Science Fiction and Science Reality in Langford / Victoria

Join our wide-ranging discussions about what's going on and what's coming in the future.

Every day, the world we live in is becoming more like a science fiction scenario.

Amazon Prime is setting up a huge operation at the Victoria International Airport to send fleets of drones overhead to deliver everything from books to groceries. They're trying to replace grocery stores, book stores, etc.

SpaceX and Blue Horizon are now flying tourists into outer space. Blue Horizon is planning to build cities in space. SpaceX is planning to set up a colony on Mars soon.

Machines are rapidly replacing workers at many jobs here. Have you heard the phrase "thank you for using self-checkout" yet?

Computer software for artificial intelligence is getting better and better very fast. We are approaching the point when computers will be able to do every kind of work that humans do, but faster, better, and cheaper.

Surveillance technologies are increasing. The government used to tell us that if we've done nothing wrong, we have nothing to fear from surveillance. That was based on the assumption that the government would only use the information against criminals. Now, criminals use surveillance information against us.

Another issue is that news and the internet are so full of disinformation that most people are having a hard time knowing what's real and what's not.

Another technology that is about to explode out of science fiction into reality is rejuvenation. Most people think it's impossible to reverse the physical effects of aging and make older people young again. Meanwhile, experiments keep showing how it can be done. Not just to look younger, but to actually be biologically younger. Some of this technology already exists. If it gets good enough fast enough -- and it looks like it will -- people alive today will still be alive a thousand years from now. Do you want to be one of them? Join us.

Attendance at this meeting is limited to 12 people. Use the RSVP system to reserve a place. Please do not attend unless you have a reservation. If you cannot get a reservation, you can add yourself to the wait list to get a place if someone else cancels. If you have a reservation and cannot make it, please cancel your reservation so someone else may attend. If you are unable to attend this meeting for any reason, join the group and look for announcements of future meetings.