Although population is currently continuing to grow, the rate of growth seems to be decreasing. Looking up population projections it seems that overall population may actually reach some sort of peak and level off. Of course there are a lot of perhaps unpredictable factors. And this is not to say that we should not be trying to achieve more sustainable means to allow everyone a high quality of life.
UN figures suggest that within 50 years nine out of every 10 people will be living in a developing country. One in every six will be living in India where the current population of just over 1bn is projected to rise by 600m.
By contrast, population levels in Europe and Japan are projected to decline sharply because fertility is falling below the "replacement level" - that is to say, below an average of 2.1 children a woman.
Aug 28 2012: As with any form of entertainment, such as books, music or film. Games combine elements from all of the above and just like those mentioned, games have the potential to provoke emotions, be thought provoking or inspiring, encourage critical thinking or problem solving. They can also provide that fundamental human activity of learning how to do something.
I actually think they have a lot of potential in influencing the way education is structured. When learning something new, we very quickly forget it unless we go over it again soon after and continue to use it regularly. Think of a good tutorial for a game that takes you through how to do things and you then use that knowledge to play through the game. If you go back to a game that you have done this with you will very rapidly be able to remember what to do, just like riding a bike.
If we then think of education where you have the 'tutorial' the period of learning then a large gap and then a test to see if you can remember what you did months ago. This is an inefficient way to try and learn something. Imagine the idea of levelling up a skill and use it for school or university subjects. Learn something then immediately do a test, then go over what you missed and do another test and so on. Divide the subject up into a lot of small incremental levels, and you go up one level once you get 100% in that specific test. Your 'level' can then be your mark for the course.
You can also occasionally have an event where you have groups of students and they work together to overcome a task such as a maths problem or create a story or work of art etc. They are working together realising what they are good at, they can start to specialise in a 'role'.
This ended up longer than i had intended but i am starting to feel like this should be put into practice.
Aug 28 2012: One of the fundamental reasons for money is to have a means of distributing finite amounts of necessary resources.
If we start thinking about what is required for modern living the first step would be to get to a situation where electricity can be free. Some ideas on the not so distant horizon that have potential include fusion energy, the process that can power stars for billions of years. I also like the idea of vibration scavenging, it could be placed anywhere and everywhere humans are. Where the simple act of moving could provide the power to run common devices.
If electricity can become free the next step would be to be able to automate a process of creating food such as the replicator that has been mention. From there you then need free housing.
Some of these are borderline science-ficton ideas such as star trek or matrix-esque(without the machine overlords) However science fiction has a history of becoming science fact where people realise the potential of an idea and then make it reality.
If basic human needs can become free then there is scientific endeavour, luxury items and entertainment, with the actual materials required to create them being free all that is left are ideas.
The established rich and powerful are likely to try and resist such changes, however if we continue to progress and manage to avoid destroying ourselves or decending into endless conflict or war, I think that it is ultimately inevitable.
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A comment on Conversation: How can we sustain infinite growth on a finite planet?
Here is an interesting image
http://www.newscientist.com/articleimages/mg21428653.800/1-egypt-arab-spring-could-be-wasted-in-youthful-nations.html
Although population is currently continuing to grow, the rate of growth seems to be decreasing. Looking up population projections it seems that overall population may actually reach some sort of peak and level off. Of course there are a lot of perhaps unpredictable factors. And this is not to say that we should not be trying to achieve more sustainable means to allow everyone a high quality of life.
Here is another interesting read:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2001/mar/01/population.simontisdall
UN figures suggest that within 50 years nine out of every 10 people will be living in a developing country. One in every six will be living in India where the current population of just over 1bn is projected to rise by 600m.
By contrast, population levels in Europe and Japan are projected to decline sharply because fertility is falling below the "replacement level" - that is to say, below an average of 2.1 children a woman.
A comment on Conversation: Do games really make a better world?
I actually think they have a lot of potential in influencing the way education is structured. When learning something new, we very quickly forget it unless we go over it again soon after and continue to use it regularly. Think of a good tutorial for a game that takes you through how to do things and you then use that knowledge to play through the game. If you go back to a game that you have done this with you will very rapidly be able to remember what to do, just like riding a bike.
If we then think of education where you have the 'tutorial' the period of learning then a large gap and then a test to see if you can remember what you did months ago. This is an inefficient way to try and learn something. Imagine the idea of levelling up a skill and use it for school or university subjects. Learn something then immediately do a test, then go over what you missed and do another test and so on. Divide the subject up into a lot of small incremental levels, and you go up one level once you get 100% in that specific test. Your 'level' can then be your mark for the course.
You can also occasionally have an event where you have groups of students and they work together to overcome a task such as a maths problem or create a story or work of art etc. They are working together realising what they are good at, they can start to specialise in a 'role'.
This ended up longer than i had intended but i am starting to feel like this should be put into practice.
A comment on Conversation: Is There a Future for Money?
If we start thinking about what is required for modern living the first step would be to get to a situation where electricity can be free. Some ideas on the not so distant horizon that have potential include fusion energy, the process that can power stars for billions of years. I also like the idea of vibration scavenging, it could be placed anywhere and everywhere humans are. Where the simple act of moving could provide the power to run common devices.
If electricity can become free the next step would be to be able to automate a process of creating food such as the replicator that has been mention. From there you then need free housing.
Some of these are borderline science-ficton ideas such as star trek or matrix-esque(without the machine overlords) However science fiction has a history of becoming science fact where people realise the potential of an idea and then make it reality.
If basic human needs can become free then there is scientific endeavour, luxury items and entertainment, with the actual materials required to create them being free all that is left are ideas.
The established rich and powerful are likely to try and resist such changes, however if we continue to progress and manage to avoid destroying ourselves or decending into endless conflict or war, I think that it is ultimately inevitable.