Humour

Unravelling the Gyani Web

T A Balasubramanian explains how the Gyani Web can gather the intelligence of millions and make you wiser than you ever would be on your own

So Bobo Jitter, stressed-out CIO at Bazooka Corporation is back in a new session with Dr Don Jong. Aptly called ‘The Oddfather,’ Dr Jong has a propensity to come up with unexpected solutions to deal with the fragile frontiers of IT.

“Ah, Bobo, what new ghost seems to ride upon your back today? You do look forlorn and glum, if I may observe,” says Dr Jong, with a serene smile.

“We spoke a while ago about the endless sound of Web 2.0 buzz. Well, it seems that even before I have had my fill of wikis, blogs and the live Web, it is being overshadowed by the next wave of hype and high noise already, Doc,” says Bobo, nodding his head unhappily.

“Ah, the sweet hype of tomorrow’s technology troubles your mind once again, Bobo. What is it this time?”

“Web 3.0 and all the accompanying fireworks.”

“And what is it that so distracts you about this number 3.0? After all, it is a mere arithmetical progression from 1.0 and 2.0, is it not?”

“Well, it happens to come from Swami Datananda, Paramaguru and CIO of Next Life Reassurance Inc, who is convinced that with Web 3.0, we will be moving into the era of ‘supersensitive computing’—which will go way beyond a mere jump in productivity, ease of social bonding or the shared pleasures of self-expression and interactive experiences which Web 2.0 is pushing so enthusiastically.”

“And what does the Swami project?”

“I was at a seminar where he spoke forcefully about how the leaps in networking, consumerism and communication triggered by Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 are nothing more than a collective gurgle of the electronic throat, the initial revving up sound of a truly revolutionary engine. He sees a future in which Web 3.0 will help us engage in virtual battles with cancer cells, keep us physically independent as we age, and achieve a deeper emotional connection to things that matter most to us.”

“That seems way beyond what we see now, eh?”

“That’s right, Doc. The Swami says that technology can make a profound difference in our lives if computers can understand more about where we are and how we are feeling—rather like the way you deal with your patients. He says that at some point on the technology curve, people would want their eternally-present computers to do something more than accomplish tasks through programs and devices. They would want to address their inner needs through what he calls gyani

computing—and since it will all be on a cloud network, that would called the Gyani Web.”

“I suppose that would mean getting Web 3.0 closer to your self. If these networks can be smart enough to be more aware of our surroundings and our emotional states, they can, perhaps, make recommendations that are more important than what color shirt to buy, eh?”

“Right. For instance, a gyani computer could ‘know’ if I am in the local museum and recommend a nearby exhibition that includes some of my favorite music to lighten my mood. So the sites on the Gyani Web would know much more about you and me than they do right now. It is all about a more sensitive system and about designers shaping new technologies that are going to be able to draw people into a deeper understanding of their human experience. The Swami says we will see Web 3.0 getting people to engage in meditative role-playing games. It could even assist sick patients to visualize and wage virtual battles against unhealthy cells. This is where he proposes using gaming technology to help individuals heal themselves.”

“So we will see a deeper level of emotional involvement with systems than anything that exists today?”

“So the Swami expects, Doc. He says that advances in neurobiology and computer science will create the backdrop for a richer interaction between technology and spirituality. This is where the idea for using gaming technology to help individuals heal themselves pops up. With Web 3.0, technology will finally catch up to spiritual notions that have taken thousands of years to develop among humans. And that is what is making me nervous.”

“And why should it do so? If the Gyani Web will be able to provide more meaningful experiences because it will have a better ‘intuitive’ understanding of what you want, would that not make you happier?”

“Come on, Doc. Whatever the Swami may say, computers still don’t know the meaning of things. The only techniques we have at the moment are those using mathematical tricks and statistics to produce more or less sensible replies. And here we are talking of sharing our innermost feelings with machines … I mean, what would happen if I were to hand over my body and soul to this … disembodied Gyani Web?”

“Nothing very drastic would happen, Bobo. Many aspects of Web 3.0 are already present in the social networking aspects of 2.0, if you notice. Now consider the example of bees.”

“I lost you there, Doc. But what have bees got to do with anything?”

“Everything, my boy. Whereas an individual bee can be called fairly dumb, a swarm of bees demonstrates enormous intelligence, does it not? It draws upon the wisdom of the crowd, so to speak. The evolutionary step with the Gyani Web is that it would separate the swarm from the single bee. It will gather the intelligence of millions and make you wiser than you ever would be on your own. You will reap the rewards of being open to diversity.”

“I still cannot see the point, Doc.”

“All right, let me make it easier for you—if you go to a movie and everyone in the hall looks like a clone, it is highly probable that it will not be a good movie. Now if you have the same number of people, but from a variety of backgrounds and genders, then you are likely to have a great movie experience, is it not?”

“I guess so, Doc.”

“Now the general idea is that we—and millions of different others—are going to be complementary to each other. Would you ever be secure by entrusting the delivery of your daily dose of wisdom to a narrow band of experts?”

“Well, no—none that I can imagine.”

“So there you are. With a little help from Swami Datananda, I am sure the new hype cycle will result in making the Gyani Web less of a threat than you seem to think. It will be more connected, more open, and more intelligent—and surely you would not mind handing over some pieces of your essential self so that you can become wiser a lot faster than you might on your own?”

“It would take me some time to get used to that, I suppose.”

“We all occupy organic physical space and imagination simultaneously, Bobo. With our slow mammalian carbon-based neurons, we are bound to be a little, shall we say, tardy? But now, with speedier electronic and photonic equivalents, we have a new lease of life. The Swami is merely pointing to the obvious, eh? Give the Gyani Web a workout, my boy. It will surely make you more cheerful and give people like me a well-deserved break.”