ULASAN BUKU – "EATING FOSSIL FUELS" (2006)

Awalnya, gue baca buku ini untuk memastikan hubungan antara populasi (x) dengan kelaparan (y1) dan kerusakan lingkungan (y2). Gua berprasangka bahwa fakta-fakta mengenai y1 dan y2 dimanipulasi oleh politikus dengan menekan ilmuwan tertentu untuk kepentingan pribadi dan golongan—yang penulis buku akui bahwa hal tersebut mungkin saja terjadi (p. 35).¹ Depopulasi karena kekhawatiran akan adanya wabah kelaparan terdengar seperti mengamini motif Hitler ketika memusnahkan warga Yahudi (Hitler, 1925 – “Mein Kampf” via Kaplan [pranala]) atau Belanda ketika memusnahkan etnis Tionghoa di Kali Merah atau menyetujui esainya Malthus tentang hubungan antara produktivitas dan populasi. Di luar fakta medis mengenai tingkat kematian akibat kelahiran, depopulasi pranatal juga terdengar melanggar HAM—#MyUterusMyRights.

Since I graduated from social science, my analysis would be much driven by social viewpoints.

ISU

Buku ini memaparkan isu-isu sebagai berikut:

1.      MAKANAN = ENERGI + NUTRISI. Dengan penjabaran mengenai hukum kekekalan energi, hukum entropi, dan hukum termodinamika, penulis percaya bahwa jumlah energi bersifat konstan—(cf. pendekatan alam: Einstein^{-1 -4}; pendekatan sosial: Duncan 2005-2006 – “The Social Contract”). Menurutnya, jumlah energi yang terbatas tersebut semakin berkurang seiring dengan laju pertumbuhan penduduk. Karena kekurangan ini, maka makanan yang tersedia untuk dikonsumsi pun akan berkurang. Ia optimis bahwa manusia akan mengalami wabah kelaparan yang belum pernah dialami sebelumnya (p. 42).²

2.      DEGRADASI TANAH, studi kasus: sejak tahun 1945, kerusakan hutan hujan tropis telah mencapai 5 juta hektar. Setiap tahunnya 10 juta hektar terbengkalai akibat degradasi yang parah. Sementara di waktu yang bersamaan 5 juta hektar tanah harus masuk dalam proses produksi untuk memberi makan 84 juta manusia baru yang lahir tiap tahun (cf. Daily in Owen and Unwin [eds.], 1997 –  “Environmental Management: Readings and Case Studies”; Houghton, 2003 – “The Worldwide Extent of Land Use Change”; Myers, 1990 – “The Nontimber Values of Tropical Forest”).

3.      DEGRADASI AIR. 70% bumi terdiri dari air di mana 97,5 persennya adalah air laut sehingga menyisakan hanya 2,5% air tawar. 70% dari air tawar tersebut membeku di Antartika dan Greenland menyisakan 0,77% air yang dapat diakses manusia. Degradasi air berawal dari: (a) irigasi yang buruk (cf. Postel, 1989 – “Water for Agriculture”). Di AS, 85% air tawar digunakan untuk pertanian;³ (b) kekeringan sungai, studi kasus: laut aral tingkat garamnya naik 3 kali lipat akibat berkurangnya debit air sungai yang mengalir ke laut tersebut (cf. Frederiksen, et al., 1993 – “Water Resources Management in Asia”). Hal serupa terjadi pada Sungai Kuning, Gangga, Nil, dst. (cf. Postel, 1989 – ibid.). Hal tersebut jelas merusak ekosistem; (c) penggunaan pupuk buatan berbahan nitrogen menciptakan ledakan produksi ganggang dan mikroorganisme lainnya yang akhirnya membuat ketersediaan oksigen untuk ikan, udang, dan habitat lainnya berkurang (cf. Postel, 1989 – ibid.). Secara global, penggunaan pupuk berbahan nitrogen lebih banyak dipasok alih-alih pupuk alami; (d) penggunaan pestisida berbahan dasar hidrokarbon seperti Methyl Parathion, Aldrin, DDT, dsb. yang umumnya adalah neurotoksin yang mampu mengendap di lingkungan cukup lama (cf. Postel, 2005 – “Liquid Assets: The Critical Need to Safeguard Freshwater Ecosystems”).

4.      MEMAKAN BAHAN BAKAR FOSIL. Berbeda dengan energi matahari, dilihat dari periode hidup manusia, bahan bakar fosil tidak dapat diperbarui. Untuk mengukur rasio masukan bahan bakar fosil dan keluarannya, misalnya, terhadap pertanian dan/atau produksi makanan, maka bentuk energi dibagi dua, yaitu: (a) eksosomatik, perubahan energi yang terjadi di luar tubuh—contoh: 1 liter pertamax untuk menjalankan motor sejauh 47 km; dan (b) endosomatik, perubahan energi yang terjadi di dalam tubuh—contoh: 2.500 kalori dalam 3 piring nasi dan lauk-pauk untuk aktivitas sehari-hari.⁴ Sejak revolusi industri, bahan bakar fosil menggantikan peran energi matahari dengan mewakili 90% energi eksosomatik di negara-negara maju (Giampietro and Pimentel, 1994 – “The Tightening Conflict”). Dalam artian, untuk pemenuhan kebutuhan ekonomi yang lebih efisien, manusia tidak lagi mengandalkan energi tubuhnya. Sialnya, efisiensi tersebut tidak semeyakinkan kelihatannya. Penggunaan energi eksosomatik tidak lebih adalah pemborosan—alias hanya menciptakan keuntungan jangka pendek. FAO mencatat bahwa normalnya manusia membutuhkan 0,7 kilokalori bahan bakar fosil (belum termasuk energi yang dibutuhkan untuk pestisida, permesinan, dan operasi lapangan) untuk memproduksi 1 kilokalori makanan (belum termasuk proses pengemasan, penyimpanan, masak, dan pengiriman) (Pimentel and Giampietro, 1994 – “Food, Land, Population and the US Economy”). Penulis menyebutkan bahwa untuk mengantarkan 1 kilokalori makanan ke konsumen, dibutuhkan 10 kilokalori energi eksosomatik, studi kasus: restoran siap saji dalam proses: (a) pengiriman bahan—semakin besar jarak antar konsumen dan sumber makanan, semakin banyak energi yang digunakan; (b) penyimpanan bahan—penggunaan kulkas, penghangat makanan, dsb. Semakin lama masa penyimpanan, semakin banyak energi yang dihabiskan. Ironis bahwa globalisasi produksi makanan telah menjadi ancaman bagi ketersediaan pangan. Pimentel dan Giampietro menyimpulkan bahwa rasio eksosomatik dan endosomatik adalah 10:1, ilustrasi: selama tersedia cukup bahan bakar fosil untuk proses energi eksosomatik, seorang buruh hanya perlu waktu 20 menit untuk mampu memenuhi kebutuhan makan seorang warga untuk 1 hari⁵. Penulis percaya bahwa produksi bahan bakar fosil mulai menurun pada 10 tahun ke depan (p. 22). Dan apabila rasio tersebut akurat, dengan skenario kelangkaan bahan bakar fosil sebagaimana ditunjukkan oleh Campbell dan Laherrere (p. 32; cf. Laherrere, 2003 – “Modelling Future Oil Production, Population and the Economy”; Campbell, 2003 – “Country Assessment – Russia”), akan dibutuhkan waktu 111 jam kerja bagi seorang buruh untuk memenuhi kebutuhan makan seorang warga untuk 1 hari. Gap inilah yang diprediksi akan menciptakan wabah kelaparan.^-2

5.      BERAKHIRNYA ERA MINYAK. Revolusi industri melibatkan perbudakan. Perbudakan ditukar dengan penggunaan batu bara. Penggunaan batu bara ditukar dengan minyak yang mengandung kalori yang jauh lebih tinggi. Sejak itu, tidak hanya untuk pertanian, pemenuhan kebutuhan manusia sangat bergantung pada minyak. Minyak terbentuk dari proses biologis dan geologis yang bergantung pada kondisi lingkungan khusus. Sialnya, kondisi tersebut mungkin sudah tidak ada lagi mengingat terbentuknya minyak memakan waktu lebih dari jutaan tahun. Punahnya minyak ditandai dengan grafik kurva lonceng yang menggambarkan bahwa setelah produksi menyentuh batas maksimum, maka ia akan menurun. Ketika industri minyak AS melewati produksi maksimumnya di tahun 1970an, dan Rusia di tahun 1987 (Campbell, 2003 – ibid.; Anonymous for the Moscow News, 2004 – “Russia’s Oil Exports Reach Maximum, Decline to Start in Two Years”), perang untuk memperebutkan minyak pun terjadi. Namun, kekecewaan muncul ketika perang di Afganistan ternyata tidak menghasilkan yang diharapkan—minyak di sana dilaporkan tercampur banyak sulfur. Hal yang sama suramnya juga terjadi pada gas alam (cair)—studi kasus: produksi Meksiko (Esser, 2004 – “Mexico Country Analysis Brief”) dan Kanada (Pfeiffer, 2004 – “The End of the Oil Age”).^-3 Selain penggunaan nuklir yang berisiko, penulis percaya bahwa tidak ada sumber energi alternatif. Kecuali, ada ilmuwan gila yang berhasil mematahkan hukum termodinamika kedua bahwa energi yang dibutuhkan untuk melepaskan ikatan elemen yang mengikat hidrogen jauh lebih kecil dari energi yang terkandung dalam hidrogen itu sendiri.^-4 Sialnya, hidrogen itu sendiri hanyalah wadah penyimpan energi; bukan sumber energi.^-1 Secara ekonomis, indikator dari berakhirnya era minyak dapat dilihat dari meningkatnya harga makanan.

6.      RUNTUHNYA PERTANIAN. Mendorong pertanian di luar batas membuat manusia memproduksi racun. Selain karena ketergantungannya pada bahan bakar fosil seperti yang telah dipaparkan di bab 4 dan 5 (p. 29), penulis percaya bahwa pertanian akan runtuh seiring dengan berkurangnya jumlah lahan yang tersedia untuk bertanam akibat bertambahnya kebutuhan tanah untuk tempat tinggal setiap pertambahan manusia baru.^-5 Sebagai contoh keruntuhan pertanian, penulis merujuk pada Korea Utara dengan menjadikan pupuk, bahan bakar diesel, dan irigasi sebagai faktor pendorong keruntuhan tersebut. Ketiga faktor ini tidak terpenuhi akibat kekurangan energi listrik, dan batu bara yang tidak dapat diproduksi dan/atau diimpor oleh negara tersebut.^{6 -6}

7.      KUBA SEBAGAI NEGARA PERCONTOHAN UNTUK REVOLUSI HIJAU. Kuba sebagai satu-satunya negara yang sukses keluar dari krisis tanpa bantuan IMF dan Bank Dunia. Kuba menghilangkan mitos bahwa pertanian organik tidak mendukung modernitas; bahwa industrialiasi pertanian memiliki dampak negatif yang justru lebih besar—terutama pada erosi tanah dan penipisan mineral.

8.      MEMBANGUN PERTANIAN YANG TAHAN LAMA. Di bab ini, penulis membahas: (a) jaminan ketersediaan pangan; (b) pertanian tahan lama—(i) semakin besar pertanian, maka semakin banyak energi yang dibutuhkan; (ii) produksi nutrisi buatan merusak ekosistem. Merusak ekosistem berarti mengurangi pasokan nutrisi yang alam mampu penuhi; (c) pertanian kota.

9.      DUA BELAS KEGIATAN UNTUK PARA AKTIVIS. Hal paling logis dan etis untuk menghadapi menipisnya energi adalah mengurangi penggunaan energi. Hal tersebut mungkin terdengar mengada-ada apabila kita mengetahui dengan benar bagaimana bumi ini berputar baik secara ekonomis maupun politis. Menyikapi hal ini, penulis mengajukan dua belas kegiatan yang dapat dilakukan, yakni: (a) membangun komunitas untuk menggunakan lahan kosong untuk ditanami sayur-mayur dan/atau buah-buahan; (b) menyimpan biji-bijian dari setiap buah-buahan yang kita konsumsi untuk ditanam dalam pot—seperti kebiasaan sejumlah orang yang menyimpan biji buah nangka untuk dimasak; (c) memberikan makanan kepada kaum papa dengan sistem yang menyerupai piknik terbuka alih-alih buka bersama tertutup; (d) bergabung dalam atau membangun komunitas petani di lingkungan sekitar—terdengar wuah banget; tetapi tidak mustahil. Coba bayangkan permainan seperti “The Sims 2” :P; (e) mengurangi penggunaan kendaraan pribadi. Apabila Anda tidak nyaman menggunakan kendaraan umum, pertimbangkan untuk membangun jaringan transportasi kelompok di mana lo bisa berbagi kendaraan dengan orang-orang yang memiliki kegiatan di tempat yang sama dalam waktu yang sama; (f) membangun rental atau koperasi sepeda; (g) mendukung usaha setempat, khususnya produksi koperasi; (h) membentuk koperasi untuk kegiatan tertentu seluas-luasnya; (i) membuat acara dalam bentuk festival musik, film, tarian, dsb. untuk mengkampanyekan hal-hal di atas; (j) membangun koperasi khusus untuk kegiatan bagaimana menciptakan rumah yang mengkonsumsi energi secara lebih efisien; (k) membangun koperasi untuk produksi energi dengan menggali potensi setempat: (i) angin; (ii) matahari; (iii) hidroelektrik; atau bahkan (iv) panas bumi; dan (l) membangun kampung ekologis.

SOLUSI

1.      Kembali ke pertanian skala kecil (pertanian keluarga/rumahan). Kunjungi www.farmland.org, www.cityfarmer.org, dan www.communitygarden.org.

2.      Membudayakan tanaman hidroponik.

3.      (a) Idem dengan no. 2; (b) menggunakan pupuk kandang yang diketahui mengandung 5x lipat nutrisi lebih banyak dari pupuk [buatan]; (c) mengurangi konsumsi daging sapi atau ayam—promosi daging ikan dan vegetarian.

4.      Memasak di rumah; makan makanan lokal; mengurangi makan makanan beku. Kunjungi www.foodfirst.org, www.foodshare.net.

5.      Mempertimbangkan untuk beralih ke tenaga nuklir; idem dengan no. 3 (b).

6.      -

7.      Menggalakan koperasi yang mendukung petani. Menerapkan agroekologis: penggunaan biopestisida—menggunakan mikroba dan musuh alami untuk memberantas hama; dan pupuk biologis—menggunakan cacing tanah, kompos, fosfat dari bebatuan alam, kotoran hewan, dan bangkai tanaman; kembali menggunakan hewan sebagai traktor.

8.      Lokalisasi sistem distribusi makanan; idem dengan no. 1—menjadikan 65% keluarga di Moskow, dan 44% keluarga di Vancouver dan Berlin sebagai kawasan percontohan (Ableman, 2000 – “Agriculture’s Next Frontier: How Urban Farms Could Feed the World”). Kunjungi www.localharvest.org, www.foodsecurity.org, dan www.uharvest.ca.

9.      Kunjungi www.solari.com, www.earthpledge.org, www.renewingthecountryside.org, www.growingpower.org, dan www.ecovillage.com.

CATATAN KAKI

1.      Golongan tertentu yang dimaksud adalah orang yang terlibat dalam produksi industri makanan. Dengan menciptakan kepanikan bahwa akan adanya bencana kelaparan, mereka bisa mengendalikan waktu kapan harus menaikan harga jual. Dan bila ini terjadi, akses untuk orang miskin mendapatkan makanan semakin kecil.

2.      Secara ekonomis, dalam artian akses ke makanan dibatasi oleh kepemilikan uang, keadaan tersebut diperparah dengan distribusi pangan yang tidak merata. Penulis mengangkat studi kasus dari AS di mana terdapat sekitar 34,6 juta penduduk yang hidup miskin.

3.      1.000 ton air digunakan untuk mengairi 1 ton biji-bijian (Pimentel and Giampietro, 1994 – “Food, Land, Population and the US Economy”). Setiap 2/5 ton biji-bijian digunakan untuk pakan ternak. Ini menjadi alasan mengapa menu makanan tanpa daging dapat menafkahi 2 orang lebih banyak dari menu makanan dengan daging (Pimentel and Giampietro, 1994 – “Food, Land, Population and the US Economy”).

4.      Kebutuhan kalori ini bersifat relatif bahwa semakin keras pekerjaan yang dilakukan, maka semakin banyak kalori yang diasup.

5.      Dengan asumsi bahwa setiap orang membutuhkan 2.500 kilokalori untuk menu harian.

6.      Secara politis, kesulitan Korea Utara juga dipengaruhi oleh buruknya hubungan diplomasi. IMO, ini terdengar ironis. Dengan pemaparan adanya kematian akibat kelaparan, dan kekurangan gizi, apa yang dialami oleh Korea Utara lebih menyerupai pengucilan antar organisasi. Secara sosial, Korea Utara tidak mendapatkan apa yang semestinya. Kasus Korea Utara tidak terlalu berbeda dengan apa yang terjadi di Tepi Barat dan Jalur Gaza. Tehee, you know my point guys. Kalaupun kondisi Korea Utara sedramatis demikian, bahwa wabah kelaparan telah memusnahkan 3 juta penduduknya (p. 44);^-7 IMO, kondisi tersebut tidak banyak berbeda dengan dampak psikologis yang dialami oleh Korea Selatan yang menurut standar yang sama (cf. PBB) memiliki taraf kehidupan yang lebih baik; bahwa Korea Selatan merupakan negara dengan tingkat bunuh diri tertinggi dunia (cf. OECD, 2009). Nah...

ANTITESIS (-)

Berikut ini adalah beberapa antitesis yang saya ajukan kepada penulis buku:

1.      Penafsiran lazim menyebutkan bahwa energi dikonversi ke dalam massa—E = mc². Namun, sejujurnya, belum ada ilmuwan yang benar-benar memahami bagaimana pengaruh dari persamaan tersebut bekerja dalam satuan partikel; bagaimana energi tersebut dikonversi ke dalam massa, dan sebaliknya. Ada sejumlah spekulasi, satu di antaranya adalah massa sebuah partikel bergantung pada tingkat kelompok dari suatu ikatan partikel (via Sanderson for New Scientist. 2011 – “Hydrogen bonds in a bind” [pranala]). Dengan adanya temuan ini, maka analisis penulis menjadi lemah.

2.      Kelaparan tidak hanya disebabkan oleh ketersediaan pangan semata—dalam artian mengukur asupan kalori saja belum cukup. Pun, asupan kalori tidak dapat menggunakan 1 standar untuk beragam demografi. Konsumsi seseorang sebenarnya adalah jumlah makan yang ia makan; bukan jumlah makanan yang disediakan untuknya—lihat catatan kaki no. 4. Konsumsi bisa menurun bahkan ketika jumlah makanan melimpah (Sen, 2009 via Spagnoli – “Famines and Democracy”). Dalam kehidupan sehari-hari, mayoritas dari kita pasti pernah mengalami momen ‘malas makan’.

3.      Yang menarik adalah penulis tidak memaparkan produksi minyak Arab Saudi seperinci produksi Rusia sebagai rival terkuatnya. Penulis juga tidak memaparkan hasil produksi di Indonesia, Brunai Darussalam, dan anggota-anggota OPEC lainnya.

4.      Insting kita menilai bahwa massa suatu unsur harus lebih kecil dari massa suatu elemen yang mengandung unsur tersebut. Penemuan terakhir menyatakan tidak demikian—thanks to quantum physics! Setidaknya, terdapat 10 unsur yang memiliki massa paling labil (cf. Coplen, 2010-2011 for US Geological Survey [pranala]; IUPAC, 2010 – “Periodic Table of the Elements” [pranala], “Pure and Applied Chemistry, vol. 83, p. 359” [pranala]). Selain itu pula, masih ada misteri yang belum dipecahkan oleh para ilmuwan mengenai proses terikatnya hidrogen (Desiraju for Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore in New Scientist, 2011 – ibid.). Apabila massa suatu unsur tidak konstan, maka jumlah energinya pun demikian. Dari temuan terbaru ini, dapat dikatakan bahwa analisis penulis mendahului simpulan.

5.      Standar ini tidak dibangun dari gaya hidup masyarakat timur yang tidak keberatan untuk hidup bersama dengan anggota keluarga non-inti. Kuantifikasi yang disajikan oleh penulis tidak secara umum berlaku. Kasarnya, rumus yang digunakan belum sempurna karena ketiadaan variabel penting lainnya yang belum dimasukkan untuk memberlakukan nilai-nilai relatif.

6.      Sejauh ini, penduduk Korea Utara menangani krisis bersama-sama. Penulis berpendapat bahwa pada akhirnya krisis tersebut akan berakhir pada persaingan, fragmentasi wilayah, memburuknya hubungan sosial, perkelahian sesama kelompok yang akhirnya akan berakhir pada perang sipil (p. 50). Hehe... Mungkin sama seperti gue, beberapa dari kalian akan menyangsikan keadaan tersebut. Korea Utara adalah negara monokultural; mungkin bila ia terdiri dari ragam suku seperti Indonesia atau AS, hal tersebut mungkin saja terjadi. Prinsip persaudaraan mereka jelas lebih kuat dan lebih sulit pecah kecuali terdapat campur tangan dari luar—studi kasus: pecahnya Uni Soviet, konflik Palestina, dan perang sipil di Sierra Leone.

7.      Alasan gue menyangsikan data ini dipengaruhi dari temuan bahwa beberapa LSM cenderung memanipulasi data kematian untuk memeroleh perhatian yang diinginkan; dengan begitu mereka dapat menyesuaikan besar dana yang akan diperoleh. Kejam? It is... A number of NGOs are undisclosedly profitable legal entities. Salah satu majalah politik pernah memaparkannya pada kasus bencana gempa bumi Haiti pada tahun 2010 lalu (Reef for Foreign Policy, 2011 [pranala]).

EPILOG

Terlepas lo ateis, agnostik atau beragama, kita tidak benar-benar tahu kapan bumi ini akan punah; atau temuan-temuan yang dipaparkan di atas benar-benar saling berhubungan atau tidak. IMO, melakukan hal-hal di atas dalam usaha memperlambat kepunahan bumi layak untuk dipertimbangkan. Hmmm, setidaknya kalian bisa melakukan solusi no. 4, dan isu no. 9 (e) dan (g). Secara konkrit, tanpa mengetahui data di atas pun, beberapa dari kalian sudah menjadikan isu no. 9 (f) dan solusi no. 3 (c) sebagai gaya hidup. Khusus untuk isu no 9 (c), hal yang dipaparkan penulis bukan ide baru sama sekali. IMO, ide tersebut mirip dengan filsafat Islam perihal zakat dan infak. Dari antitesis yang gue paparkan di atas, lebih dari kelihatannya, prasangka gue belum berubah bahwa masalah populasi adalah mitos yang sengaja diangkat untuk kepentingan golongan elit tertentu. Hehe... How about you? Do you believe that there’s positive correlation among x, y1 and y2? How do you prove it?

ULASAN BUKU - "ON INTELLIGENCE" (2004)

Buku ini cukup informatif mengenai: (a) struktur kasar neokorteks. Bagian yang paling gue suka adalah ketika Hawkins mencoba menggariskan satuan unit terkecil pada korteks berdasarkan algoritma kortikal yang bahkan baru bersifat draf! (cf. Mountcastle, 1978)--dalam artian belum ada persamaan atau bahkan fungsi matematisnya; (b) ambiguitas korteks dalam mengelompokkan data; dan (c) saccade dan fiksasi mata--menurut gue, Hawkins menjelaskan secara baik dengan mengangkat proses identifikasi wajah sebagai contoh.

Adapun hal-hal yang membuat alis gue lumayan naik adalah ketika ia berpendapat bahwa: (a) binatang dan hewan mamalia secara umum tidak memiliki bahasa¹--mungkin ini bisa menjadi alasan yang tidak disadari kenapa doi ditolak MIT selain tidak sejalan dengan visi dan misi institusi? :P (b) teori evolusi Darwin dalam pengertian harfiah di luar konteks biologi historis; (c) listrik sebagai salah satu contoh teknologi yang paling ramah digunakan oleh manusia. Menurut gua, ini seolah mengacuhkan fakta bahwa energi listrik merupakan salah satu kontributor CO2 terbesar di bumi. Aneh karena Hawkins ternyata salah satu pihak yang anti akan penggunaan nuklir.

Dari buku ini, secara langsung dan/atau tidak langsung, gue dikonfirmasi bahwa: (a) mengukur kecerdasan homo sapiens adalah omong kosong. Hawkins menjabarkan dengan keterpisahan antara kecerdasan mentalis dan manifestasinya dalam ruang 3D dengan hubungannya terhadap format data otak yang melulu berupa pola invarian--hal ini juga sejalan dengan salah satu kajian di ilmu sosial; (b) homo sapiens adalah makhluk kreatif--atau yang dalam istilahnya Hawkins disebut dengan 'prediksi analog'; (c) Bahasa Buatan² dan Bahasa Manusia Murni adalah dua obyek yang selamanya akan terpisah yang artinya bahwa, dalam contoh tersebut, robot penerjemah di masa akan datang dan program terjemahan yang ada saat ini--studi kasus: Google Translate--akan sama tidak pekanya ketika menangani ragam konteks wacana.³ Dengan pertimbangan sifat alamiah komputer yang tidak (dapat) belajar secara otodidak mengingat prosesor dan RAM tidak beroperasi dengan metode umpan balik seperti koordinasi neokorteks dan hipokampus yang bekerja pada sistem memori-prediksi (cf. Searle, 1980 - "Minds, Brains, and Programs"). Jelasnya, input informasi komputer inisial selalu bergerak searah (luar ke dalam) dan oleh karenanya bersifat pasif. Komputer senantiasa membutuhkan manusia untuk memasukan data--contoh: vitalitas web 2.0 pada Facebook dan para pemilik akunnya. Dan tentu saja mereka membutuhkan desainer situs untuk menyusun sintaksnya.

NOTA BENE

1. Dalam teori bahasa fundamental, bahasa berarti kode. Silahkan kontraskan pernyataannya dengan fungsi dari suara supersonik seekor lumba-lumba.
2. Termasuk, tetapi tidak terbatas pada, bahasa komputer, bahasa manusia yang digenerasikan oleh komputer, dsb.
3. Dalam suatu kasus pribadi, dalam kontak bahasa antara bahasa Inggris dan Indonesia, Google Translate pernah gagal dalam tingkatan gramatika (< 2010)--'present progressive'.

OTAK DAN LOYALITAS

Dalam dunia perempuan, seberapa jauh opini temannya berpengaruh dalam pembentukan model realitas di otaknya? Apabila neokorteks kita membangun masa depan berdasarkan pengalaman nyata dari masa lalu,¹ seberapa presisi prediksi kita dibangun dari memori yang tersangkut dalam sinaps? Apabila fungsi hipokampus bahkan tidak mampu membantu satuan kolom per satu lapisan neuron dalam mengelompokkan data dalam pola invarian, seberapa spesifik pengalaman seseorang? Apabila ahli neurobiologi beranggapan bahwa data yang kita simpan tak lekang waktu,² apa yang membuat impuls tercipta di bagian tersebut? Bisakah kita memerintahkan otak secara sadar pada neuron untuk tidak menembak di bagian tertentu sehingga tidak mengakses data tentang pengalaman yang tidak menyenangkan?

Visual korteks tidak menyimpan data dalam bentuk visual. Bungkus kopi disimpan dalam bentuk bukan bungkus kopi. Lukisan kubisme dan desain piksel tidak disimpan dalam bentuk kotak-kotak. Wajah seseorang pun begitu. Keempat obyek tersebut disimpan dalam suatu pola non-spesifik yang membentuk sekuens.³ Saya bisa mengenali merek kopi karena arus informasi di otak bermula dari data spesifik, digeneralisasi, kemudian diprediksi secara spesifik kembali. Ini membuat saya dapat mengenali kopi yang saya suka atau tidak--meskipun ketika departemen pemasaran dari produsen kopi tersebut memutuskan untuk melakukan 're-branding' ke dalam logo yang baru, otak saya akan tetap dapat mengenalinya. Serupa dengan gagasan ini, bagaimana indra-indra kita memproses data dalam sensasi lain? Afeksi, sayang atau cinta misalnya? Apabila benar bahwa semua indra kita hanya menangkap data dalam 1 bentuk yang sama, akankah prosesnya menjadi identik? Seberapa jauh neokorteks akan toleran terhadap data baru? Terhadap rasa lidah yang baru; terhadap lentikan jari yang baru; terhadap tatapan mata yang baru? Apabila pola invarian membuat kita mampu mengenali obyek serupa dari data sebelumnya sebagai obyek yang berdiri dalam kategori yang sama, misalnya, mengenali GoodDay, Indocafe, dan Nescafe sebagai bagian dari kopi bungkus; mengenali si A, B, dan C sebagai cinta, apakah kesetiaan berarti kesulitan neokorteks dalam mengkategorikan sensasi? Apakah ini membuat saya tampak seperti robot dengan algoritma kortikal dalam silikon?

Sebagai linguis, untuk pertama kalinya saya bertanya, "Apakah kesetiaan bermakna positif, negatif atau netral? Dalam situasi spesifik apa?"⁴

EPILOG
Dalam prosesnya, neokorteks sering kali kewalahan dalam mengelompokkan data. Ini yang membuat kita sering labil menentukan pilihan. Dan ini normal. Kepastian yang ajeg justru yang dikhawatirkan. Intoleransi terhadap sesuatu, atau yang dalam nuansa positifnya juga dikenal dengan loyalitas, sangat mungkin berasal dari landasan yang keliru. Pada sisi yang lebih teknis, biofisika misalnya, hal tersebut bisa dipengaruhi oleh variasi bentuk fisik dalam beberapa elemen otak--entah kabel-kabel subkortikal yang lebih tebal; sel dendrit yang lebih tipis; lipatan protein yang berbeda atau bahkan yang lebih mikro dan tak ada hubungannya dengan tangan manusia seperti manuskrip gen--setidaknya hingga hari ini.

NOTA BENE

1. Dalam perspektif ilmu komunikasi, situasi ini serupa dengan definisi konteks epistemik.
2. Teori ini sejalan dengan salah satu wacana fisika mengenai eksistensi bahwa sesuatu yang tidak tampak secara fisik tidak berarti ia tidak ada (cf. Hawking, 2010 - "The Grand Design" mengenai realisme bergantung model, hal. 49-50; Einstein).
3. Karena pola non-spesifik ini, wilayah otak yang diduga mengolah satu indra tertentu bisa juga memproses data yang diinput dari indra yang lain, contoh kasus: visual korteks yang aktif ketika seorang tunanetra membaca huruf braile. Somatosensorik, visual korteks, wilayah auditoris, dst. berfungsi karena mereka bergotong-royong alias tidak bekerja secara mandiri (cf. Hawkins, 2004 - "On Intelligence"). Oleh karenanya ketika seorang Shakespeare jadi-jadian mengatakan, "Saya mencium aroma manis." Kita tahu bahwa ia tidak hanya sedang menyatakan suatu metafor melainkan pernyataan yang dapat pula bermakna harfiah. Broca mengolah data linguistik dengan bekerjasama dengan dan/atau bahkan menginterferensi bagian(-bagian) yang saya sebutkan di atas sebelumnya. Interferensi tersebut dapat diuji ketika Anda yang mampu berdwibahasa melafalkan kalimat sebagai berikut ke dalam ejaan berbahasa Inggris: "'batik', 'ikat' and 'paddy' are English loanwords absorbed from Bahasa while 'orang-utan' is from Malay." Saya yakin bahwa beberapa dari kalian pasti tersendat atau melakukannya secara perlahan-lahan ketika membacanya. Ketersendatan Anda dalam melakukan tugas ini menandakan suatu interferensi morfemis-fonologis yang melibatkan lebih dari satu bagian otak.
4. Sebagai masyarakat bahasa, kita semua memiliki otoritas untuk menjawab pertanyaan linguistik; merevisi kamus; mendebat pejabat Pusat Bahasa atau bahkan L'Academie francais yang terkenal kolot. Karena semantik bersifat personal; karena bahasa bersifat dinamis; karena bahasa milik kita.

Kata kunci: neurolinguistik, sosiolinguistik, sosiobiologi

ULASAN BUKU - "THE GRAND DESIGN" (2010)

Apabila ada yang mengatakan bahwa buku ini cocok untuk pembaca umum, sepertinya hal tersebut tidak sepenuhnya berlaku untuk saya. Ada beberapa bagian dari buku ini yang harus saya baca berulang-ulang untuk bisa dipahami--yang pada akhirnya, dari beberapa bagian tersebut, tidak semuanya saya pahami. Beberapa di antaranya adalah sebagai berikut:

1. Fluktuasi kuantum dalam interpretasi latar gelombang mikro (cf. NASA/WMAP Science Team, 2010) mengenai sejarah terbentuknya alam semesta (hal. 139-150);
2. Uraian diagram Feynmann mengenai penjumlahan sejarah dalam teori elektrodinamika kuantum (QED) (hal. 112-117);
3. Proses kerja "Game of Life" (hal. 182-192) (cf. Conway, 1970).

Atau mungkin saya saja yang terlalu bodoh? Wkwk... Buku ini tidak dianjurkan sebagai bacaan sebelum tidur; tetapi cukup ampuh untuk mengatasi kantuk ketika Anda berdiri berjejelan di bis menuju kantor.
Terlepas dari klaim penerbit bahwa buku ini cocok untuk pembaca umum, klaim yang diperoleh dari beberapa pengulas bahwa Hawking memiliki selera humor yang baik dapat saya pahami--meskipun beberapa humor tersebut tergolong renyah ketika saya yang bukan fisikawan membaca analogi konyol sementara pada saat yang bersamaan saya sedang berjuang memahami hukum tersebut.

Intinya, saya tidak bisa tertawa lepas ketika tidak memahami. Hal ini menyerupai suatu situasi bahwa Tuhan tidak campur tangan dalam penciptaan alam semesta. Bagi saya, itu data baru. Dan data baru tersebut masih belum dapat saya proses karena masih ada beberapa hal yang berkonflik seperti sebagai berikut:

1. Sekarang semua fisikawan percaya bahwa elektron itu ada meskipun tidak dapat dilihat (hal. 50). Apabila Tuhan juga bersifat tak tampak, kenapa doi tidak mempercayaiNya seperti pada elektron? Begitu pula dengan quark. #FisikaNuklir #FisikaKuantum.
2. Pelabelan campur tangan Tuhan terhadap konstanta kosmologis (cf. Einstein dalam "Relativitas Umum") bukan sesuatu yang bersifat seperti kromodinamika yang memiliki fungsi praktis dalam renomalisasi ketakterhinggaan semata (cf. CERN).

NOTA BENE
Dari perspektif publikasi, sebagai penerjemah saya berpendapat bahwa ada beberapa konsep yang tidak diterjemahkan dengan tepat seperti kata 'teori efektivitas' < 'effective theory' yang mungkin sebaiknya dipadankan dengan 'teori yang berlaku'. Hal ini perlu dilakukan untuk mengontraskan konsep yang sedang di bahas dalam paragraf tersebut agar lebih mudah dipahami (hal. 35; cf. hal. 191).

HOLOGRAPHIC FORM FOR HOMO KNOWLEDGE - TIPPING ITS USAGE IN A FUTURISTIC DISCOURSE

REVIEWED BY:

1. Iskandar Zulkarnaen as a Master student of University of Rochester in Visual and Cultural Studies. "This is cool stuff. Kudos!" (October 18th, 2009).
2. Lestari Manggong as a Master student of University of Kent at Canterbury in Postcolonial Studies. "What you’ve put down here is quite a mouth full, yet intriguing, Reza. When reading this, Neo (The Matrix) and Johnny Mnemonic (Johnny Mnemonic) came to mind. (Obviously I bring these two up not because I’m a huge fan of Keanu Reeves, but more to the idea of data/information, or in your dictionary, ‘knowledge’ being transferred to human brain). But I have to say that this dream about humans not doing harm to each other since, as you put it, ‘global citizen won't recognize any substandard neighborhood’ due to what you believe that the chemistry between brain activity and human emotion ‘will direct them to be more harmonious,’ is still too utopic. I have no intention to sound discouraging, but the harsh fact is that somewhere along the line of the process of this instant knowledge acquisition, there’s an inevitable interference of looking at things in binary opposition, and thus treating whatever it is we see as such. And another harsh fact is that it is these very oppositions that create balance on the evolution of human race/culture/ideology. What have you to say about this?" (October 19th, 2009).

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

FORM: ESSAY

CODE: ENGLISH

PERSPECTIVES: MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Reza Putra CC 2009

The failure of Google and the rest (web-based) search engines in knowledge distribution has been exposed (Kawell, et al., 2009). How about the latest innovation published by the Stanford duo in improving the use of email by releasing Google Wave? Although the live feature is known cool, in my view, it's not as much helping when being justified with large-scale (global) longevity, education, and wealth currently promoted. Subsequently, is there a better method in sharing knowledge to dismiss present gap? Globalization bias, here we go again...

Keywords: major - knowledge representation—i.e. storage and manipulation topics, knowledge transfer, applied advanced technology; minor - Artificial Intelligence (AI), communication, human development, knowledge distribution, knowledge management, knowledge retrieval, System Intelligence (SI)

Could knowledge be physical? ...


Stolen from NeuroSky (2009)

... I mean, could the knowledge on human brain have physical representation? Correspondingly, would it be temporary and touchable? In today culture, visual representation of knowledge have been generated in diversed fields. In linguistics, particularly on written communication, this planet has alphabetical systems (orthography) for most languages. In advanced, our society even has various artificial languages—e.g. more editable (dynamic) computer languages with simplified syntax such as PHP and XML rather than basic DOS, or static HTML; in information technology, there are television, storage devices, portable devices, etc.; in beaux arts, there are painting, and sculpture. At the moment, here I inquiry, would it be possible for the knowledge, the idea, the notion, the reasoning, the concept, the thought itself being personified into specific image?—Onto hologram, for instance? Will it be possible for human to translate electrical wave of his brain state and activity into such form? The goal is simple, namely to simplify the acquiring process of learning then people around the globe can access a piece of information (knowledge) evenly. No hesitance about teacher qualification, and school facility; global citizen will posses benchmarked minds at exact rate—even in a low GDP nation.


WHAT IS KNOWLEDGE?

Generally, knowledge is interpreted as information and skills acquired through experience or education (Concise Oxford Dictionary, 2001; Wikipedia, 2009f). Experience makes expertise; respectively, it takes time. The question is can we build an effort on spatio-temporal thing here? We were born, have grown up, and, most of us, are living a life under an instant age. We are all instant generation, aren't we? Will it make us a criminal for shortening up the process of knowledge acquisition—e.g. language acquisition? In my opinion, it loans us Einstein dress instead :))¹ It makes us feel up-most at any state of being handy, comfy, and lucky creature synchronously.

So far, in knowledge transfer, there is one taxonomy of knowledge consisting of (Blackler, 1995 in Wikipedia, 2009j; cf. Fan, 1998):

1. embrained knowledge, a knowledge associated to conceptual skills and cognitive abilities—e.g. taking a teacher's explanation, asking a question, practicing in anger management, etc.;
2. embodied knowledge, a knowledge based on action and contextual practices—e.g. surfing the internet, speaking foreign languages, driving a car, etc.;
3. encultured knowledge, a knowledge gained by acculturation and socialization—e.g. eating, praying, respecting, loving, etc.;
4. embedded knowledge, a knowledge engaged in systematic routines—e.g. making report in your workplace, doing homework, following up a client, etc.; and
5. encoded knowledge, a knowledge encoded into symbols and connected to transmission—e.g. data on articles, books, web pages, etc..

The idea of this writing covers all the aforementioned types of knowledge. From the same source, it deals more with the transmission, storage and interrogation of knowledge. Into the bargain, it even adheres to mental state as well. Here are the take-offs—how I start and develop a mean of knowledge transfer in a futuristic discourse.


KNOWLEDGE IN SOCIAL SCIENCE: (ANCIENT WESTERN) PHILOSOPHY - PHILOSOPHY'S RATIONALISM (CF. WIKIPEDIA, 2009LM)

In Plato's theory of universals, He said that knowledge is a mere recollection. From this, Socrates, his teacher, also exposed that his shortage of memorizing could be an associated factor. Moreover, he marked up that it may not be empirical. Using their theories as the primary reference, I then propose three enquiries as follows:

1. it's presumable that knowledge is renewable and/or replaceable;
2. according to the term of Aristotle's metaphysics, will it be possibly positive to interlink knowledge with materialistic entities? For example, to sort it into the same cohort with paper-based books, human organs, sportive pants, etc.?;²
3. reflexively, knowledge could be a matter of nihilism—nothingness. In a sense that immaterial objects are on the highest rank of philosophy.³

According thereto, ancient philosophers have ensured us that there's no unsaid precondition to say that (mental) knowledge could possibly have the physical visual representation.


WHAT IS THIS? - NARROWING THE IDEAS FOR THIS REFLECTION

Previously, I alluded that the current condition cannot describe an ideal distribution of knowledge. In Indonesia, we can easily tag the gap. There's a big, big, big hole separating us from our educated brothers. In my opinion, conflicts are usually encountered by under-supplied knowledge among a number of minds in both poles. An end-conflict could be an item of total misunderstandings. In the holographic aeon, I predict (dream) that human knowledge is to be transferable (borrowed) with no account for conventional actions taken, i.e. reading, listening, watching, and so on. Like a folder of data, I incessantly deem that knowledge could be copied, pasted, removed, reserved, and even modified by full human authority—in compact literary meaning, i.e. 'finger touch' (tactile).

THE CENTRAL USES

PROMOTING INTELLIGENCE IN EVERYTHING

In neurology, neurons keep alive by a process of stagnant learning (citation challenged). In linguistic logic, 'learning' is recognized as a synonymy for 'knowledge'. So it means, by keep feeding a man's brain with any update, it can sharpen his dullness. The problem is ... there are a number of barriers contracting a person's knowledge. One of them could be financial affairs. Journals, seminars, symposiums—available for download—are intended for the experts (cf. Bush in Kwadell, 2009?) while articles—also available for download—are for the general learners; what could be a source for the less-motivated novice? Is there anything that the poor can download? A unit of personal computer (PC) remains costly in most remote areas (cf. Population Reference Bureau, 2009). That's a confirmed fact. All-purposely, it could be social fact. We badly need a better mechanism to share our knowledge—any kind of knowledge putting up the sapience (wisdom) of Homo sapiens.

Arrived to here, critics like Alfred Binet, Stephen Jay Gould, Daniel Schacter, and Daniel Gilbert who argue intelligence measurement in most IQ tests may no longer be claimed as utopists. I go along with them for a theory suggesting that this world requires a better improved methodology in benchmarking human intelligence (cf. Borsboom, 2006). IQ sounds too Scandinavian, I rethink—just like how Human Development Index (HDI) measured in keeping materialistic entities alone. I agree that morality shouldn't be avoided (Caplan, 2008; Lasu, year?). It's more than likely that politicians in the United Nations have underdeveloped the gist of human development.

COMPLETING THE LAST ROUND OF GENDER FIGHT - MAN "FIRST" WALK

In conventional way, two persons are used to share knowledge simply by making a dialogue in circles to which they belong. The problem then appears when he is asked to provide a clear explanation for a/an complex, abstract, and/or new reasoning (cf. Anonymous, 2009: 17). In short, only a certain number of individuals receive education for or has passion in pedagogy; only a certain number of them has a proper persuasive communication generating people interest. Learning is bi-direction, right? Lecturing calls for some skills. Sociobiologically speaking, helpful teachers may be dominated by women (Pease dan Pease, 2009). Prior to feminism, without anticipation, men might not be able to fix their reputation—even the most communicative (warm-hearted) gay teachers; they would be hopeless too.

I'm not speaking that either gender has to have even rate in all spheres of professions. Our brain structure is reported failed to perform such will. By applying a new methodology in sharing knowledge, either male or female will possess more options in walking on a career steadily.

LIBERATING IDEAL SOCIETY

With the popularity of emotional intelligence introduced a couple years ago, it can be said that the agreement between human intelligence and emotion would reach a higher level. In acknowledgment that human emotion is also affected by brain activity (lihat Pease dan Pease, 1999), I believe that the chemistry will direct them to be more harmonious in human life—even in Africa, a few parts of Indonesian territories, and the rest remote areas those are currently sharing under $2 per day to survive (cf. Population Reference Bureau, 2009).

In this idea, I believe that global citizen won't recognize any substandard neighborhood. Hence, they cannot harm each other. Will it be rightly fictitious? Do you think 'homo-homoni-lupus' statement is everlastingly referential? I believe that it mustn't be forever—at least, on many rivalry-base senses apparently outdated.

Since then, anyone can carry out any datum they wish to have. In a social group, with the facilities for knowledge acquisition at that time, which enable knowledge hunt to come much more emotional and personal. Within a robust social relationship, everyone can be a teacher; every space is a classroom; every second is knowledge transfer. A minimal number of healthy minds will be corrected—supplied! :)) Completing two principals in figuring the origin of human intelligence, learning should be social; neurologist, psychologist, and psychiatrist admitted it (University of Washington's Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences for PhsyOrg.com, 2009a; cf. Alan Decker and the Machine Perception Lab, Movellan and Sejnowski from University of California, San Diego; the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development).

In a disperse sense what knowledge means, I think that knowledge can be a power for human to love. More aggregated their knowledge is, more loving (affectionate) they will be. The basic approach is, knowledge (un/dis)covers reasoning; reasoning carries a reason. The more reasons they can have, the more things they don't know. Because in general, knowledge flips a person. When they find a (new) problem, their way of reasoning may put them everywhere in random. Exocentrically, the more careful they will be—the more imprecise their deed may appear. Along with a great leadership, they may become 'reflexive' and 'flexible'—given that those two adjectives has positive sense.

PUTTING MENTAL DISORDERS INTO EXTINCTION

By a certain feature, it's clear that forgetfulness would be no longer cited as a problem. In an illness with higher risk, this technology might get rid of amnesia, Alzheimer, Hyperthymesia, Korsakoff's psychosis, and other memory-related diseases. This would be a whale-size step, don't you think?

HOW DOES IT WORK?

THE PHYSICAL FORM THAT I CANVASS, I.E. DRAGGING HOLOGRAM OUT FROM LAB

When a brain runs a task—storing a piece of information, e.g. in verbal, written or visual form, etc.; neurons inside the brain are proactive. They connect each other by sending signal in particular electrical behavior. For censorial tasks, these neurons are automatically restless—even when we are sleeping; but for motor assignments, they need a "stimulus". In daily practice, the number of "stimulus" are enormous. It can be another human or inanimate objects. To read a book, punch a betrayal, or mourn somebody's loss, human body has a number of chemical substance to work as stimulant. The fact is, we don't have any artificial stimulant that can put our brain into reaction for such tasks—storing, editing, deleting data, etc. The real challenge is, scientists are encouraged to design a set of devices consisting of, at least, four elements. Firstly, a reactor working to call for a possible command. Secondly, an encoder working to encrypt the command. Particularly, this device works to encode the language of brain—neurons. Thirdly, a decoder working to translate the brain language into light code, i.e. holographic form. And fourthly, a messenger working to transmit the hologram out of the brain.

When the tactile (touchable) holographic visualization appears, by the same active reactor (device), another brain is set up to receive or send a datum. In a little while, these two brains are ready to communicate each other.

DESIGNING THE DEVICES - SHOULD IT COPY A BCI (BRAIN-COMPUTER INTERFACE), NEUROPROSTHETICS, OR EVEN BLUETOOTH? (cf. Wikipedia, 2009b)

In the 2005, a group of scientists from the Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience of the Miami (Ohio) University reported that BCI might help human in learning (craving for knowledge) (United Press International, 2005 in PhysOrg.com, 2005a). BCI is a tool permitting a specific artificial object to be straightly attached to the brain. The practical use could be understood in medical sphere, e.g. diminishing blindness, immobility of a patient of stroke, etc. BCI has various types. According to the brain (esp. cortex) contact, BCI can be divided into: (a) invasive BCI; (b) partially invasive BCI; and (c) non-invasive BCI. The products are abundant. There are Electroencephalography (EEG), Magnetoencephalography (MEG), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), etc. The latest innovation could be Cell-culture BCI, i.e. a BCI that can operate outside the brain itself. Therefore, it would seemingly be indistinguishable how a bluetooth generally work. While BCI is used to touch a specific area of the brain, neuroprosthetics is otherwise. At the moment, the difference between how BCI and bluetooth work are subtle. Media informed that there's a number of wireless BCI released. In contrast with the past, today non-invasive BCI has been equipped with a well-built transmitter. Consequently, the later generation of non-invasive BCI is reported to have stronger signal. In my opinion, it's not an exaggeration to predict how the devices will be designated as long as it's technically (technologically) approved.

This set of devices would send signals to brain areas covering memorizing. Mainly, it would contact four main areas where the memory stores either a short-term or long-term datum, i.e. the hippocampus, amygdala, striatum, or mammillary bodies (cf. Wikipedia, 2009k) to translate our mental state of knowledge and finally discharge it into holographic form right after the stimulus sent.

A NUMBER OF PRE-FINDINGS THAT CAN SEND US CLOSER:

IN NEUROLOGY (challenging citation offered)

Human brain consists of hundred billion of neurons functioning as porters. Like a network of the internet, each neuron plays a role as a computer. On this reflection, I'd like to propose an idea about transforming human (a user), by a help from an electronic device, then Homo sapien can be understood as a "labial" computer.

Bring it into reality, some upholding researches have been carried out, among other things, are:

1. human brain replication project that is going to be undertaken in 2019 (Professor Markram of Brain Mind Institute in Switzerland for AlphaGalileo in PhysOrg.com, 2009d);
2. a discovery stating that part of human brain functions like a digital computer (Professor Randall O'Reilly from University of Colorado at Boulder in PhysOrg.com, 2006a); and
3. another discovery reporting that mammalian brain recognizes neurons to restrain into polyfriendship (The Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Louisanne (EPFL) in PhysOrg.com, 2006b). There is no ad hoc relationship among one neuron to another. A separate report also stated that how a neuron works is much akin to Darwinian theory (citation challenged)—it always looks for stable friends despite of weaker friends. When the "weak" friends transmit low signal, the electrical relationship ends there. Sounds familiar? Neurons are politicians, everybody! Hahaha...

From the findings mentioned, I then advise a set of feedback as follows:

1. if they can reproduce a brain as a whole, will it be implausible for them to copy-paste a part what on the brain is? Unlike a set of PC, the biocomputer of human is monic. Human brain performs multitask as an all-in-one device. For a Homo sapien, brain functions as a hard disk, memory (RAM), and processor (CPU) en bloc (citation challenged);
2. by the similarity with digital computer, we may treat our brain as a PC. The scientist' report shouldn't be underdeveloped. It's more than a metaphor, I deem; and
3. by changing its partner overtime, a number of neuron's "slot" for connection is unlimited. It means it can have a sum of recipients as much as the transmitters—not trying to be sexist, do you think neuron is biologically an alpha-male? Hahaha... Seriously for a joke (lihat Pease dan Pease, 1999 - Why Men Don't Listen [a]nd Women Can't Read Maps: Understanding man's polygamous relationship in sociobiology perspective). Back to the business, this neurologist' finding could outline a prospect that the cerebral communication authorizes multiuser.

IN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY (cf. Hologram.net, 1999; Wikipedia, 2009den)

When it was firstly introduced in 1947, hologram was produced fragile because lack of coherent light. Soon after Light Amplified by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (LASER) was founded, then it appears more vivid. Hologram then known has four dimension, i.e. height, width, depth, and time (motion) (cf. Hologram.net, 1999; Einstein, 1920: 37-38). Recently, scientists in Shinoda Lab from Tokyo University inspired a group of audience by presenting a set of touchable 3D holograms. The ringleader said that they radiates ultrasound to let human sense the holograms.

By here, it's not impossible for us to touch our mental knowledge soon after the visualization can be projected into 3D space.

IN COMPUTER SCIENCE: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Kawell, et al. (2009?) has been designing search engine with complex algorithm that permits a user to chose his/her own finding. The result of searching is predicted to be no longer "systemized" by the engine. Correspondingly, it makes the process of searching come personal and credible.

By this finding, the process of searching (learning) will be more convincing for each mind. An enlarged possibility to manage our knowledge comes much efficient and personal.

Related to this passage, an idea that I'm trying to figure out may be cited on the next domain of knowledge engineering (KE) of Feigenbaum and McCorduck (1983) (cf. Wikipedia, 2009g); still, it's not KE. The transfer view of KE means transferring a knowledge to a computer system. The intelligence that is caused by is planted into an inanimate being—and that's what McCarthy (1955-1956) named for Artificial Intelligence (AI). In the meantime, this writing takes "software engineering" into a compact human integration. The transfer view is pointed toward man-man relationship principal; not man-computer relationship. Having lack of control in fear management, any human could be robotic; by this new sharing, I hope (dream), man would behave like more humane (benevolent)—in spite of the technical condition of this sharing method shown.

PRAGMATICAL VIEW ON THE FINDING - SOME LOGIC TO STAY ANOMALY:

Pragmatism is a theory of philosophy meaning for evaluating a theory or belief toward the success of its practical application. By the earlier passages, we can assess that holographic knowledge is not rightly impossible to be applied. But will be another effect beyond the central uses? Clear of that, will be a task for us to vanish spheres in human intelligence? To avoid this disaster, the use of this technology should be intensely evaluated and assessed periodically—per annum for instance—and regionally, in certain.

IN PHILOSOPHY - DOES SUBJECTIVISM BELONG TO EVERYONE? HOW WOULD ARISTOTELIAN RESPONSE FOR THIS?⁴

In Platonic epistemology it is said that knowledge could be also interpreted as a subjective expertise. Imaginarily, tomorrow people may be having Dumbledore's pensive for each! :)) That's why the process of transferring it is uneasy as it may not appear. I regard that to introduce a new topic into a new brain is a difficult task—or even problematic. To prevent them collide needs mutual endeavor. When knowledge becomes totally touchable—in compact literary meaning—I hope that this thread can be translated. Optimistically, adequate intelligence—that surpasses minimum standard—can be possessed globally. Ya se ve, conducive sociopolitical and economic situation is compulsory. If today gap persists, this kind of finding may get it widen—rather than narrow. OMG, claim me wrong :((

IN THEOLOGY - "CULTUS" DOMINATION

Due to the worry of gap in information distribution—it's subtly poked that while some people know too much; some other receive less; in prophesy, if there's no anticipation, chaos in the future, foreseeably, will occur more massive in cause of the corrupted evenness (cf. Bush, 1945 in Kawell, et al., 2009). Due to Aristotle' s concept of potentiality and actuality, I concern that there would be negative alteration on the value of knowledge. In this phase, people's knowledge may refer to illogical cases much frequent in spite of knowledge per se. In other word, with inherited fuss among western scientist and theologian earlier, tomorrow people will be more religious in the rise of theological (non-empirical) reasonings.⁵ And since the position of knowledge becomes more delicate before many-many years in BC, in respect that it posses bigger risk of modification—manipulation, with a super-duper complex and grande network, tomorrow people may have various subtle religions than ever! How do you think? By this paragraph, will you speak that this finding could be more wasteful (destructive) rather than useful (constructive) to human life? I hope no.

IN ECONOMICS - EQUIVOQUE IN CAPITALISM

When the visual representation for human knowledge is accessible, the problem than rise, particularly, on:

1. Will the method demand a sustaining costly device?
2. How can we persuade the cost into diet?

It's more than likely when the technology is reproduced, the cost of a unit of PC will be no longer high. But who can put a guarantee among this subsistent socioeconomic gap? I concern that the gap may cultivate the median in upper-level diagonal rather than in placed horizontal.

Reza Putra CC 2009


A cost for a commercial BCI is relatively affordable. In gaming industry, a BCI-based controller is tagged for about $199 (cf. NeuroSky.com, 2009; Nintendo Wii). While in other fields, e.g. military, transportation, education, and health, the price skyrockets. In fact, excluding clinical study, BCI devices haven't approved to sale (BrainGate on Cyberkinetics.com).

At the end, if this finding is designed to appear as an end-contribution for all, why it should be commercialized? :) Don't you all already feel hard to breathe in capitalism? It's effortless to word that capitalism could be a realistic fences how this technologically works properly. Bad news, the development of BCI technology is published to be profit-share. LG Electronics and Ziyitong Technology Co. Ltd.—China mobile—are also reported engaged in co-work (Johsnon, 2009).

AM I GOING TOO FAR? - SOME BROKEN LINKS CHALLENGED

This passage will exhibit some pending findings that can accommodate the idea to destination.

1. Understanding brain completely. To "manipulate" a thing from its proper function, we have to know what's the main function first. To control human brain as a unit of PC, we have to comprehend how the brain works. In fact, biologist even cannot understand how the brain comes into function—e.g. how to make a person become so smart, etc. But I'm not speaking about how to utilize human brain as an improper tool; I'm talking about how we can optimize it—in received morality of course. To cope with this issue, a group of scientists from IBM and EPFL have drafted a blueprint of human brain in 3D model by the year 2005. They fashioned what is called Blue Gene as the supercomputer that can order the model to perform any expected task. By then, they'd draw more knowledge in understanding how the brain actually works up to the molecular level. It's just getting sharper, don't you think? (cf. PhysOrg.com, 2005ab). Likewise, another publication also states that neuroscientist have successfully spotted where the intelligence on (cf. California Institute of Technology in PhysOrg.com, 2009).
2. knowledge tagging (cf. Wikipedia, 2009i). Knowledge tagging means sorting various knowledge into different groups. So therefore, finding an intended subject will be problem-free. In conventional term, knowledge tagging can be associated to 'keyword'. Knowledge tagging comes sufficient for knowledge transferability. By the same importance, this finding may refer to acknowledgment in handling any type of memories—i.e. short-term and long-term memory. So far, psychiatrist in UCLA (2006) have reported that a man may improve his memory by incorporating some exercises, healthy eating, and kind of. Yes, it's not impractical; still, it frustratingly takes time.
3. Holographic brain theory (Pribram, 1977). It said when a brain stores information, it will be cited throughout the whole brain. There is no a specific cite for a specific memory. Well, to process this business is surely tough.

Throughout those links above, then this writing's propriety counts on.

THE SIMILAR IDEAS

A DEVICE CALLED HOLOGRAM COMMUNICATIONS © 1999

The same idea is spoken in communications perspective. It is called hologram communications. Comparatively similar to my work, the author combines philosophy-physical abstraction and other related scientific evidences (theories) as his initial proposal. On a few pages, he even details his approach by demonstrating relevant supposition from quantum and theoretical physics. You can see his bold rationalization particularly on how he bridges communication theory and relativity theory of Einstein. The author develops Einstein's E=MC² as transpired here (cf. The Lorentz Transformation; Minkowski's Four−Dimensional Space in Einstein, 1920: 21-23, 37-38). Personally speaking, I'm quite uncertain on his work. [Nah!] For such concern, I invite you, readers, to inspect my writing :D

INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM BY NEUROSKY ® 2009; AND INSTITUTE OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS (IEEE) © 2009 (cf. System Intelligence by Hämäläinen and Saarinen, 2004)

NeuroSky is a company releasing BCI products. The company pokes various areas of industries, i.e. game, sport, health, safety, transportation, logistics, security, military, and (homo) intelligence. Occupied by a steady cooperation with the government of developed countries (citation challenged), NeuroSky is developing what is called Intelligence System. I don't know precisely what it's all about; but, in practice, we can say that it's a tool for secured, private, and trusted e-government and e-participation (e-democracy) (cf. Anonymous, 2009; Jaeger and Thompson, 1995). According to NeuroSky, Intelligence System is reported to be released in 2013. Technically speaking, it might be associated to the idea of this reflection in general; yet this NeuroSky's patent is not essential to be evenly leveled with Holographic Form of Homo Knowledge that I put forward. The spirit is much contradicted. While Holographic Form of Homo Knowledge means ubiquitous, timeless, and unanimous; Intelligence System is not necessarily available anywhere, anytime, for anybody. Intelligence System would be fashioned regarding to an isolated knowledge restricting its access (cf. Anonymous, 2009: 17).⁶ Another company that also manufactures intelligence system is, at slight non-plus, Microsoft. The software itself is marketed for medical practice and health care.

Reza Putra

Bekasi, October 18th, 2009

FOOTNOTE

1. There's a statement that knowledge is on the highest level of triad. On the lower level there is information, and data in the following (citation challenged). A priori, there's a theory called communication energy theory. On that theory, speed (velocity) becomes one of its functions (cf. Hologram.net, 1999; Fizeau, year? in Einstein, 1920).
2. Cf. Aristotle on Posterior Analytics (Book 1, Part 2).
3. Cf. Popper (1975) on "The rationality of scientific revolutions"; in Rom Harré (ed.), Problems of Scientific Revolution: Scientific Progress and Obstacles to Progress in the Sciences. Clarendon Press: Oxford.
4. On his book entitled "Politics", he wrote, "Man is by nature a political animal." By this sentence, it can be a strict guide that each animal possesses its individual power.
5. Even though, there's a trend in Islam to translate its doctrine into logical approach since some years ago (citation challenged). Speaking widely, the explained doctrines remain lesser than those that aren't elucidated yet by Islamic scholars. I think, this kind of enquiries can persuade a mayhem even smoother when western's standard is associated.⁷ Take feminism as a case, and link it with a number of suras in An-Nisa—mentok-mentok palingan berhenti di masalah susunan otak laki-laki yang tertuliskan bahwa ia tersistem untuk berperan lebih sebagai 'breeder' alih-alih 'keeper' :P (Pease dan Pease, 1999). Mengapa Tuhan menciptakan laki-laki seperti itu? Apakah ada hubungannya dengan "epidemi"? Saya benar-benar tidak tahu. Apakah terdapat kewajiban khusus yang diemban oleh laki-laki dari otak poligaminya? Hmmm, apakah dengan ini, lagi-lagi, Islam mengecewakan kaum feminis? Menurut saya, bila bicara soal dominasi gender mungkin iya; tapi kalo soal keseteraan gender, lebih dari kelihatannya, maka jawabannya cenderung tidak. Hehehe...
6. One of the four authors writing Intelligence System version IEEE is Konstantinos A. Tarabanis. He's a professor in the Department of Business Administration at the University of Macedonia, Greece. It can explains why the concept is much like business-oriented.
7. It's almost impossible to detach western from today Islamic practices at all. Still, it's unclever to view Islam from western standard. If it's insisted, the result must be disappointing)—e.g. happening thriving cultures in fashion, music, and film. What I'm trying to word here is they are interlinked each other—at least, in historical politics, and cultural contact (cf. Pipes, 2009; Roy, 1995)—for instance, lexical borrowing trend in scientific area ahead of 20th century (cf. Bloomfield, 1872).

WORDBOOK FOR GENERAL READERS

a priori (Latin) = from what is before

ad hoc (< Latin) = formed

allege (< français) = do st. bad with no proof

beaux arts (< français) = fine arts

cf. (< Latin, 'confer') = compare

cohort (< français, 'cohorte') = group

compte rendu (< français) = (formal) review

cultus (< Latin) = a system or variety based on religious worship

en bloc (< français) = all together

equivoque (< français) = ambiguity

exempli gratia (e.g.) (< Latin) = for example

grande (< español) = big

homo (< Latin) = man, modern human. In biology, it's a genus of primates.

id est (i.e.) (< Latin) = that is

labial (< Latin) = in phonetics, partial

monic (< Greek) = in mathematics, highest value regarded to 1

pending (< français, 'pendant') = hanging

per se (< Latin) = on itself, themselves

tip = predict

ubiquitous (< Latin) = (found) everywhere

unanimous (< Latin) = everyone (involved)

ya se ve (< español) = of course

REFERENCE BY USE

CITED

Anonymous. 2009. "Transforming E-government and E-participation through IT". Available online here (accessed on Octiber 17th, 2009).

Blackler, F. 1995. Knowledge, Knowledge Work and Organizations: An Overview and Interpretation. Organization Studies(6), 1021-1046.

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Cyberkinetics.com. 2009. "About [BrainGate]". Available online here (accessed on October 16th, 2009).

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Kawell, Daniel A. 2009? "Knowledge Construction [w]ith Visual Representations [o]f Distributed Information". Available online here (accessed on September 26th, 2009).

NeuroSky.com (Brain-Computer Interface Technologies). 2009. "About Us". Available online here (accessed on October 16th, 2009).

Pease, Allan dan Barbara Pease. 2009. Why Men Don't Listen [a]nd Women Can't Read Maps. Jakarta: Ufuk Press.

PhysOrg.com. 2005a. "Brain computer interface may help learning". PhysOrg.com - Other Sciences. Available online here (accessed on October 17th, 2009).

PhysOrg.com. 2005b. "IBM's Blue Gene supercomputer to create digital 3D model of the brain". PhysOrg.com - Other Sciences. Available online here (accessed on September 26th, 2009).

PhysOrg.com. 2006a. "Part [o]f Human Brain Functions [l]ike [a] Digital Computer, Professor Says". PhysOrg.com, Medicine & Health - Psychology & Psychiatry. Available online here (accessed on September 25th, 2009).

PhysOrg.com. 2006b. "Rewiring the mammalian brain - neurons make fickle friends". PhysOrg.com, Medicine & Health - Neuroscience. Available online here (accessed on October 16th, 2009).

PhysOrg.com. 2008a. "'Chatter Box' computer will unravel the science of language". PhysOrg.com, Medicine & Health - Psychology & Psychiatry. Available online here (accessed on September 26th, 2009).

PhysOrg.com. 2008b. "Scientists Gain Important Insights Into how Brain Transfers, Processes and Stores Visual Information". PhysOrg.com, Medicine & Health - Research. Available online here (accessed on September 26th, 2009).

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PhysOrg.com. 2009b. "Neuroscientists map intelligence in the brain". PhysOrg.com, Medicine & Health - Neuroscience. Available online here (accessed on October 17th, 2009).

PhysOrg.com. 2009c. "Scientist: Human brain could be replicated in 10 years". PhysOrg.com, Medicine & Health - Neuroscience. Available online here (accessed on September 26th, 2009).

PhysOrg.com. 2009d. "Touchable Hologram Becomes Reality". PhysOrg.com, Technology - Hi Tech. Available online here (accessed on September 26th, 2009).

Pipes, Daniel. 2009. "The Good Ayatollahs". CommentaryMagazine.com. Available online here (accessed on October 13th, 2009).

Population Reference Bureau. 2009. "2009 World Population Data Sheet". Available online here (accessed on September 5th, 2009).

Pribram, Karl. 1977. Languages of the Brain. Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole Publishing.

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Wikipedia. 2009b. "Brain-computer interface". Wikipedia. Available online here (accessed on October 13th, 2009).

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etc.

FURTHER READING

Anton Nijholt, Desney Tan, Gert Pfurtscheller, Clemens Brunner, Jos? del R. Mill?,Brendan Allison, Bernhard Graimann, Florin Popescu, Benjamin Blankertz, Klaus-R. M?, "Brain-Computer Interfacing for Intelligent Systems," IEEE Intelligent Systems, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 72-79, May/June 2008, doi:10.1109/MIS.2008.41.

Basu, Ratan Lal. Year? "HDI Ancient India". Available online here (accessed on October 18th, 2009).

Bloomfield, Leonard. 1976. Language Thirteen Impression. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd.

Einstein, Albert. 1920. "Relativity: The Special and General Theory". London: Methuen & Co Ltd. Available online here (accessed on September 28th, 2009).

Fan, Y. 1998. "The Transfer of Western Management to China: Context, Content and Constraints", Management Learning, 29:2, 201-221. Available online here (accessed on October 17th, 2009).

Genaro Rebolledo-Mendez, Ian Dunwell, Erika A. Martínez-Mirón, María Dolores Vargas-Cerdán, Sara de Freitas, Fotis Liarokapis, and Alma R. García-Gaona, "Assessing NeuroSky’s Usability to Detect Attention Levels in an Assessment Exercise," Human-Computer Interaction. New Trends, Vol. 5610, pp. 149-158, July 14, 2009, doi:10.1007/978-3-642-02574-7_17.

Hämäläinen, Raimo and Esa Saarinen (eds.). 2004. "Systems Intelligence - Discovering a hidden competence in human action and organizational life: Systems Analysis Laboratory Research Reports". Available online here (accessed on October 18th, 2009).

Jaeger, P. and K. Thompson, "E-government around the World: Lessons, Challenges, and Future Directions," Government Information Quarterly, vol. 20, no. 4, 2003, pp. 389–394.

Johnson, R. Colin. 2005. "Brain wave sensor system taps Bluetooth marshaled for mind readers". EE Times. Available online here (accessed on October 17th, 2009).

McCarthy, John, et al. (1955). "A Proposal for the Dartmouth Summer Research Project on Artificial Intelligence". Stanford University. Available online here (accessed on October 18th, 2009).

PhysOrg.com. 2009. "Scientists reveal how neuronal activity is timed in brain's memory-making circuits". PhysOrg.com, Medicine & Health - Research. Available online here (accessed on October 17th, 2009).

Roy, Olivier. 1995. The Failure of Political Islam. Harvard: Harvard University Press.

Salam, Reihan. 2009. "The Death of Macho". Foreign Policy. Available online here (accessed on July 25th, 2009).

Shaw, M. 2001. "Integrating Learning Technologies: The social-cultural, pragmatic and technology design contexts". Available online here (accessed on October 17th, 2009).

Sztompka, Piötr. 2004. Sosiologi Perubahan Sosial. Jakarta: Prenada Media.

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Wikipedia. 2009. "Digital holography". Wikipedia. Available online here (accessed on September 25th, 2009).

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etc.


COMPTE RENDU

Assorted revisions have been made on:

1. October 19th, 2009 in grammar, orthography, citation information, text-formatting, and contextual logic
2. October 20th, 2009 in grammar, text-formatting, and orthography
3. October 21st, 2009 in grammar, and contextual logic
4. March 21st, 2009 in grammar, syntax, and text-formatting.