Javid Butler | Project Hieroglyph

Javid Butler replied to the topic Transhumanism in the 21st century. in the Conversation Questionspace 8 years, 7 months ago

Bob-

I’m in the process of getting a novel published that includes advanced human concepts. I take an evolutionary approach, in that there will be diversity in individual adaptations, and that the changes follow punctuated equilibrium in response to environmental conditions rather than any specific path. I find that the wandering branches of…[Read more]
Javid Butler replied to the topic The business side of writing in the Conversation Getting Started – New User Forum 9 years, 8 months ago

Bob-

Thanks for the link, I will check it out.
Javid Butler started the topic The business side of writing in the Conversation Getting Started – New User Forum 9 years, 8 months ago

So far I have not seen much on the business side of writing here on Hieroglyph.

It particular, I’m interested in learning more about the publishing industry, both paper and electronic, and learning more about contacting agents, understanding contracts, and all the mechanics of getting works published.

Some of the greatest ideas in science…[Read more]
Javid Butler replied to the topic Can creativity be taught (or learned)? in the Conversation Questionspace 10 years ago

Creativity can take many forms in the final product-artistic creations of all forms, product creativity as innovation or industrial design, and strategic creativity, etc. The characteristic that we often consider to be genius is more likely a highly translatable creativity coupled with some degree of either knowledge or curiosity.

To elaborate on…[Read more]
Javid Butler started the topic A question of scale in the Conversation Questionspace 10 years ago

As we live in a more and more technologically sophisticated world, what scale should our science fiction take?

There are many scales, of course, so I’ll start with time scale. Faced with complex scenarios where technology is intertwined with social, ethical, legal, political, financial, and many other issues does it make sense to take on these…[Read more]
Javid Butler changed their profile picture 10 years, 5 months ago
Javid Butler replied to the topic How can we design a more sustainable world? in the Conversation Questionspace 10 years, 6 months ago

Good invention does not exist in a vacuum, it is most often driven by direct need, but sometimes by creative exercise. So to look at how to design a sustainable world, we must look at how the world has evolved so far.

There is a program I saw on PBS called “Your Inner Fish” (https://www.pbs.org/your-inner-fish/home/) that explained how many of…[Read more]
Javid Butler replied to the topic What are some interesting science fictional concepts in economics? in the Conversation Inspiration 10 years, 6 months ago

Brenda-

Consider what happens in your Maker society if the concept of reward is not monetary.

Our monetary reward structure is quite recent in a large scale, and quite artificial. On a fundamental level once our needs for air, water, food, and shelter are met anything beyond could be considered incentive. It just happens that the economic need…[Read more]
Javid Butler replied to the topic Urban sustainability in the Conversation Big Ideas 10 years, 6 months ago

Erik-

Some of these things are being done or are under consideration. Solar tubes are being used to bring light into buildings vertically now, and newer ones are looking at horizontal tubes to bring light from the facade into the building core.

Wind channels are an area that deserves a lot more investigation, and I would say are perfect for…[Read more]
Javid Butler commented on the doc Potato Cloud Reboot in the group But what will we eat? 10 years, 6 months ago

Lots of thoughts here, so will keep it to a few.

Light-an orbital station already has access to the best growing spectrum known-sunlight. The larger challenge will be photoperiod and the plant morphology in space. An interesting exercise might be to figure out the orbital mechanics needed to provide plants with 16 hours of sunlight and 8 of…[Read more]
Javid Butler joined the group But what will we eat? 10 years, 6 months ago
Javid Butler joined the group Getting Started – New User Forum 10 years, 6 months ago
Javid Butler replied to the topic Urban sustainability in the Conversation Big Ideas 10 years, 7 months ago

Urban sustainability is not only quite possible, it is vital if the human population is going to continue even at our current size. We currently spend more than 90% of our time indoors in the US, and within a few decades over 60-70% of the world population will live in urban areas. So the question of urban sustainability is very important.

In…[Read more]
Javid Butler became a registered member 10 years, 8 months ago