Ambien ®, or its generic name Zolpidem, is a sleeping pill. A good night's sleep is not common for me, especially when my biological clock responds chaotically to overseas travel through many time zones. On the road, I suffer from continual insomnia, headaches and exhaustion. This response is suboptimal since the purpose of my travels is to awe other scientists about the beauty of my work, and to convince R&D agencies to give me precious funding for my research.
Zolpidem has been a godsend for my travel woes, but it is not without consequences. My wife and I sometimes observe each other under the spell of Zolpidem just before passing out. In one such episode, my wife was aware of her own gibberish, so she pulled out a notebook and recorded her own ramblings. The results are quite poetic.
I am told that I too say some very strange things.
This past weekend, I played 5 games of ice hockey over a 36 hour period. I would get home at 10:30 and get up at 6:45am the next morning. Since I had to air out my gear and shower in the evening and repack my bag in the morning, as well as eat, etc., the net time I had for sleep was substantially less than 8 hours. Add to that the bright glaring lights at the rink and the intense exercise; and, it was a sure recipe for sleeplessness. I needed my Zolpidem!
Two nights ago, I took a Zolipidem and then spent a few minutes composing a word for the iPhone® App "Words Free," basically a Scrabble® game that one can play with others over the internet. (I have recently been playing a game with my daughter.) I then plugged my iPhone® into the outlet to recharge it before going to sleep.
The following night, when preparing for my next move, I noticed that there were two games in progress with my daughter. I called her to ask her if she had started it, and she had not. The second game had started the previous night 20 minutes after my first, so it was certainly at a time consistent with the Zolpidem taking hold of my neurons. I must have gotten up, grabbed my phone, started the game, made my move, plugged in the phone again to recharge, and returned to bed.
I have also done some other crazy things on Zolpidem, like sending bizarre emails that I had to later retract.
My daughter's friend once drove through a blizzard and showed up at her place well after midnight with a wound on his head and no memory of how he had gotten there. Again, Zolpidem.
Have you had similar experiences?
Showing posts with label iPhone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label iPhone. Show all posts
Monday, October 10, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
The end of civilization
At some point in the middle of the 20th century, science made a critical transition: it had become impossible for one human brain to understand all of physics. The brilliant physicist Hans Bethe commented in his memoirs on that sad day when he realized that he no longer could comprehend it all.
As the knowledge base and complexity of our society grows, we become more dependent upon specialization. Computer programmers write software for computers designed by hardware engineers who use chips made by companies that buy silicon from mines whose employee retirement plans are managed by portfolio gurus that use computer software, etc. The inter-dependencies loop around our society - leading to all sorts of feedback
If one genius cannot understand all of physics, it is only natural to conclude that it is impossible for any one individual to understand everything. Given the impossibility of fully understanding the complexity of our sociotechnological system, well-intentioned policies may do more harm then good. Since laws and institutions are required to keep society running smoothly, it is a delicate balancing act to protect freedom of ideas and innovation while simultaneously designing constraints that do not lead to the unraveling of civilization.
As a physicist whose work relies heavily on quantum mechanics, I am comfortable with the notion that it is impossible to control all factors simultaneously. It is impossible to force a simple single particle to both have a specific location and momentum. By fixing one parameter, the other one becomes uncertain. In a complex system such as a society of billions of interacting individuals, the phenomena of chaos also becomes possible. I worry that control imposed by a few well-intentioned policymakers can lead to grave consequences. The modern practice of ideology-based legislation, which intentionally ignores facts, could make matters worse.
The sub-prime mortgage crisis, which I discussed in a previous post, is an example of several interacting factors that led to a financial crisis. I also argued that the consequences could have been the same even if all parties acted within the law (which they didn't).
Potential problems go well beyond the financial market. The complexity of our society makes it vulnerable to chaotic fluctuations and to outright collapse. Writing in the September issue of Scientific American, Danny Hillis points out the May 6, 2010 computer glitch that caused the Dow to Plummet 1,000 points, and then recovering by the end of the day. On November 19th, 2009, a single circuit board in a computer in Salt Lake City resulted in a cascade of failures that prevented air tragic control computers from communicating with each other in North America - resulting in hundreds of flight cancellations. In the blackout of 2003, power lines near untrimmed trees shorted, causing a power shutdown, which due to a faulty computer at one power plant lead to a cascade that shutdown 100 power plants in the Northeastern part of the United States and Ontario, affecting 55,000,000 people. These events were not the result of malevolence or human greed, but due to system complexity.
Our society and physical infrastructure are evolving as a result of our actions. Computer networks are growing, and the interdependence between systems is increasing. This growth is leading to advances that allow us to track flights and scan bar codes on our smart phones . These same underlying technologies could lead to catastrophic collapse. The truth of the matter is that we have created a monster that we cannot control. It is a monster that serves us, but one that could lead to our demise.
Our chaotic system cannot be effectively controlled from above, nor am I a Luddite espousing simpler tech-free times. We must recognize that along with progress, there will be painful setbacks. As civilization becomes more complex, there are greater chances of setbacks. The answer lies not in reactionary measures to legislate, which can itself stifle innovation and drive instabilities, but in low-tech redundancy. For example, being independent of the telecommunications network, ham radios are an excellent alternative to cell phones.
I am confident in the human spirit's ability to innovate, which if unrestrained, will undoubtedly lead to evermore wondrous ideas and technologies. In my opinion, the end of our civilization will not be brought upon us by the hand of a fluctuation, but in the bliss of complacency and ignorance.
As the knowledge base and complexity of our society grows, we become more dependent upon specialization. Computer programmers write software for computers designed by hardware engineers who use chips made by companies that buy silicon from mines whose employee retirement plans are managed by portfolio gurus that use computer software, etc. The inter-dependencies loop around our society - leading to all sorts of feedback
If one genius cannot understand all of physics, it is only natural to conclude that it is impossible for any one individual to understand everything. Given the impossibility of fully understanding the complexity of our sociotechnological system, well-intentioned policies may do more harm then good. Since laws and institutions are required to keep society running smoothly, it is a delicate balancing act to protect freedom of ideas and innovation while simultaneously designing constraints that do not lead to the unraveling of civilization.
As a physicist whose work relies heavily on quantum mechanics, I am comfortable with the notion that it is impossible to control all factors simultaneously. It is impossible to force a simple single particle to both have a specific location and momentum. By fixing one parameter, the other one becomes uncertain. In a complex system such as a society of billions of interacting individuals, the phenomena of chaos also becomes possible. I worry that control imposed by a few well-intentioned policymakers can lead to grave consequences. The modern practice of ideology-based legislation, which intentionally ignores facts, could make matters worse.
The sub-prime mortgage crisis, which I discussed in a previous post, is an example of several interacting factors that led to a financial crisis. I also argued that the consequences could have been the same even if all parties acted within the law (which they didn't).
Potential problems go well beyond the financial market. The complexity of our society makes it vulnerable to chaotic fluctuations and to outright collapse. Writing in the September issue of Scientific American, Danny Hillis points out the May 6, 2010 computer glitch that caused the Dow to Plummet 1,000 points, and then recovering by the end of the day. On November 19th, 2009, a single circuit board in a computer in Salt Lake City resulted in a cascade of failures that prevented air tragic control computers from communicating with each other in North America - resulting in hundreds of flight cancellations. In the blackout of 2003, power lines near untrimmed trees shorted, causing a power shutdown, which due to a faulty computer at one power plant lead to a cascade that shutdown 100 power plants in the Northeastern part of the United States and Ontario, affecting 55,000,000 people. These events were not the result of malevolence or human greed, but due to system complexity.
Our society and physical infrastructure are evolving as a result of our actions. Computer networks are growing, and the interdependence between systems is increasing. This growth is leading to advances that allow us to track flights and scan bar codes on our smart phones . These same underlying technologies could lead to catastrophic collapse. The truth of the matter is that we have created a monster that we cannot control. It is a monster that serves us, but one that could lead to our demise.
Our chaotic system cannot be effectively controlled from above, nor am I a Luddite espousing simpler tech-free times. We must recognize that along with progress, there will be painful setbacks. As civilization becomes more complex, there are greater chances of setbacks. The answer lies not in reactionary measures to legislate, which can itself stifle innovation and drive instabilities, but in low-tech redundancy. For example, being independent of the telecommunications network, ham radios are an excellent alternative to cell phones.
I am confident in the human spirit's ability to innovate, which if unrestrained, will undoubtedly lead to evermore wondrous ideas and technologies. In my opinion, the end of our civilization will not be brought upon us by the hand of a fluctuation, but in the bliss of complacency and ignorance.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Technology Can be a Pain
While my research is often funded because of its potential for high-tech applications, I sometimes find technology to be a pain in the neck. I pre-ordered an iPhone 4GS, so it arrived yesterday. I immediately drove to my local AT&T Store to get my contact list transferred to my new iPhone; but alas, because the o
fficial release date was not until today, they did not have the right equipment to make the transfer. The AT&T Store also did not have any iP4accessories.
New technology is such a time sink. I spent hours loading apps and getting to know my new time-saving device. It is certainly a wonderful piece of technology, and trying out all the new features and apps is very addictive. But, at the end of the day, I felt that I had wasted a large chunk of time that could have been put to more productive uses. Hopefully, this phone will be a time saver in the future.
I was also amongst the first group of Geeks to get the Nook in December 2009. Being a new product, I knew it would have all sorts of kinks, but I liked the fact that it used Google's Android operating system, the files were not stored in a proprietary format (as is the case with the Kindle) and that oen could lend a book. There certainly were lots of kinks, but after a couple of software updates, the Nook became a wonderful eReader. Until yesterday...
A couple of days ago, I got an email that announced release 1.4. So, I turned on the WiFi on my Nook, and started the update process, which turned out to be an endless loop of downloading the update, followed by rebooting. Update 1.4 never successfully loaded. After several hours of
effort, some very helpful people at my local Barnes and Noble Store identified the problem, and graciously replaced my Nook with a new one. At least my wife and I got to have coffee and browse through lots of books. However, B&N made some money on the deal because we couldn't resist purchasing a book.
To my great irritation, my new Nook would not charge; and, it would not connect to my secure WiFi at home. I took my Nook back to the store and dropped it off so that they could troubleshoot the problem. They were able to get the Nook to charge by doing a hard reboot. Of course, I should have done it, but I was sick and tired of dealing with technology. After returning my Nook to me, they told me that I would need to call customer support if I could not connect to my secure network. Now I am looking forward to someone reading from a script, telling me that my WiFi router is not compatible with the Nook, which I know to be false because my previous WiFi did connect just fine. Perhaps I am getting too cynical.
This afternoon, I am meeting with my students to talk about research. Our work may eventually lead to new technologies that will frustrate the next generation of Geeks. At least I can look forward to thinking about physics and enjoying the intellectual stimulation before being sidetracked by the next time sink.
fficial release date was not until today, they did not have the right equipment to make the transfer. The AT&T Store also did not have any iP4accessories.New technology is such a time sink. I spent hours loading apps and getting to know my new time-saving device. It is certainly a wonderful piece of technology, and trying out all the new features and apps is very addictive. But, at the end of the day, I felt that I had wasted a large chunk of time that could have been put to more productive uses. Hopefully, this phone will be a time saver in the future.
I was also amongst the first group of Geeks to get the Nook in December 2009. Being a new product, I knew it would have all sorts of kinks, but I liked the fact that it used Google's Android operating system, the files were not stored in a proprietary format (as is the case with the Kindle) and that oen could lend a book. There certainly were lots of kinks, but after a couple of software updates, the Nook became a wonderful eReader. Until yesterday...
A couple of days ago, I got an email that announced release 1.4. So, I turned on the WiFi on my Nook, and started the update process, which turned out to be an endless loop of downloading the update, followed by rebooting. Update 1.4 never successfully loaded. After several hours of
effort, some very helpful people at my local Barnes and Noble Store identified the problem, and graciously replaced my Nook with a new one. At least my wife and I got to have coffee and browse through lots of books. However, B&N made some money on the deal because we couldn't resist purchasing a book.To my great irritation, my new Nook would not charge; and, it would not connect to my secure WiFi at home. I took my Nook back to the store and dropped it off so that they could troubleshoot the problem. They were able to get the Nook to charge by doing a hard reboot. Of course, I should have done it, but I was sick and tired of dealing with technology. After returning my Nook to me, they told me that I would need to call customer support if I could not connect to my secure network. Now I am looking forward to someone reading from a script, telling me that my WiFi router is not compatible with the Nook, which I know to be false because my previous WiFi did connect just fine. Perhaps I am getting too cynical.
This afternoon, I am meeting with my students to talk about research. Our work may eventually lead to new technologies that will frustrate the next generation of Geeks. At least I can look forward to thinking about physics and enjoying the intellectual stimulation before being sidetracked by the next time sink.
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