accidents caused by problematic computers sometimes. That’s how Maria died. She was the last victim before the companies solved the glitch.
His only daughter, Fiona, 28, is also a software designer for robotic technology with special interest in AI (artificial intelligence). She fell in love with her own invention, Stevenson, and plans to get married since robots were given human rights this year. Stevenson is one of many robots that have human emotions and intelligence.
“Steve is perfect. I don’t think I can find any real human as good as he is.” She told her dad on the 3D fax machine. “But don’t worry; we will still get a baby through the DNA bureau. They’ve got everything I need and all I have to do is have an egg in my womb. I’ll talk to you soon, papa.” Fiona’s message finishes. This robot’s human rights have been bothering Fernandez since it was approved.
“I’m really old,” he says to himself, shaking his head to his robot butler Jenny whom he purchased few years ago. Lately, Jenny starts to complain about his smoking and excessive drinking.
“I worry about you, Mr. Fernandez,” she says in a sad tone, “I want you to be happy and healthy. I don’t feel right to let you go on like this.” Jenny projects the emotion control device, a nano-technology chip that controls mood and emotion of the implanter, on the video tile on the wall, a colour digital screen that can show a 3D image. “I know you don’t believe in artificial control, you believe in hazardous drinks and smoking. Everyone else is using it to remain mentally healthy. Go get one tomorrow, all right?”
He grunted a bit, sighed, and then said “I don’t want to be happy again. I feel like betraying Maria if I forget the sad feeling. She just died less than one year after all, Jenny.”
“I think you need help, Mr. Fernandez,” says Jenny sadly.
He just turned on the movie player, chose his old movies and chose Maria and himself to play the roles on the screen. This has become his habit since she passed away. “Jenny, she’s alive to me again. You’ll never understand this feeling,” said Fernandez. “Yes, I understand now,” Jenny thought to herself while accepting his emotion via the implanted chip. She is evolving without realizing it.
Paris, Europe
Pierre Monet, a 32 year-old audio engineer, is obsessed with new technology. He worked for night clubs and concerts as a DJ, so he normally sleeps during the day and wakes up at night. It’s 8 p.m. Monet picks up his Swiss Army knife that he can not live without, which is his Siemens cell phone. It combines all kinds of functions such as taking high resolution photos, browsing web pages, sending and receiving e-mails, playing mp3, taking short films, and of course making phone calls. It can do everything but open a bottle of wine.
Not just that, his cell phone is also his remote control for every home device connected with the central Intranet of the house. But it’s almost an abolished function since the central Intranet already developed itself to sense his thought then accommodate to his life pattern. The lights turn off and the windows turn black while he goes to bed in the morning, then the opposite happens when he wakes up.
Today, he decided to go visiting a virtual shopping booth for a pair of Digital X-ray glasses before going to work. This product has been a hot seller for geeks and perverts, but he just wants to buy it to inspect what’s bothering his robotic dog Sylvester on his front legs.
Sylvester has been limping for few days.
“Sylvester?” He yells out. No answer.
He picks up then dials his cell phone which is also the remote control to the chip implanted into Sylvester. It runs toward Monet while limping.
“You know what? I think it’s time to feel Michiko now.” He met Michiko one year ago in Paris. She is an interpreter who came here for a business trip for the Paris Art Institute where Monet was in charge of the ambient music for that event. Since they met, they’ve been using cell phones to maintain long distance relationship.
Just when he thinks about calling her, his cell phone vibrates. That gives him an almost orgasmic feeling.
“It’s her!” Monet yells. He has set the vibrating tone so that only Michiko can actuate it. The vibration gives out special waves to the nano-devices they both implanted the same time in order to sending emotional and romantic feelings to each other. Since it’s a long distance relationship, any investment to remain in touch with each other is necessary.
“Hello, Pierre?” Her voice is on the phone while her image is projected on the TV screen. “The answer is yes,” she says.
Monet proposed to her a week ago and she just disappeared and couldn’t be reached by phone or on line. “I have felt your brain activity the whole week via the sensor. I knew you are serious now,” she says, “I’ll see you at the airport tomorrow. Dream of me tonight.”
Monet can’t react for few seconds before he finally gets up and bursts into cheers. He sets up his dream enhancing program on PC that will send mild electronic waves to the electrodes attached to his head. He can’t wait anymore to see Michiko in the dream tonight.
Tokyo, Asia
Michiko Tanaka, 26, a Japanese interpreter, speaks fluent English and French. Her parents purposely implant the memory enhanced chip into her on the neck since her twelfth birthday. She could study foreign languages faster and more efficient than other kids in school.
Since e-translation software has been invented, she can’t get written translation cases any more. Her verbal translation is the only way of living for her now since the verbal interpretation requires more sophisticated computing, and e-translation technology hasn’t caught up yet. Her clients are mostly in Europe and North America. It makes perfect sense to marry Monet.
Tanaka just got a cold. She picked up a genetically modified apple that carries cold medicine and extra vitamins and bites into it. Monet has been monitoring her brain activity and knows that she needs extra help in the house. He bought a big helper for her housework, the Airwash, a waterless washing unit that uses negative ions, compressed air and deodorants to clean clothes and can be put anywhere in the room.
“Pierre, you are such a technology junkie,” she smiled and then sent him a happy emotion via their cell phones. It’s just like sending short messages in the early 2000’s. Everyone can send mood and emotion via cell phones. She remembers how sad her mom was when she learned that she is moving to Paris.
“Mom, since now we all can share feeling and emotion on our phones, you don’t need to be sad anymore. Come on, cheer up,” she talks to her mom on the phone.
“All right, all right, I guess you are right. I can see you on the screen, I can hear you one the phone, and I can even feel you anytime. I’m just not…used to it,” she says.
Her mom is a traditional Japanese, who is not used to expressing her emotion.
“We have a long way to go,” Tanaka thinks to herself, presses on the button "floats" on the Airwash and watches clothes being cleaned by the natural forces.
The TV is playing commercials personalized to her need. The kitchen robots and 3D projector are on sale. She realizes that she has been thinking about shopping home devices for moving in with Pierre and immigrating to France.
“Smart yogurt? Maybe I need to buy a dozen of those to make me think clear.” She says to herself, biting the apple.
Robots have creates a huge problem as a source of redundancy and totally automated factories have wiped out tons of jobs previously occupied by blue collar workers or immigrants from the Third World. As an interpreter experienced at various international conferences, Tanaka knows the situation needs to be addressed sooner or later. (1,657)
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