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Okay... long, rambly post ahead, so you might want to get yourselves a drink first. I'd also better warn you that you might want to re-read it a few times as well to get the jist of it.
This month, April, has been declared Autism Awareness Month by an autism advocacy group called Autism Speaks. It's not often that I talk at length about my condition or my thoughts on it, but in the spirit of this month, I'm presenting to you an idea that has been to me that proverbial "splinter in the mind", to quote Morpheus in the first "Matrix" movie.
And the notion is this: persons with autism spectrum conditions are the next phase in human development, and a vital link in the chain of development towards not just creating practical AIs, but for the two species, human and sentient machine, to live alongside each other peacefully and in harmony. I'm not saying that autistics are likely to develop into cyborgs, though I have a feeling they're more likely to embrace becoming transhumans (ie. uploading their minds/consciousnesses into a mainframe of some sort that could handle the processing load that the human brain is capable of handling). But I believe that the fact that autistics think differently than most other human beings do is something liable to "click" with sentient machines, once we develop them. Not to denigrate other humans, but their thought processes are all too often driven by the appetitive aspect of our natures, whereas autistics are more driven by logic in a purer form, the way a machine is most likely to think since they aren't or aren't likely to be driven by the same drives as a human.
There's just one huge problem: the fact that many of the so-called "normal" or should I say, neurotypical humans (for instance, the "cure-bies" who think all autistics would be happier if we were all cured, or the sort who treat us in a manner similar to the way the so-called "moral majority" treats gays and lesbians) don't seem to be able to accept anything that isn't exactly like the way they are. I like to think that God sent people like me to this world to give the rest of humanity an idea of what their future creations will be like and to "practise" getting used to being around sentient beings that aren't driven by the same drives, ones that are more driven by logic than by appetite. The thing is, they have to get over trying to get us to be like them and let us be what we need to be. Because one of these days, there will be sentient machines of some sort, and someone is going to have to keep the two groups from aiming at each other's throats. If the neurotypicals can accept the autistics, maybe they can accept the sentient machines, and not treat them like slaves or property, but as intelligent beings worthy of their own autonomy and worthy of adjustments being made in society to fit their needs.
I can't help wondering how prophetic things like the "Terminator" movies, and especially both parts of "The Animatrix: Second Rennaissence" really are. And I'd hate for the neurotypicals to wind up alienating their autistic brethren and sisters so much that they wind up taking sides with the machines instead of mediating for peace, should there ever be an NBI revolt of some sort. I'm optimistic, but I know how fare too many neurotypicals tend to think and act, and I'd hate to see them seal their own fate.
This month, April, has been declared Autism Awareness Month by an autism advocacy group called Autism Speaks. It's not often that I talk at length about my condition or my thoughts on it, but in the spirit of this month, I'm presenting to you an idea that has been to me that proverbial "splinter in the mind", to quote Morpheus in the first "Matrix" movie.
And the notion is this: persons with autism spectrum conditions are the next phase in human development, and a vital link in the chain of development towards not just creating practical AIs, but for the two species, human and sentient machine, to live alongside each other peacefully and in harmony. I'm not saying that autistics are likely to develop into cyborgs, though I have a feeling they're more likely to embrace becoming transhumans (ie. uploading their minds/consciousnesses into a mainframe of some sort that could handle the processing load that the human brain is capable of handling). But I believe that the fact that autistics think differently than most other human beings do is something liable to "click" with sentient machines, once we develop them. Not to denigrate other humans, but their thought processes are all too often driven by the appetitive aspect of our natures, whereas autistics are more driven by logic in a purer form, the way a machine is most likely to think since they aren't or aren't likely to be driven by the same drives as a human.
There's just one huge problem: the fact that many of the so-called "normal" or should I say, neurotypical humans (for instance, the "cure-bies" who think all autistics would be happier if we were all cured, or the sort who treat us in a manner similar to the way the so-called "moral majority" treats gays and lesbians) don't seem to be able to accept anything that isn't exactly like the way they are. I like to think that God sent people like me to this world to give the rest of humanity an idea of what their future creations will be like and to "practise" getting used to being around sentient beings that aren't driven by the same drives, ones that are more driven by logic than by appetite. The thing is, they have to get over trying to get us to be like them and let us be what we need to be. Because one of these days, there will be sentient machines of some sort, and someone is going to have to keep the two groups from aiming at each other's throats. If the neurotypicals can accept the autistics, maybe they can accept the sentient machines, and not treat them like slaves or property, but as intelligent beings worthy of their own autonomy and worthy of adjustments being made in society to fit their needs.
I can't help wondering how prophetic things like the "Terminator" movies, and especially both parts of "The Animatrix: Second Rennaissence" really are. And I'd hate for the neurotypicals to wind up alienating their autistic brethren and sisters so much that they wind up taking sides with the machines instead of mediating for peace, should there ever be an NBI revolt of some sort. I'm optimistic, but I know how fare too many neurotypicals tend to think and act, and I'd hate to see them seal their own fate.