TED Community » Amanda Giarla

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I'm passionate about

Systems Architectures, Three Dimensional Computer Graphics, Education, Cybernetics, Virtual Realities and Food Knowledge.

An idea worth spreading

Knowledge should be free...

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Knowledge systems...

People don't know that I'm good at

Perceptions in technology.

Comments

• TEDCred score: +3.30 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

• +4

  A comment on Conversation: Technology doesn't create loneliness, it reveals it. Once revealed, technology can help alleviate isolation and spur connection.

  Apr 3 2012: I don't agree that technology reveals loneliness in all cases. First let me say that I enjoy solo hikes where I can meditate as I walk and listen to nature while I reflect on my place in the Universe. For those of us that are educated in the Art of High Technology, (I have a BS in Computer Science) technology extends our range of connections. I now communicate with more people than I was able to in the 80's. I have TXT chats with friends that I rarely have time to be with. But we like keeping up with each others lives and families. My iPhone photo album is quite extensive.
  
  I must admit that my children no longer pick up the phone when I call. They send me a TXT asking me what I wanted -AND- I get irritated "I just wanted to talk, to hear you via your voice." They send back "can't talk now - maybe tomorrow". And of course they don't.
  
  Not all us use the phone in meetings for TXTng. I often have thoughts that I need to note. I've given up using paper and pen, I now make notes in my iPhone. I can find my iPhone notes more easily (its with me all the time, and yes I sleep with mine as well) than I can find my notes on paper.
  
  Now I do know that virtual realities like Second Life provide a level playing field for the culturally shy, disabled, and/or the nerd that has problems socializing. I can see where this connection can reveal a loneliness, especially males that take on the persona of a female. Those guys are either extremely lonely or predators.
  
  I guess what I'm trying to say is that the human-computer interface is in deed a complex connection that allows us to expand our range of connections. AND it allows us to control the fidelity of connection. I think in time the fidelity of the interface will increase and thus allow us even more access to perhaps other species like dolphins and whales. To allow us more meaningful access to data such as manned space missions.
  
  Amanda

• A comment on Conversation: Which video game has challenged your perspective on the way you live your life and how?

  Jan 31 2012: I've played a few video games in my life from the character based "Adventure" game back in the late 70's to modern 3D virtual reality games such as "Second Life". The only video game that has ever held my attention over a extended period of time is the game "Command and Conquer". With regard to "challenging my perspective on the way I live my life." I honestly can't say video games have challenged my perspective on the way I live my life.
  
  Amanda
• +2

  A reply on Conversation: How would we treat each other if we were not controlled by a need to be right?

  Dec 23 2011: I don't see the connection between curiosity and "being right". Curiosity is about the urge to explore to gain knowledge and understanding. "being right" is a judgement.
• +5

  A reply on Conversation: How would we treat each other if we were not controlled by a need to be right?

  Dec 22 2011: I would like to change your words "I believe having a need to be right provides energy for the brain. The search of truth is why we all thrive."
  
  To: I believe having a need to UNDERSTAND provides energy for the brain. The search of truth is why we all thrive. AND I WOULD ADD we thrive and our consciousness evolves because we are naturally curious.

• A reply on Conversation: How would we treat each other if we were not controlled by a need to be right?

  Dec 22 2011: Acting out "being right" is a waste of my time. I'd rather be on a road to higher consciousness.
• +1

  A reply on Conversation: How would we treat each other if we were not controlled by a need to be right?

  Dec 22 2011: Interesting that you claim "the only way to learn" is through "rightness". Children learn at a super rate before the ego appears. Being right is an Ego Need...
• +3

  A reply on Conversation: How would we treat each other if we were not controlled by a need to be right?

  Dec 22 2011: Interesting thought... "The world will stop advancing" without the drive to be right. It is my opinion that the world advances because "curiosity" is the result of our DNA expressing itself.
• +1

  A reply on Conversation: How would we treat each other if we were not controlled by a need to be right?

  Dec 22 2011: Is it really the case that if you don't wish to engage with a ego strong person that your are then apathetic. The Thai Chi masters teach one to not stand in resistance but to step out of the way of power and guide it away from you. It is easy to perceive an ego strong individual in the act of "being right". Why bother with such a person mirroring back the act of being right in an engagement of a power. There is much to learn from the Universe without engaging in a struggle for rightness.

• A comment on Conversation: In ten words or less, what is a question no one (yet) knows the answer to?

  Dec 9 2011: We have learned to build instruments that can measure gravity. We have developed equations to predict the effects of gravitational attraction.
  
  BUT WHY DOES GRAVITY EXIST?

• A reply on Conversation: In ten words or less, what is a question no one (yet) knows the answer to?

  Dec 9 2011: Isn't that is Cantor's diagonal argument?