On Singularity, “How To Live Forever” & Uploading Your Mind

The great Tim Wu, professor of law and journalism at Columbia University, has been perhaps chief among pioneers of the open Internet. He coined the phrase, “Net Neutrality,” which heads of state, governments, universities and the media now commonly refer to when talking about keeping the Internet open and for ISPs to provide generally equitable speeds and services to all its customers. Net Neutrality also covers the argument that large telecoms like Comcast, Verizon and At&T would like to create fast lanes on the Internet for those who can pay, and slow lanes for regular users, mom-and-pop shops, and even large companies who cannot or will not pay higher rates for faster digital content speeds than the average user.

Opponents say Net Neutrality will stifle innovation, for example, in the delivery of current and yet created applications that will require large bandwidth for delivery. They say the government should not get involved with cost-fixing and who pays what for digital delivery. Proponents of Net Neutrality (such as Google, Amazon, Facebook and Twitter) say publicly elected government officials appoint members of the FCC, which regulates the Internet — funded by public dollars for decades — with phone and cable laws passed in the 1990s and earlier; allowing different costs for Internet access, proponents say, is a form of permitting those with the biggest wallets disproportionately faster and better access to content on which informed democracy relies.

The FCC will announce new rules on the issue Thursday, February 26.

Wu sometimes departs from his adoptive role as Internet champion, and imparts his views on the extraordinary work and passions of those who see beyond digital networks, and look forward to the possibilities afforded by the Internet that might benefit humankind, perhaps even “living forever” — but in one form or another.

“It’s theoretically possible to copy the brain onto a computer, and so provide a form of life after death.” More Here
–Steven Hawking, 2014

Read Tim Wu’s Feb. 22, 2015, short piece in the New Yorker, “How To Live Forever”.

Greg Goaley, President of WinCommunications in Des Moines, Iowa, is a former copywriter and creative editor, and a 25-year digital content strategist and provider. Kathryn Towner is President of WinM@il USA, a former 15-year sales rep for Random House/McGraw-Hill, and a 20-year permission-based email publications consultant and provider.

“To Kill A Mockingbird” and “Watchman” In The Internet Age

Whither Cyberspace Scout?
Back in July 1960 when Harper Lee published “To Kill A Mockingbird”, the Internet was a rough skeleton of university and government computer networks, more accustomed to crude bits of data transfer and big ideas yet realized, versus the flood of information and media that we enjoy (or despise), along with programming that some of us work with today. But what if Lee’s nearly universally acclaimed novel — “Mockingbird” was ranked the best novel of the century in 1999 — had been published now, in the Facebook and Twitter age?

“Go Set A Watchman”
Although it is difficult to compare a sequel, set more than one half century forward, we might soon find out. Lee and her representatives are expected in July 2015 to publish Lee’s late, late follow-up, “Go Set A Watchman”. Some question whether the reclusive Lee, at age 88, has a full grasp of these events, or whether she even wrote the new book at all. But her closest friends and advisers say she is “sharp as a tack,” and just doesn’t want to talk or deal with the media, which rings true; Lee has not granted one interview since 1964. And given the torrent of media coverage today, one wonders whether Lee would have tried doing ANY of this, had she started writing in the Internet Age. She might have been bemused and unmotivated trying to take on our current wired and un-wired world, as she showed such courage against mid-century racism and the beauty of co-existing as equal people in her original work.

Social Will Push “Watchman” Exponentially
“Go Set A Watchman” reportedly follows the memorable and charming adolescent character Scout of Mockingbird fame into adult life. This means that handles like “@ScoutWatchman”, or “@HarperLeeSequel”, or similar names will no doubt grace the Twitterverse. This will mean that the Harper Lee machine will push the book on Facebook, and that the immortal good lawyer Atticus Finch, “Mockingbird’s” chief protagonist whom Lee based on her father, will get his own likes, follows and comments on social media.

Debase Modern Culture Might Have Drowned Out Atticus
The great Atticus Finch, played by Gregory Peck, might also have demurred at what passes for acceptable language and grammar in today’s cell phone- and tablet-fueled world. In the Internet Age, one wonders whether both Atticus and Scout — not to mention Tom Robinson (the falsely and racially accused black farmer) and “Boo” Radley (played by a young Robert Duvall) — might have been drowned out by the likes of the Kardashians, Pit Bull or myriad talking head web flame-throwers.

Although Lee’s original “Mockingbird” automatically blows a great gust of marketing wind into the sequel, we might get a glimpse soon, when “Go Set A Watchman” comes out summer this year.

Greg Goaley, President of WinCommunications in Des Moines, Iowa, is a former copywriter and creative editor, and a 25-year digital content strategist and provider. Kathryn Towner is President of WinM@il USA, a former 15-year sales rep for Random House/McGraw-Hill, and a 20-year permission-based email publications consultant and provider.

Internet As A Utility? FCC Tips Net Neutrality Hand Before Feb 27 Vote

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler: This Is How We Will Ensure Net Neutrality
NetNeutrailityFCCChairmanTomWheeler

Utility Talk Concerning – Critics Might Allege Government Takeover, Proponents Argue that Wheeler’s Proposal – As Announced – Prevents Corporate Internet Takeover – Broadband & Telecom Traffic Required To Provide Equal Access to All Content Requests – No Fast or Slow Lanes for All People and All Companies with Internet Access

Greg Goaley, President of WinCommunications in Des Moines, Iowa, is a former copywriter and creative editor, and a 25-year digital content strategist and provider. Kathryn Towner is President of WinM@il USA, a former 15-year sales rep for Random House/McGraw-Hill, and a 20-year permission-based email publications consultant and provider.

Google to Show Twitter Search Results, Again

“Google-ized” Tweets Will Show Up Again First Half of this Year – So How Will Google Present Search Results “Logically & Consumably” – How Do Users Avoid Getting Wet with All of Twitter’s New “Firehose” Traffic – 21 Million Tweets Are Sent Daily

Bloomberg: Twitter Reaches Deal to Show Tweets in Google Search ResultsBloombergGoogleTwitter

Greg Goaley, President of WinCommunications in Des Moines, Iowa, is a former copywriter and creative editor, and a 25-year digital content strategist and provider. Kathryn Towner is President of WinM@il USA, a former 15-year sales rep for Random House/McGraw-Hill, and a 20-year permission-based email publications consultant and provider.

Meet Bina48, The World’s Most Advanced Humanoid Robot

She’s Not Rutger Hauer – Otherwise, “Roy,” The Greatest Replicant in Ridley Scott’s Legendary “Blade Runner” – But Rutger is Human, Which Is Cheating

Bina48 Is Practicing The Lengths of Current Artificial Intelligence – But “We,” That Is, “We Human Replicants” – Have A Long Way To Go

Greg Goaley, President of WinCommunications in Des Moines, Iowa, is a digital content strategist and provider, and Kathryn Towner is President of WinM@il USA, a 20-year permission-based email publications consultant and provider.

Holy HoloStudio: Microsoft CAN Innovate!

Blow-Your-Mind Time: HoloStudio & HoloLens Emerge To Bend Laws of Physics & Light
Just sample this likely game-changing HoloStudio and HoloLens headset computer — only a 1-1/2 minute segment from the BBC — and then we will cover the otherworldly but clearly possible changes in computing as we now know it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALYbY5qrRqU

Windows 10? WHAT Windows 10?
In an ironic role reversal, the new Windows 10 launch is the clear bridesmaid — whereas the Holo Studio Suite that comes with it, represents the dazzling, game-changing bride. http://tinyurl.com/l98n6y2

Microsoft As The Surprising Innovator, Versus The Acquisition Behemoth
Difficult as it is for this decades-long Apple disciple to acknowledge, Microsoft might have moved the pace of computing beyond all realm of belief before our own eyes, and could augment our sense of what is real or not as we have imagined for at least the last 50 years in computing.

Seems At Least As Important As YouTube, with Greater Promise
Stretching it? Consider: Almost straight out of the demonstration chute, the Holo Studio — platform/OS/app and possible-computing-life-changer — has amazed even this Microsoft critic and many others  This launch bears close resemblance to when I nearly fell over some 10 or more years ago at the possibility of consuming “all things media” just by visiting a little place called YouTube.

Holographic Heaven Beyond Google Glass
Launched last week, but in research and rendering since at least 2008, HoloStudio and HoloLens represent the promise of a Holographic Heaven beyond Google Glass (which is currently re-tooling its “glasses” likely in partial response to Microsoft’s salvo), and beyond the more famous Tupac hologram concert series. Somebody smart once trademarked the phrase, “This Changes Everything.” Well, “this” — from Microsoft of all places — just might.

Improving Star Wars But Practical Home & Work Life As Well
Never been a Star Wars geek, but remember Princess Leia of movie fame?  There was the hologram of the lovely princess, projected from the belly of the cute robot R2-D2, warning lovely Leia that danger lay ahead. But her image was just a one-dimensional projection of Leia and recording of her simply standing, leaning and speaking. By important contrast, HoloLens can project 3-D images of objects — and human avatars that look pretty darn real — into your current space, in real time.

Seemingly Endless Real-Life Applications
Strong manufacturers, large meeting planners, construction firms architects and others have for at least a decade widely used 3D modeling that features human avatar walk-throughs in future buildings, to collaborate on specifications for needs and possibilities that “wow” the client. Executives and engineers virtually walk through the computer-rendered building together, but in real-time and real space, no matter distance. HoloStudio and HoloLens development is making it “more real” and by that, a rendering of that person — replete with all human characteristics and physical attributes — looks to be possible with Holo. This is despite the challenge of getting middle or late adopters to wear a computer on their faces, or any wearable, but this is where computer science is taking us. Fast.


Closer & More Frequent Relationship Possibilities Previously Unmatched in Human History
Imagine a meeting with distant relatives and friends, and you are seeing them on your couch, and they are seeing you at their kitchen table. Or both places. Imagine visiting a sick friend in the hospital, the friend sees you, and you see him, either at home or from the hospital bed. Or both. Imagine simply visiting a close while blithely chatting on your patio — together, in real time and space, no matter where both of you are on the planet, or off-planet. This is power, folks: “Communication, no matter time and distance.” The smallest world ever, for better or worse, we have gotten there in many ways — smoke signals, bells, the Gutenberg Press, telegraph, telephony, digitally — and now Microsoft’s HoloStudio and HoloLens.

Greg Goaley, President of WinCommunications in Des Moines, Iowa, is a digital content strategist and provider, and Kathryn Towner is President of WinM@il USA, a 20-year permission-based email publications consultant and provider.

Net Neutrality: Is the Internet a Necessity?

Two Takes On Net Neutrality:
Nay To Net Neutrality from The Wall Street Journal

Yea To Net Neutrality from John Hodgeman and SaveTheInternet.com

FCC Votes On Net Neutrality Feb 26, 2015
As the U.S. Senate and House hold hearings this week on Net Neutrality, pitting large cable and media service providers against mom and pop businesses, a February 26, 2015, vote by the FCC will shape future plans to regulate equal broadband access for all users, or deregulate access and create “fast lanes” for larger interests.

Importance of the Internet for All
The Internet increasingly has become a most crucial part of our daily lives, linking people and interests — no matter time or distance — like no other innovation in history, except perhaps for human language itself.

Two Perceived Sides to Net Neutrality
As businesses of all types and sizes increasingly polish their web sites, social and video media, with an eager public thirsty to consume good content — the battle waging this week in Washington, D.C. and across the country pits those who value an open Internet for the sake of greater business and personal rights, against cable companies and activists who argue that regulating the Internet will stunt growth and investment in the world’s most powerful medium.

Fast Lanes for Large Providers, Slow Lanes for Others
The Net Neutrality debate is highly wonkish and complex. But boiled down, the issue is one of faster web service (‘fast lanes”) for some (broadband cable and phone service companies like ComCast, AT&T and Verizon, their investors and high-end subscribers), and slower web service (“slow lanes”) for others (average customers, small to medium-sized companies, regional Internet service providers and web giants Google, Facebook, Amazon and Netflix).

Slowing Progress or Stunting Innovation?
Large media service providers argue that net neutrality advocates are slowing progress and stunting innovation of services only recently imagined, while net neutrality advocates say fast lanes for some and slow lanes for others will inherently block access to information for better business, more informed government and other functions.

Current Web Access Generally Equal
Up to now, simple web access has been practiced on relatively even terrain; more often than not, a regular user can pull up a standard web site pretty quickly, and large providers can compete with small and medium-sized businesses for eyeballs and greater ad or business revenues.

Highest Bidders Might Change The Web
Net neutrality advocates say large broadband providers will turn the Internet into what the old America Online screens used to look like: large banners dolled out to the highest bidders for the “right” to provide content to users.

21st Century Web & Lower Consumer Costs
Large broadband providers say their plans to lobby Congress and the FCC will bring media into the 21st Century, reduce costs for consumers and enable innovations on enhanced platforms to heighten user experience.

FCC Notice on the Open Internet

Greg Goaley, President of WinCommunications in Des Moines, Iowa, is a digital content strategist and provider, and Kathryn Towner is President of WinM@il USA, a 20-year permission-based email publications consultant and provider.

Older Web Sites Need WordPress for Customers with Mobile Devices

Mobile Marketing Trends 2015, Digital Forecast & Future Video

Losing Mobile Customers
It’s important that any company or interest with a web site knows that if they do not have a custom-built site or one created with WordPress, then they are likely losing customers who increasingly rely on mobile devices most of the day. WinCommunications has built dozens of web sites with WordPress, which makes mobile content look good on phones or tablets. Nothing against “classic” sites that mobile devices can generate, but folks should know that mobile is still tricky — for your customers and prospects — without WordPress.

Four Tips To Build Positive Relationships with Your Mobile Audience:
• Get Customer Permission
• Understand the Customer
• Know Your Audience
• Be Relevant: Right Person, Right Message, Right Moment

Greg Goaley, President of WinCommunications in Des Moines, Iowa, is a digital content strategist and provider, and Kathryn Towner is President of WinM@il USA, a 20-year permission-based email publications consultant and provider.

“Internet of Things” Dominates Vegas 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show

“The IOT” Has Arrived
Any attempt to sum up the gargantuan 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show, ending today in Las Vegas, might be futile, but here we go. Every day, mundane items (washers, ovens, tools) mutate into web-enabled, futuristic devices — this is one way to view what has been described as “The Internet of Things.” Welcome or not, “IOT” has arrived.

Internet of Things Breathes Life into CES 2015
Immutable proof of IOT is CES 2015, which has ebbed back up in terms of credibility for hundreds of thousands of future-age and readily available technologies. CES had been the most reputable innovations display of the last decade and more, but perception of the show had dropped in recent years. Critics bemoaned the same-old, same-old products year after year, with only minor differences.

Automobiles Boost CES Importance & Hype
Not so in 2015, and the reason for the renewed hype is largely due to the automobile industry’s important innovations, both inside and outside the vehicle. From hydrogen fuel cells and self-driving cars, to smart cameras and safety technologies, cars and trucks will never be the same. The show drew an estimated 150,000 people and 20,000 gadgets — all on the square footage equivalent to 36 American football fields. Innovations and devices included the following rough list:

Tens of Thousands of “Internet of Things” Innovations
Hydrogen fuel cells for vehicles, wearables, facial recognition camera for home security, cameras in LED light fixtures and bulbs, stress-reducing headware, hover boards, smart washers, driers and ovens for smart homes — even smart forks and smart rings.

Plus: treadmills with scenic screens, drones in all areas of life, bendable and flexible tablets, 3D printers, heat-sensor cameras, privacy and security devices, smart mirrors, 4K ultra high definition TVs, immersive entertainment, 4G antennas for cars.

Finally: mind-soothing headware, hover boards, smart washers and driers for smart homes, treadmills with scenic screens, drones in all areas of life, and bendable/flexible pads and readers.

And much more.

Greg Goaley, President of WinCommnications in Des Moines, Iowa, is a digital content strategist and provider, and Kathryn Towner is President of WinM@il USA, a 20-year permission-based email publications consultant and provider.

Molecular Computing Will Come Before Quantum Computing

Future of Computing – I’ll Take Mine Molecular, not Quantum, Yet.

The great Makio Kaku, American communicator and popularizer of science, futurist, theoretical physicist, and Henry Semat Professor of Theoretical Physics at the City College of New York, discusses the future of computing above.

Computers Already Exist on One Carbon Atom
Although quantum computing gets a lot of press over molecular computing, Kaku reasons that molecular technology will take hold in terms usability and scale, well before quantum scientists and programmers work out the instabilities of basic quantum mechanics. Molecular computers already exist, based on molecular transmitters made on graphene, otherwise one layer of carbon developed on what Kaku calls “a giant sheet…the smallest molecular computer we have is one carbon atom.”

Greg Goaley, President of WinCommnications in Des Moines, Iowa,  is a digital content strategist and provider, and Kathryn Towner is President of WinM@il USA, a 20-year permission-based email publications consultant and provider.