2.2.01
The Confederation of Multidisciplinary Automaton Scholars 1997 Conference
Port St. Lucie, Florida
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Strand B: Philosophy and Human Identity
10:30 - 11:15 a.m.
Dolphin Room
BEYOND THE LIMITS: Cyborg Dreams and Automaton Nostalgia in '60s TV SciFi
J. Lilly (Cyclone Research)
Abstract: Two recently-declassified studies conducted by the U.S. military compared subjects watching reruns of The Twilight Zone and Outer Limits after taking various amounts and kinds of hallucinogens, in support of cognitive science research based on
cybernetics and information theory. Several bulleted, animated PowerPoint slides will show how the Defense Department invented cognitive psychology to facilitate unprecedented levels of computer command and control. Let's therefore take a second look at previous studies that misinterpreted radio broadcasts from outer space in a celebrated Outer Limits episode as interstellar spamming aimed at marine mammals, such as Flipper and the cool one in "Johnny Mnemonic." We see the dolphins dimly now, as if way way far away through the wrong end of a telescope, a giant at the top of the beanstalk. Hey robots! Anybody hear me down there!