B1 – Intermediate
Cloning has long been a subject of debate since the year dot. Supporters of cloning claim that it is the answer to preventing endangered species from disappearing as well as allowing human beings to live healthier lives. But just recently, another form of cloning has come to rise – digital cloning, wherein a copy of your “self” will be created online.
Read this blog about digital heaven.
Digital Heaven
If you had the opportunity to live forever, would you take it? The obstacles to keeping your body alive indefinitely still seem insurmountable, but some scientists think there is another possibility opened up by digital technology: creating a digital copy of your “self” and keeping that “alive” online long after your physical body has ceased to function.
In effect, the proposal is to clone a person electronically. Unlike the familiar physical clones – offspring that have identical features as their parents, but that are completely separate organisms with a separate conscious life – your electronic clone would believe itself to be you. How might this be possible? The first step would be to map the brain.
How? One plan relies on the development of nanotechnology. Ray Kurzweil – one of the prophets of artificial intelligence – predicts that within two or three decades we will have nanotransmitters that can be injected into the bloodstream. In the capillaries of the brain they would line up alongside the neurons and detect the details of the cerebral electronic activity. They would be able to transmit that information to a receiver inside a special helmet or cap, so there would be no need for any wires protruding from the scalp.
As a further step, Ray Kurzweil also envisages the nanotransmitters being able to connect you to a world of virtual reality on the internet, similar to what was depicted in the film ‘Matrix’. With the nanotransmitters in place, by thought alone, you could log on to the internet and instead of the pictures coming up on your screen they would play inside your mind. Rather than send your friends e-mails you would agree to meet up on some virtual tropical beach.
For Ray this would be, quite literally, heaven. Once you upload the brain onto the internet and log on to that virtual world the body can be left to rot while your virtual self carries on playing Counter Strike for ever.
Generations of Christians believed in Christ partly because his resurrection held out the promise that we too might be able to enjoy life after death. But why wait for the Second Coming when you can have a shot of nanobots and upload your brain onto the internet and live on as an immortal virtual surfer?
Who needs faith when you’ve got broadband?
(One snag: to exist on the net you will have to have your neural network parked on the computer of a web-hosting company. These companies want real money in real bank accounts every year or they will wipe your bit of the hard disc and sell the space to someone else. With your body six feet underground how will you pay? Here the anology with heaven really breaks down. God keeps heaven going for free, but the web is something you have to pay for.)
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “cease” mean, “Creating a digital copy of your “self” and keeping that “alive” online long after your physical body has ceased to function.”? Use it in a sentence.
- What does “insurmountable” mean, “The obstacles to keeping your body alive indefinitely still seem insurmountable.”? Use this word in a sentence.
- What does “virtual” mean, “Rather than send your friends e-mails you would agree to meet up on some virtual tropical beach.”? Use it in a sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- What do you think about ‘digital cloning’?
- Would you like to be cloned and/or digitally cloned? Why/why not?
- With this technological advancement, how do you see the future of humanity?
- What can you say about the the last statement-question ‘Who needs faith when you’ve got broadband’?
16 replies on “Digital Cloning”
1. I will give 3 reasons why I think digital cloning isn’t feasible:
a. The relation between the physical and mental worlds isn’t understood at all. Mainly because there’s no satisfactory explanation on the physical reality, not at least, outside conscience.
b. It seems to me that without a body, without a known finishing line on anything we do, even on our lives; without pain, passion, feelings.. life would have no meaning at all and we would be just another complex AI.
c. It seems almost physically impossible to make the trillions of connections necessary in that supposed transfer. But also, the physical storage for all the data that a conscience would need and the amount of energy necessary for the whole process, makes it totally unfeasible.
2. I wouldn’t like to be cloned, I think this would be like living literally in hell. Because of the eternal and insurmountable boredom that I would suffer, it would be the worst torture of all.
3. It would be the end, the earth would collapse for being unable to produce the necessary requirements of energy. But also the end in terms of human life experience and the highest value we actually give to it.
4. It’s a cheeky loaded question. It assumes the hypothesis that religion is a kind of social therapy for death anxiety. Maybe it’s true, but the amount of faith required for believing on this virtual life is also massive. Perhaps the role of religion is being taken today by this kind of pop science.
Welcome to the PE Blog! Great work starting with your writing practice.
Note just a minor change that can be made on this sentence to express it better:
May you be able to remain as consistent as you can be.
1- I think it’s a good way to keep our memories alive.
2- Yes, I would, because I would remain in the memory of my close relatives.
3- In my opinion, it’s a great step forward, towards preserving our culture as human beings.
4- I don’t really agree with it, because a living being is irreplaceable. I think talking about faith involves a different perspective.
Good work sharing your insights about digital cloning.
Here are a few sentences and how they can be properly punctuated:
Happy writing!
What do you think about ‘digital cloning’?
I disagree because I believe the essence of life is to take advantage of every moment before you die. If you were immortal, you wouldn’t do everything you do. On the other hand, I think that even if you clone yourself, you’re not that person, and that would be strange.
Would you like to be cloned and/or digitally cloned? Why/why not?
No, I prefer to leave this world when I die, because the person I am is impossible to reproduce, and the environment I have with my family, friends, my experiences…
With this technological advancement, how do you see the future of humanity?
I think this world is becoming more and more dependent on technology every day, and I think this is the perfect example to make us realize that we need to stop misusing technology and start living our lives and enjoying everything this wonderful world has to offer.
What can you say about the the last statement-question ‘Who needs faith when you’ve got broadband’?
I think we underestimate the meaning of life; we should enjoy every moment, every day, and every person in this world. It’s not a matter of faith; it’s just that if we were immortal, we wouldn’t live the way we do, knowing that one day we will die.
Your responses were well-written. Nice job!
See how this sentence can be revised:
To more entries from you!
1. What does “cease” mean, “Creating a digital copy of your “self” and keeping that “alive” online long after your physical body has ceased to function.”? Use it in a sentence.
“The ethical and moral debate about in vitro fertilisation has not ceased”
2. What does “insurmountable” mean, “The obstacles to keeping your body alive indefinitely still seem insurmountable.”? Use this word in a sentence.
“The problems to live on the moon are still insurmountable”
3. What does “virtual” mean, “Rather than send your friends e-mails you would agree to meet up on some virtual tropical beach.”? Use it in a sentence.
“In the game players simulate a physical or real life in a virtual world”
Discussion Questions:
1. What do you think about ‘digital cloning’?
I believe that cloning is always a controversial issue, while many people consider it bad many other consider that cloning is the future of the Humanity. As I see it, digital cloning or physical cloning it will be a acceptable idea if we use it for a good purpose (reduce or cure diseases, for example).
2. Would you like to be cloned and/or digitally cloned? Why/why not?
Yes, I would like to be cloned in order to improve my health or my life expectancy. About a digitally clonning I agree also because it would be funny to live in other countries or situations.
3. With this technological advancement, how do you see the future of humanity?
In my opinión with this tecnological advancement the future of humanity it will be really diferente than now. A strong point against it would be that many people would prefer to live a fun and relaxed virtual life than one routine and stressful.
4. What can you say about the the last statement-question ‘Who needs faith when you’ve got broadband’?
As I see it, faith is really diferent to technology. The technology can help us to live a healthier life but faith can help us to overcome problems or improve bad moods.
You are doing all your best to improve your skills. Good work!
Take a look at a better way to write this sentence:
Keep writing!
1. What do you think about ‘digital cloning’?
I think it’s a little scary to think about. There are a lot of economic interests of private companies that want people’s money.
2. Would you like to be cloned and/or digitally cloned?
I don’t know. I think it’s something I’ve always thought about but I think I’d finally say no.
3. With this technological advancement, how do you see the future of humanity?
The future of humanity is very complicated. Moral dilemmas will be increasingly present in our daily lives as technology advances. I believe our next generations will see as normal things that would seem crazy to us now.
4. What can you say about the the last statement-question ‘Who needs faith when you’ve got broadband’?
I think a lot of people will pay to be digitally cloned because it’s faster than waiting to resurface. Our society look for speed in things and resurrection once dead takes much longer.
Good job so far with your writing practice.
Please consider these revisions in your sentences to improve the way they were written:
Keep going with this exercise. Until your next entries!
1. What do you think about ‘digital cloning’?
I believe it’s something that could look crazy, but it will be really possible in the long term.
2. Would you like to be cloned and/or digitally cloned?
It could be interesting for test how it is, and since a technological point of view too.
3. With this technological advancement, how do you see the future of humanity?
It’s really difficult to predict it. However, there are evidences pointing to technology and artificial intelligence growing on more and more. So, a future fully digital could be possible.
4. What can you say about the last statement-question ‘Who needs faith when you’ve got broadband’?
Faith is something natural in persons. I believe it’s complicated to substitute even in the future the article is explaining.
Thank you for your answers. Keep practicing your writing skills through this exercise.
Please look at these minor corrections in this sentence:
It could be interesting for test how it is
,and since a technological point of view too.1. What do you think about ‘digital cloning’?
I think that science and new technologies are advancing more and more every year and I think that if many years ago Dolly’s sheep was clonated, why will not possible digital cloning many years before? Although in my opinion, I think that it os so difficult to keep up with good results.
2. Would you like to be cloned and/or digitally cloned?
If I could choosing, I would like to be cloned the people who I love, because due to this reason, I will ensure that they will be eternal.
3. With this technological advancement, how do you see the future of humanity?
If I close my eyes and image the near future, I think that a lot of human tasks will be replaced by macchine. For example, currently, if you look in supermarket many cashiers have been replaced by machine which carry on at same tasks.
4. What can you say about the the last statement-question ‘Who needs faith when you’ve got broadband’?
When new techniques about cloning will be able to cloned a brain of human, maybe I will say that people only are going to need a broadband but until this moment will happened I think that all of them may have a faith.
It’s good to read you insights on this topic. Many thanks for your time writing these answers.
Here is a correction for you:
1. What do you think of this ‘digital cloning’?
It’s like Ghost in the shell or Lain serial experiment… should we consider those entities humans? So I think this is something we have to keep thinking before doing it.
2. Would you like to be cloned and/or digitally cloned?
No, I wouldn’t.
3. With this technological advancement, how do you see the future of humanity?
Black, really black. To me, those are not humans, are machines with a copy of human brains.
4. What can you say about the the last statement-question ‘Who needs faith when you’ve got broadband’?
In my humble opinion, this has nothing to do with faith, but with facts. A copy of your brain is going to be made available in a machine. In order for that brain to go on working, you still need electrical current, software and hardware, so it is not like you are “alive”, but it is only a copy, not a human being.
1. Sounds interesting but sadly seems to be a little impossible that can be a reality in few years and I don’t know if will be possible to know this technology or I will die before.
2. Yes if with this thing I will be able to live for many years more and I will be able to do incredible things like play football in real stadiums or surfing in the best beaches… for me is better than only die because when you died we have the possibility to don’t have anymore after.
3. I don’t know. I remember that NASA said the last year or two years ago that the more realistic science fiction film of the history was Gataca because talk about the people of the future and the fight to exist between the people to have the possibility to choose his genetics and the people to can’t choose the best genetics. The people to can choose his genetic will be the élite, the aristocracy of the future because they would be able to work in the best jobs and for this reason will have more money than the others. If the NASA says that this things probably seems to be the more realistic scenario of the future I think that probably they knows more than me and the future really will be like that.
4. I think that this expression refer to if the people have clear his future probably don’t need to have faith in nothing that don’t know very well.