Random  thoughts...

This kind of possible future technology begs questions. Like what happens to an RV drained of its charge way out there where RV's go, on lonely jeep trails? The answer would seem to be solar recharging, but that isn't feasible yet for the high quantities of power needed to drive the wheels and carry the rig out of the backcountry. As opposed to just recharging the starter battery on an ICE and carrying a 5 gallon fuel can.

As for computer graphics, the cheap solution seems to be that used in the newest Dune movie: hide all the fantasy scenery in darkness so the sets can be sparse and therefore fast, easy, and cheap to build. 

Some of the earliest Science Fiction (e.g. 1895, H.G. Wells, The Time Machine) predicts that when technology advances far enough, and evil diminishes greatly, then boredom sets in. And civilization will crumble due to widespread apathy, (e.g. the Eloi in The Time Machine). There was nothing to strive for and therefore life had become Hell. 

4 hours ago, Fielder said:

This kind of possible future technology begs questions. Like what happens to an RV drained of its charge way out there where RV's go,

 

Might not be a good idea to make this about EV's when we've just had one locked, or Charlie will have steam coming out of his ears  😁 but what I will say is that, in terms of the near and distant future, there's an aluminum air battery in the latter stages of development that does 1200 miles, and Sandy Munroe has just announced an astonishing tech that promises huge range that's about to go into production. so in terms of future tech, it's not an issue and we'd be talking about a greater range than a fuel tank and a spare can.

I posted this because I was astonished by the photoreal graphics. I remember the first time my son and me played Half Life and were blown away by the graphics. These days, what can be done is truly astonishing. The first part of the video in particular, is stunning. 

If somebody didn't know, I reckon it would take them a while to realize it was computer graphics.

I don't see the boredom and apathy scenario as valid to be honest. There's a multitude of activities humans can do to keep themselves stimulated in a high tech future. Wilderness adventures, and we know that getting out amongst the wilderness is phytologically therapeutic. Art. Studying the sciences. An interest and study of the tech itself. Philosophy. Charitable work. Travel, and in the future that might mean not just on this planet. 

What's interesting is that human development, in a scientific and technological sense, advances when human beings have more time on their hands to think, contemplate, invent, not when we are struggling to  clothe and feed ourselves, fight off predators, keep warm in hostile climates etc. Hence, technology gives us that facility.

Edited March 24, 20233 yr by martin-w

There is that interesting Twilight Zone episode "A Nice Place to Visit" where a gangster dies and wakes up in the afterlife. He has no more struggles, no more fights. If he's playing rotation billiards and strikes the cue ball in any direction it bounces around perfectly and all 15 balls are pocketed. If he spots a likely wench in what he thinks is a heavenly bar she always agrees to go home with him. No struggle, no fights, no issues. By the end of the episode he realizes that he is in Hades, not paradise. And his supposed guardian angel (Sebastian Cabot) is roaring with evil laughter into his face.

That episodes illustrates the absurdity of agonizing over 'theodicy'. It is evil around us and our continuing struggles that makes life worthwhile.

With ICE you are covered in emergencies. We all have run out of petrol. And what if we are typically miles up a jeep trail if we own an SUV. A can of gas can save our life. A usable high rate portable solar charger would for an RV, if it existed. It's not how many miles on a full tank or battery that is most important in an RV, it's what can bail you out of SHTF. This is not the case in a normal automobile. You're on a shared road and can get a ride or call in a service.

Yes, I think the sysops are eyeing this thread, suspiciously.

1 hour ago, Fielder said:

No struggle, no fights, no issues. By the end of the episode he realizes that he is in Hades, not paradise. And his supposed guardian angel (Sebastian Cabot) is roaring with evil laughter into his face.

 

Which could never happen. There are always struggles. The entire planet could never be transformed into a 100% risk free zone. We would have to be in stasis for that to happen.  Humankind is adventurous, we seek stimulation, its in our nature. And even if the impossible happened and the entire planet was a risk free realm, the adventure would be off-world. 

Any psychologist would tell you that quality of life is a balance between risk and safety, thus the zero risk scenario isn't feasible. 

 

1 hour ago, Fielder said:

With ICE you are covered in emergencies. We all have run out of petrol. And what if we are typically miles up a jeep trail if we own an SUV. A can of gas can save our life.

 

The future "possible technology" you are referring to doesn't need a can of gas, or a charger, as the range is beyond the need for your tank or can of gas. And with ICE you are covered for an "initial" emergency with your can of gas, but a can of gas runs out, so what then? And if you are in an SUV on a "lonely jeep trail" as you put it, in the middle of nowhere, a mere can of gas might be less than you need. And of course, as we are talking about "possible futures" then obviously a solar charger capable of achieving the range of a "can of gas" will be available, if its not already. The other point is that, again, as you are talking about "future technology" is that battery energy density will continue to improve, so a small battery backup in the boot, equall to the range of your "can of gas" (or greater) will clearly be feasible.

I intended this thread to be about the amazing graphical technology that was in the video, not the electric car that just happened to be an element of the graphics. So I suggest we not go down that route and end up with another 5 pages about EV's and batteries and solar power and another locked topic. Charlie will have a breakdown. 😏

Back on topic......I wonder what kind of detail levels are achievable on a global scale? We all know that Lockheed Martin have selected the Unreal 5 graphics engine as the foundation for future software development, so I would be interested to see a demonstration of its capabilities at this level.

Just want to mention another important application of Real Engine, i.e., Pharmaceutical drug discovery:

https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/features/unreal-engine-gaming-ground-breaking-cures/

35 minutes ago, Christopher Low said:

Back on topic......I wonder what kind of detail levels are achievable on a global scale? We all know that Lockheed Martin have selected the Unreal 5 graphics engine as the foundation for future software development, so I would be interested to see a demonstration of its capabilities at this level.

 

Well the above video was just with a 4090, so what would be possible with a supercomputer? If it would run on such a thing.

 

 

Apparently "AirLand" is being developed in Unreal Engine 5.

Fred Naar working on Airland World, not just Airland Helicopters • HeliSimmer.com

Airland World

6 hours ago, martin-w said:

I posted this because I was astonished by the photoreal graphics. I remember the first time my son and me played Half Life and were blown away by the graphics. These days, what can be done is truly astonishing. The first part of the video in particular, is stunning. 

If somebody didn't know, I reckon it would take them a while to realize it was computer graphics.

I don't see the boredom and apathy scenario as valid to be honest. There's a multitude of activities humans can do to keep themselves stimulated in a high tech future. Wilderness adventures, and we know that getting out amongst the wilderness is phytologically therapeutic. Art. Studying the sciences. An interest and study of the tech itself. Philosophy. Charitable work. Travel, and in the future that might mean not just on this planet. 

 

On this topic I find myself in total agreement. The graphics are simply stunning. Certainly the most realistic effects I have seen to date.

Graphics technology is now so advanced that I constantly wonder how the designers have developed the sheer intellectual ability to understand it, on top of the imagination required to keep improving it. I am well used to studying technical aviation material, but when I read about graphics design and the ways in which hardware processes the information, I quickly get a headache.

Slightly off topic, but regarding boredom and apathy, I see little excuse for either. There are so many things to do, to study and learn about. Personally, since retirement I found the days pass so quickly that I still don't have time to fit in all the things I had intended to do. It's not even a question of money because most people in the developed world are better off now than those families I grew up with in the 1940s in London. And anyway, there are so many free activities.

Back on topic. While graphics cards are leaping ahead and making use of new software, the weak link is now the CPU. We really need a massive breakthrough, with some clear skies thinking about different CPU packaging and mainboard design to encourage different approaches to the way CPUs work.  To be largely heat limited while sticking to socket designs barely changed over 30 years seems strangely out of touch when looking at the Unreal engine showing the potential for future graphics.

Edited March 24, 20233 yr by Biggles2010

50 minutes ago, Biggles2010 said:

Graphics technology is now so advanced that I constantly wonder how the designers have developed the sheer intellectual ability to understand it, on top of the imagination required to keep improving it.

 

I think its got to the stage where the tools are in exitance to tell the software what to do, and the software does all the coding. People don't type in the basic cede much these days, I don't believe. But yes, there must be people who understand what's under the hood how the software tools work. 

 

53 minutes ago, Biggles2010 said:

the weak link is now the CPU.

 

I think the top of the range CPU's are in balance aren't they? No bottlenecks for the top notch CPU's, coupled with a 4090. I know what you mean though, there seems to be more of a potential for GPU advancement than CPU.