Searching For The Future In The Past

An engrossing look at the cultural consequences of technological change and globalization Space radar, infrared photography, carbon dating, DNA analysis, microfilm, digital data bases-we have better technology than ever for studying and preserving the past. And yet the by-products of technology threaten to destroy--in one or two generations--monuments, works of art, and ways of life that have survived thousands of years of hardship and war. This paradox is central to our age. We use the Internet to access and assess infinite amounts of information--but understand less and less of its historical context. Globalization may eventually benefit countries around the world; it will also, almost certainly, lead to the disappearance of hundreds of regional dialects, languages, and whole societies. In The Future of the Past, Alexander Stille takes us on a tour of the past as it exists today and weighs its prospects for tomorrow, from China to Somalia to Washington, D.C. Through incisive portraits of their protagonists, he describes high-tech struggles to save the Great Sphinx and the Ganges; efforts to preserve Latin within the Vatican; the digital glut inside the National Archives, which may have lost more information in the information age than ever before; an oral culture threatened by a "new" technology: writing itself. Wherever it takes him, Stille explores not just the past, but our ideas about the past, how they are changing--and how they will have to change if our past is to have a future.

Time is an illusion

In "The Future of Search Engines," I continue the investigation I began in my previous work, "The Search Engine Revolution," providing a detailed forecast of what lies ahead. In this book, I explore how search engines will evolve in the future, drawing on my track record of predicting technological advancements. My predictions are not just guesses; they're based on current trends and supported by real-world evidence that has consistently proven accurate. For example, I warned last year about the risks of relying too heavily on AI-generated content for SEO and digital marketing, a caution that has been validated by subsequent updates to Google's algorithms favoring human-generated content. Picture a fleet of sleek, voice-controlled search drones elegantly maneuvering through the physical world, ready to quickly gather information and respond to user queries with remarkable efficiency. This isn't just a fantasy; it's a compelling vision of where search technology is headed. These search drones represent a significant shift, seamlessly connecting the digital world with physical reality. Imagine strolling through a bustling city, curious about the history of a famous landmark. With a simple voice command, a nearby drone swoops in, providing a wealth of information instantly. From historical facts to real-time updates, these drones redefine how we access information about our surroundings, essentially turning the world into a readily available database of knowledge. It's important to note that by "drones," I mean smaller, drone-like devices, not the larger drones commonly used today. But why limit our search endeavors to Earth? The future of exploration reaches far beyond our planet. There's speculation about search networks expanding into space, allowing us to explore the mysteries of distant galaxies. As humanity's desire for discovery drives us toward the stars, these networks have the potential to unravel the universe's secrets. Imagine a future where communication with extraterrestrial beings is possible, enabling the exchange of knowledge across vast cosmic distances. I delve into this concept further in my books "The Cosmos" and "Searching for Aliens on Earth and in the Cosmos." While some contemporary scientists may argue for humanity's uniqueness in the universe, the future could offer a different perspective. Remember how Galileo's support for the heliocentric model challenged the prevailing belief in a geocentric universe, leading to his condemnation by the Inquisition. It serves as a reminder that anything is possible. This exciting prospect sparks our imagination and fuels our unending quest for knowledge. At the core of these visionary concepts lies an unwavering commitment to progress. Technological advancements continue to dazzle, offering increasingly sophisticated tools for information retrieval. From AI-powered computing to advanced data analysis, our arsenal of search capabilities has never been more potent. Yet, perhaps the most remarkable aspect of this technological revolution is its inherent simplicity. Gone are the days of cumbersome search engines and endless scrolling; searching becomes intuitive and seamless, seamlessly woven into the fabric of our daily lives. Looking forward, one thing remains abundantly clear: the boundless potential of search technology knows no bounds. It's a journey fueled by innovation, curiosity, and an unwavering determination to unearth answers. So, as we venture forth into uncharted territory, let's embrace the notion that this is just the beginning. With each groundbreaking idea and monumental stride, we edge closer to a future where finding answers is as effortless as posing a question. I hope you enjoy reading this book.

The author of The Long Descent examines a solution for the troubles of our modern age: technical regression. To most people paying attention to the collision between industrial society and the hard limits of a finite planet, it’s clear that things are going very, very wrong. We no longer have unlimited time and resources to deal with the crises that define our future, and the options are limited to the tools we have on hand right now. This book is about one very powerful option: deliberate technological regression. Technological regression isn’t about “going back”—it’s about using the past as a resource to meet the needs of the present. It starts from the recognition that older technologies generally use fewer resources and cost less than modern equivalents, and it embraces the heresy of technological choice—our ability to choose or refuse the technologies pushed by corporate interests. People are already ditching smartphones and going back to “dumb phones” and land lines and e-book sales are declining while printed books rebound. Clear signs among many that blind faith in progress is faltering and opening up the possibility that the best way forward may well involve going back. A must-read for anyone willing to think the unthinkable and embrace the possibilities of a retro future. Praise for The Retro Future “Whether or not you accept John Michael Greer’s argument that a deindustrialized future is inevitable, you’ll appreciate his call for the freedom to select the best technologies of the past—worthy and sustainable tools, not pernicious prosthetics. Greer’s vision of a “post-progress” world is clear, smart, and ultimately hopeful.” —Richard Polt, professor of philosophy, Xavier University; author, The Typewriter Revolution: A Typist’s Companion for the 21st Century “What might your life be like without an automobile, TV, or a mobile phone? Ask John Michael Greer, who lives that way and recommends it as practice for the soon-to-be-normal. Greer says we are embarked upon the post-progress era. Climate change, loose nukes, and resource exhaustion are among its many challenges. In The Retro Future, Greer looks backward to mark the way forward.” —Albert Bates, author, The Post-Petroleum Survival Guide, The Biochar Solution, and The Paris Agreement

Named a Best Book of the Year by NPR and Science Friday A quest to explore some of the most spectacular ancient cities in human history—and figure out why people abandoned them. In Four Lost Cities, acclaimed science journalist Annalee Newitz takes readers on an entertaining and mind-bending adventure into the deep history of urban life. Investigating across the centuries and around the world, Newitz explores the rise and fall of four ancient cities, each the center of a sophisticated civilization: the Neolithic site of Çatalhöyük in Central Turkey, the Roman vacation town of Pompeii on Italy’s southern coast, the medieval megacity of Angkor in Cambodia, and the indigenous metropolis Cahokia, which stood beside the Mississippi River where East St. Louis is today. Newitz travels to all four sites and investigates the cutting-edge research in archaeology, revealing the mix of environmental changes and political turmoil that doomed these ancient settlements. Tracing the early development of urban planning, Newitz also introduces us to the often anonymous workers—slaves, women, immigrants, and manual laborers—who built these cities and created monuments that lasted millennia. Four Lost Cities is a journey into the forgotten past, but, foreseeing a future in which the majority of people on Earth will be living in cities, it may also reveal something of our own fate.

“A revolution is happening in speculative fiction, and Annalee Newitz is leading the vanguard."--Wil Wheaton From Annalee Newitz, founding editor of io9, comes a story of time travel, murder, and the lengths we'll go to protect the ones we love. 1992: After a confrontation at a riot grrl concert, seventeen-year-old Beth finds herself in a car with her friend's abusive boyfriend dead in the backseat, agreeing to help her friends hide the body. This murder sets Beth and her friends on a path of escalating violence and vengeance as they realize many other young women in the world need protecting too. 2022: Determined to use time travel to create a safer future, Tess has dedicated her life to visiting key moments in history and fighting for change. But rewriting the timeline isn’t as simple as editing one person or event. And just when Tess believes she's found a way to make an edit that actually sticks, she encounters a group of dangerous travelers bent on stopping her at any cost. Tess and Beth’s lives intertwine as war breaks out across the timeline--a war that threatens to destroy time travel and leave only a small group of elites with the power to shape the past, present, and future. Against the vast and intricate forces of history and humanity, is it possible for a single person’s actions to echo throughout the timeline? Praise for The Future of Another Timeline: "An intelligent, gut-wrenching glimpse of how tiny actions, both courageous and venal, can have large consequences. Smart and profound on every level.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review) "You close the book reeling with questions about your own life and your part in changing the future."—Amy Acker, actress (Angel and Person of Interest) At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

As a professional organisation, EUROCALL has been aiming to promote innovative research, development and practice in the area of computer assisted language learning (CALL) and technology enhanced language learning (TELL) in education and training. These conference proceedings establish an overview of EUROCALL as it celebrated its 20th anniversary.

OCPA 2000 provided a forum for researchers from the various subfields of physics to broaden their knowledge horizons. It promoted friendship among ethnic Chinese physicists from all the continents and fostered a sense of belonging to a community with a strong tradition of scholarship and heritage. Ethnic Chinese physicists gathered to review past accomplishments and to consider making further contributions to the world of physics.