The Future of Fun, Best of TWT

Slide1Phil, Stephen, and Michael D. talk about the future of fun.

  • Will our fun future be jeopardized by peak oil?
  • Will we allow ourselves to enjoy the great future once it gets here? Or will we obsess more and more about less and less serious problems?
  • How much time will we spend in virtual reality?
  • Is the notion that we would get bored with an indefinite lifespan just a new iteration of the Tithonus Error? Maybe we won’t get bored because – in addition to remaining biologically young – we’ll also be getting smarter. This is part of Eliezer Yudkowsky’s Theory of Fun (MP3 of the speech and transcript is at the link). According to his theory, “fun space” is a function of intelligence. The more intelligent we are, the more possibilities of fun we have.
  • Things we can’t grasp today will be fun (and funny) to us when we’re smarter. Consider the Simpson’s episode “Bart the Genius.”

[This show first aired 06/23/2008.]

About Phil 523 Articles
Phil Bowermaster is a nationally recognized author and speaker. He has more than 25 years experience writing about emerging technologies and the future. As co-host of the popular Internet radio series, The World Transformed, Phil has talked with leading scientists and technologists, best-selling authors, philosophers, filmmakers, artists, entrepreneurs and others who are shaping our understanding of the amazing era of transformation in which we live. Phil helps leaders and their organizations develop strategies for managing accelerating change. He shows how imagination, optimism, empathy, and humor can make all the difference in both understanding and making the most of the powerful currents of change we face.