Hello everyone!
The use of computers, robots and intelligent machines has increased significantly in many activities. Looking to the future, certainly that researcher activity as well as our acting in the academy will also suffer the impact of these changes.
In this context, I would like to know the opinions of colleagues who contribute to the GR, on how they see the new scenario 20, 30 years onwards.
Thanks in advance for all contributions!
I think that we have to differenciate the kind of research we are talking about. F.ex. research in environment is totally different to research in atomic physics; or research in social behaviour is total different to research in medicine technology aso. The future research environment f.ex.in arcitecture and building design will be influenced more and more by including citizen sciences; the same will hapen in social and parts of environmental research. But I can not imagine that this will happen in engineering (material, construction, processes, tool design, quality aspects) problems. The actual hype in 3 D possibilities for everybody in the maker garages and fablabs brings people nearer to engineering. But this trend will not influence research a lot.
Of course in each direction improved simulation technics will be helpfull, no doubt.
Other correct arguments have been said already.
But do not believe that man only use the positve side of future research. As thousands of years back mankind always misused and used positively their own inventions!! There is no hope this will change into the advantageous direction.
Peter
New technologies will overpower human but human intelligence will remain dominant above all.Nothing to worry about.
Human intelligence must direct computer technology. The research will only be as good as the input. "Hands-on" experience will still be needed. It will be sort of like the software for qualitative research that has not been accurate enough for me to use.
It hold true that human technology will remain dominent Dr Roy
Current and future research is being influenced by AI. This in turn impact human intelligence in many environments where data is processed. AI is having an impact where financial transactions are actioned automatically placing financial organizations into a new role.
Human intellenge will need to change and adjust in this new paradigm taking place as we speak. Will research show how many work places this will create or loose as AI rules our lives?
The impact of technology on research will increase and many jobs that are done by humans will be threatened. That said, there is still hope for academics because human intelligence is irreplaceable.
I think the use of technology will help to improve our research in terms of obtaining the type and format of the data we need to support our research. Certainly, the use Big Data is one example as described in this recent book chapter.
Best regards,
Debra
Chapter Affordances of Data Science in Agriculture, Manufacturing, a...
Dear Sir,
The revolution in robotics and autonomous systems has already started now. We live in a connected era where affordable technology interacts with us and with other natural and physical assets in our environment, turning data into information for a global audience.
for example: AI is helping communities in developing nations implement local renewable energy systems by providing intelligent automation and monitoring
After 20-30 year everything will be connect robotic system.it will change paradigm shift .in research.
Research works are ongoing and research findings to meant for use of humans. The new technologies are meant to assist human beings. The human are there to use it intelligently , so I see nothing bad in this . We are able to communicate with each other and share are views with these tech isn't it ?? So no matter how much the techonilogy develops we humans are still going to decide how to utilise it
The laboratories where research will be carried out in the future will be more and more in extreme places. The rooms where research will be conceived, where philosophy will be conceived, as pure thought, they will remain the same. Therefore laboratories will be increasingly populated by machines and robots of various kinds. Theories (philosophy), idea and design of the experiments to be made will always be creation of the human mind. Can a machine, also whether capable of learning (techniques), created by human intelligence be or become smarter than its creator? In my opinion, absolutely not. The Hal 9000 computer (2001: A Space Odyssey; S. Kubrick 1968) can only exist in science fiction films.
I think that we have to differenciate the kind of research we are talking about. F.ex. research in environment is totally different to research in atomic physics; or research in social behaviour is total different to research in medicine technology aso. The future research environment f.ex.in arcitecture and building design will be influenced more and more by including citizen sciences; the same will hapen in social and parts of environmental research. But I can not imagine that this will happen in engineering (material, construction, processes, tool design, quality aspects) problems. The actual hype in 3 D possibilities for everybody in the maker garages and fablabs brings people nearer to engineering. But this trend will not influence research a lot.
Of course in each direction improved simulation technics will be helpfull, no doubt.
Other correct arguments have been said already.
But do not believe that man only use the positve side of future research. As thousands of years back mankind always misused and used positively their own inventions!! There is no hope this will change into the advantageous direction.
Peter
The same question many years ago could've been asked this way:
"How do you envision the future research environment in the academy? Are we all subsumed by math and logic?"
or some years later than that:
"How do you envision the future research environment in the academy? Are we all subsumed by pen and paper?"
For me, in science, we are constantly making new tools and computers and robots are the new tools emerging. They are meant to make us live a better life, but they can be used in anyway.
1) if you're not right-wing neo-liberal, and believe in a bit of socialism, you can hope that robots/computer will make the human race to live a happier, more peaceful and easier life.
2) and if you're a rich guy owing this specific means of production, you can hope that you will be richer.
I don't believe that us (the researchers) would intrinsically suffer from the tools that we are making. We suffer only when we are alienated from our tools, when they put a metric/price on it/ and they make research into a competition, and researchers get exploited and enslaved.
The usage of computers (software/hardware) and robots should be heavily taxed so the resulting unemployment and researchers (who actually advanced the science of it) could be supported.
Edit: this is related and interesting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIt6DugQU40
Yes, may be somehow we all are subsumed by computers and robots. But not totally. My concern is how will we handle these even though we are the creator? Hope, specialists in this field look it seriously.
Dear Mahdi
limitations and restrictions by government are seldom really helpfull. Of course there are fields we have to do so. But I do not see this in the field of computers and robots. Here we are good adviced to let the market forces find their ways. Plan economy was not a successful model.
Peter
Man made the machines so machines can't be considered above humans..... We will find some more new means of communication and that will also be developed by humans. Machines are task specific and can be good in specific scenario. However, tiny brain in human thinks a lot of ideas and transfers information for all type of scenarios....
Humans must continually rise above whatever machines they create. They are good but may have more disadvantages than humans may ever envision. with the concept of development of artificial intelligence. Machine creations would take jobs in a future not so distant anymore. Then, when human redundancy sets in...the worst case scenarios as pictured in futuristic movies will rapidly set in. This should be a warning to us. I would suggest we create machines with human stop gaps, or to work with human aid, and not to totally replace 'humane' functions and jobs.
Dear Peter,
I would like to know the fields where you agree that we need regulations and also their differences with robotics/computer-sciences (where you don't agree).
What guarantee do we have that open-market forces would not lead to total exploitation and catastrophe? Imagine a world where AI/Robotics do every single job, and no job is left for the working class. who is gonna provide job for them (You can be a real Darwinian, and say, if working class is doomed to extinct this way, then let it be). Or you can deny such situation and say that the open-market forces itself would avoid such catastrophes; i.e., people with no job will riot and it will have its "cost". Then, I would say as the rich people get richer, they can afford more expensive catastrophes. Example: Today, top %1 might be a bit concerned with the global warming, but as soon as the researchers find a way "for them" to live on another planet, they will cheaply afford the total annihilation of the Earth. More palpable situation that is happening right now: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coltan_mining_and_ethics (we all love our cheap phones and its price includes a catastrophe in DRC).
Sorry, but as scientist, I would not trust a system (open-market economy which actually is not a system of rigorous mathematics but a religion) without any proof of stability as we have myriad of instances of it crashing.
What I do hope as a researcher is to go against cruel-forces of open-market and build a better world for everybody. So in near-future we would live a Startrek-like-world rather than Matrix-like-world (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIt6DugQU40).
Dear Colleague Osmar Antonio Bonzanini,
Computers do not have the creative capacity of the human being.
Creativity merges the experience giving it a meaning greater than something empirical, because life, speech, time, everything exists at once.
I wish success in your new research.
Best regards,
Dionéia Monte-Serrat
Talking about computer based systems such as computer aided design, and process modellinParticles can be polycrystalline, single crystal or amorphously meant to make life easier for researchers. They save time and energy.
We think robots and computers as very powerful tools for human beings. They will improve the quality of life, and make our research easier and more efficient.
I also think research activity will have different form because more machine learning researchers have already chosen other choices other than research.
Dear colleague,
I would not share the worry with Dr. Bonzanini concerning applying research methodology and designing aided by computers. Researchers would not suffer.Such tools are powerful, and time-efficient available for researchers to reach more reliable analysis and solid and objective findings.
It is true that the employment of computer-assisted resources in some areas of research may not be welcome.
Best wishes
Hi,
Computers and whatsoever advances in technology are so important in researches nowadays as they are time-saving and powerful.
dear Arwa, no doubt! And I won´t miss the assistance of PC. But don´t let us forget to use our brain and our hands to design our work and life.
Peter
Computers and the software running on these are just tools - not very different to hammer and screw driver. Currently they cannot replace the human mind, and I do not expect this to happen the next 50 years.
So, let's use them as they should be used: to offload some work, quickly evaluate (or reject) hypotheses, do the annoying work of data analysis and alike. Which can give us some additional time to be innovative, inventive, "productive".
Hello everyone!
I feel very gratified with all contributions received. I am reading them with my best attention! My best regards!
Dear Colleague Osmar Bonzanini,
I suggest you consider the concerns of Professor Stephen Hawking:
"Professor Stephen Hawking has warned that the creation of powerful artificial intelligence will be 'either the best, or the worst thing, ever to happen to humanity', and praised the creation of an academic institute dedicated to researching the future of intelligence as 'crucial to the future of our civilization and our species' ”.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/oct/19/stephen-hawking-ai-best-or-worst-thing-for-humanity-cambridge
I wish you success on your research.
Best regards,
Dionéia Monte-Serrat
Dear Osmar
I must congratulate you for posting this golden thread in the development of knowledge.
Dioneia's posting above is extremely important.
Citing AI and Professor Hawkin's words reported in the link makes for very exciting reading.
Thank you for sharing, we are privalaged to be on RG with you and all your followers
Best wishes
John Cluett
The future research environment in the academy will depend on huge use of new emerging technologies.
Dear @Osmar, some fine articles about the important issue that you have raised are attached.
https://www.wired.com/insights/2013/07/how-technology-is-changing-academic-research/
https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2011/aug/03/academic-research-digital-online-technology
Dear Omar
Below are some items reviewed on AI and Robots.
These subjects are of such importance in our world of research, that I trust they may interest tor RG colleagues.
Best wishes
John
South African Universities: Wits hosts first Deep Learning Indaba in Africa: 23 August 2017
CAIR: Research in Artificial Intelligence in South Africa
AI hits African Companies
Robots for South African pupils
Binary Automated Robots in South Africa
Professor Stephen Hawking views on AI
Hawking, Musk and Bates views on AI & Robots
AI in China
Robots in China
Dear Colleagues,
I would like to suggest two topics:
- In January 2015, Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk, and dozens of artificial intelligence experts signed an open letter on artificial intelligence calling for research on the societal impacts of AI.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Letter_on_Artificial_Intelligence
- Autonomous weapons: an open letter from AI and robotic researchers
https://futureoflife.org/open-letter-autonomous-weapons/
Best regards,
Dionéia Monte-Serrat
During the last 30-50 years, big corporations expanded their commercial influence around the World. Cheaper transport and fast communications made possible massive migration currents from everywhere toward developed countries, so attracting fresh brain force from poor countries for ensuring a continuous development of their own scientific and technological arsenal while impoverishing less developed countries.
Globally, industry is already in the hands of a few International corporations. Internet helps people to communicate and organize protest against global control. Protests have not any impact because at government level, Big Corporations take political decisions. Big corporations organize everything, education, cultural life, life styles... by controlling mass media, internet... laws... everything.
The Globalization phenomena would define next 30-50 years. Big Corporations will extend their influence into politics to reinforce their current positions and gain full political power, new laws and regulations for protecting Corporation's interests will be legislated. They will fully control states (as they already do in Latin America and Africa since 100 years ago) and will not stop until they control the whole planet. As soon as major political decisions in most developed countries become part of the agenda of Big Corporations, research and knowledge is in general, fully controlled, supervised, and restricted to some privileged people only. The difference with current situation is that right now, we think we have control on what we can do as research and we still believe our research subjects are of public interest.
Today's buzz rumors and warnings about A.I. among the "smartest people" of the planet is only a smart way to attract the attention of general public opinion in a wrong direction. The real danger does not come from machines but from powerful people, real people, hungry and thirsty for more power. Unfortunately.
It's not enough to repeat what we believe is happening in AI and robots, we must apply all our efforts by communicating our concern that this new technology must be monitored and controlled by those responsible, or may be irresponsible, using rigorously formulated practices.
Any form of hacking into these systems will bring a real danger as these complex systems take over from human interventions to destroy civilization or current power, aeronautics, water, security, educational, military and overall communication systems.
These risks are greater in the near future than the risk of AI taking away job. The application of that technology at grass roots level is going to take some time.
John
Dear Ronald,
Thank you for your cooperation. I agree with you. Unfortunately, that's the way.
Dear Jasna,
Thank you for your attention. I greatly appreciated the reading of your contribution!
Dear John,
Very grateful for your contributions!
Certainly all the attention to what you place is necessary. This is also my concern and I can now know the perception of many distinguished colleagues, here of the RG, on the subject.
My best regards!
Hello everyone!
Thank you, once again, for all the valuable contributions and attention given to the questioning.
I continue in the readings that lead us to further reflections.
Certainly I have the privilege of taking care of you all!
My best regards!
Tomorrow’s researcher can expect to work at the intersection of reality and science fiction...
http://cen.acs.org/articles/95/i23/Perspectives-lab-future.html
How do you envision the future research environment in the academy? Are we all subsumed by computers and robots?
Think the advancement of computers, robots, ICT etc. can change the way we think & conduct research. Today we have seen how chatbots are supporting service desks / call centers. Also we have seen many use cases of machine learning, deep learning, artificial intelligence in our work and personal lives etc. Don't think it is surprising some of these technologies might be deployed into the way we conduct research in future. Also want to share the following post on how big data analytics might replace the way we do literature review as part of our research.
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Can_we_use_Big_Data_Analytics_to_Automate_Replace_Manual_Literature_Review_that_are_conducting_by_Researchers
Every scientific action starts with Science fiction. First you think, then you may have an idea, then, if the idea is new you may plan some experiments. If the experiments worked well you may publish the data and what was a part of Science fiction became a scientific topic communicated with experimental data, true or not.
Time will show and colleagues will tell you where and how you are wrong. It's like sport: You try to win, but the OTHER wants to win as well. To avoid killings, fair play was invented on both sides. The different is: After a battle in Sports you got tired and after a "battle" in Science you are accepting or rejecting new knowledge as progress or not. Only future work will propose that you were wright or wrong. Good luck.
p.s. Computers may help you to do your JOB, but the basic idea of what you communicate and how you communicate it is your decision. Computers help you or continue, following programmed routines, what you (or others) started in your (their) brain(s).
Reto J. Strasser "[email protected]"
I think money is very important
than knowledge because no knowledge without money. In addition money is backbone in knowledge.
Dear Hang Ping Fung, All the best! I appreciated the reading of your contribution. Greetings!
Dear Reto Jörg Strasser,
Yes. Time is master of reason and certainly my concern will not be confirmed! All the best.
Dear Osmar,
The answer is no. Because robots are the scientific production of electrical, mechanical, computer, electronic engineers.
But research in chemistry, physics or medicine or the environment or civil engineering can not be influenced by the robotic revolution. I am convinced that the most intelligent robot performance can not simulate 100% human behavior. Because of this, we must not worry that the present and the future are co-ordinated by human behavior and not by robots. It's not the robot that does the management or it decides the war or the peace or does the good and the bad. All that belongs to the man.
The robot is a machine and remains a machine that can fail.
The subject is very vast, I stop here.
Best regards.
Dr. Adel OUESLATI
The biggest inventors are new born babies. Their genuine actions are slowing down, once they go hand in hand with money. (Father of 4 adult children....)
Adel,
Congratulations and many thanks for you contribution!
All the best.
Dear Reto Jörg Strasser ,
I live with it too! I have two daughters .. Greetings!
Dear Dr. Osmar.
Good Day.
I agree with Dr. Ljubomir Jacić answers.
Best Regards
Dear All,
They asked me: How much is a friend worth?
I said: I do not know. The ones I have, I won. They are not for sale and priceless! Happy Friend's Day to all!
"The research environment is progressing. Growing industry workforce, evolving demographics and the teetering economy are the key components of this move forward and will have significant impact on laboratory spaces, operations and work culture..."
http://www.smithgroupjjr.com/design_topics/research-environment-of-the-future#.W1RuCdL-jcc
Thanks alot dear Dr. Osmar Antonio for kind comment. I am very grateful for you.
With highly appreciation.
Dr. Yehya
Hello everyone!
Thank you immensely for the contributions to the questioning.
I take this opportunity to wish you happy holidays and in 2019 we can continue to share knowledge!
Cheers!
Hello everyone! Thank you for the contributions in the questioning and desire, within the scope of individual belief, a Happy and Blessed Easter from here in Brazil!
Dear Yehya A. Salih
Thank you for your contribution!
Regards.
- Badges
- Science topic