The Creators Project and Technology's Double-Edged Sword

The paint isn’t even dry yet at New York’s Milk Studios, where dozens of artists and hordes of fans are about to be spilling over each other – and spilling their drinks all over the place – as they indulge in what will certainly be the most interesting techno-culture festival in recent memory.

But when the big acts hit the stages at the Creators Project launch event later on (including a certain acroynymed songstress, hint hint), proving just how far technology can take us when we know how to use it, it's worth remembering the dangers that come with over-reliance on technology too.

See the Creators Project event live here

(I'm the editor of Motherboard, which is part of Vice/VBS, the creator of the Creators Project).

 

Follow Alex Pasternack on Twitter: www.twitter.com/pasternack

Comments

[J-SIN]

02:40 PM on 06/27/2010

Is it too complicated or too simple to employ a large fleet of boats loaded with rock, crushed concrete, pea gravel, and the like to float out and start dumping over the well? On the coast, there are thousands of barges, just get BP to foot the bill. It's simple, natural, and it'll bring home a lil money. The robotics have failed, and time and oil are wasting. I say it's time for something effective, conscientious, and above all true. It's a historical idea, fact, and concept that people have used for centuries. I do understand the robot is fun, it's cool, it's innovative.. But look, if mankind was really concerned about the welfare of it's future and children's future instead of political greed, region, religion, or the status quo wouldn't the leak already be fixed? We are the kings and queens of the Earth, and some places beyond. Can't you put aside the concept of money to save yourself, or at least the generations that will have to deal with the world collapsing?
J-Sin: Gulf coast artist.....

[Overtone]

02:08 AM on 06/27/2010

The worst case scenario in the Gulf may include a life threatening impact on much of the Northern Hemisphere.

Ironically, technology may be the only thing that can dramatically reduce the threat.

Start with every available oil skimmer. Many may be needed not only to protect the coast, but also to try to prevent oil from entering the Atlantic. A very thin film of oil on the surface in the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans apparently could raise temperatures toward a catastrophic Tipping Point.

See: Life Threatening Danger and What to Do at http://www.aesopinstitute.org

The White House must rapidly consider the possibility that a massive mobilization is needed to combat what might be looming if, as several qualified engineers believe, the leak cannot be capped.

That might mean drilling 8 vertical relief wells around the gusher to relieve the pressure.

Then capture as much of the oil as possible in tankers, barges and if they can be used, supertankers.

We may be confronting a huge national emergency.

If so, an adequate response might, ironically, generate an enormous number of jobs.

Little known breakthroughs involving radically new energy technologies can supersede oil much more rapidly than is easily believed. See Running on Water and Moving Beyond Oil at the same Aesop Institute website.

We need more voices that can be heard suggesting sensible steps to reduce the dangers.

Bold leadership is needed now!

This catastrophe is a wake up call! Time to throw every technological resource into action!