Part of our series of articles on the Brave New Virtuality
Michael Ferguson is a PhD candidate in Bioengineering at the U. He leads the Utah Singularity and Transhumanism Meetup Group and organized the 2010 Transhumanism and Spirituality Conference last October.
Michael Ferguson: Transhumanism at its heart is the belief that we need not accept our biological limitations—whether cognitive, mechanical, or in regards to our longevity. We are constantly striving to progress.
Against all odds, Utah has done some amazing things when it comes to establishing a haven for cutting edge science and engineering research. The USTAR initiative passed in 2006 has helped fund and recruit some of the best scientists in the world. The University of Utah is now one of leaders in the country when it comes to technology related grants and entrepreneurship.
I think humans have an inherent drive to want to make things better, and technology is always a big part of that. Some people worry about the future, and whether technology will eventually destroy us. Sometimes I think that people can become so reliant on technology they can fail to engage in the holistic experience of life. But I consider myself an optimist. There’s so much to learn and see and feel. I think there are great things in store for us and that we have a lot to look forward to.
Christmas Wishlist: This year I want an iPad to stand on my piano and display sheet music in lieu of paper-based song books.
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