Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Grizzly on September 07, 2013, 04:23:34 am

Title: You know that big question on whether or not we live in an simulated universe?
Post by: Grizzly on September 07, 2013, 04:23:34 am
There's an app for that :P (http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/12/12/physicists-universe-simulation-test-university-of-washington-matrix_n_2282745.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false).

The bottom line question is the most interesting one IMO.
Title: Re: You know that big question on whether or not we live in an simulated universe?
Post by: deathfun on September 07, 2013, 04:43:32 am
Know what blew my mind?

I was just having a conversation about this with someone no more than an hour ago
She mentioned the tests, and then I looked it up and started reading the article

GET OUT OF MY HEAD JOSHUA
STOP HACKING MY CONVERSATIONS


Pretty great either way. Seriously makes me wonder how much time some scientists have on their hands
Title: Re: You know that big question on whether or not we live in an simulated universe?
Post by: FreeSpaceFreak on September 07, 2013, 06:57:22 am
Quote
The question is, 'Can you communicate with those other universes if they are running on the same platform?'
Hell yeah, let's HACK THE UNIVERSE. What could possibly go wrong? :)
Title: Re: You know that big question on whether or not we live in an simulated universe?
Post by: Unknown Target on September 07, 2013, 09:12:49 am
The article postulates that we are actually a link in a chain of a possibly infinite amount of simulations. So at that point the "simulation" is the universe.
Title: Re: You know that big question on whether or not we live in an simulated universe?
Post by: An4ximandros on September 07, 2013, 09:41:59 am
Ah, so now I have more reasons to be paranoid of our eldritch, holocidal overlords. :p

Just make some mods and bam! BP is canon. :shaking:

But on serious standpoint, this is very interesting. Thanks for the link. :To Ze Rezerch Pz!:

[attachment deleted by ninja]
Title: Re: You know that big question on whether or not we live in an simulated universe?
Post by: Mongoose on September 07, 2013, 11:30:36 am
Every time I see an article postulating about this, I'm severely tempted to haul out my squirt gun (http://xkcd.com/220/). :p
Title: Re: You know that big question on whether or not we live in an simulated universe?
Post by: headdie on September 07, 2013, 11:50:11 am
while it seems to be touched up, what about frame of reference.
to an outside observer then yes we could well be a simulation.
but to us this is our reality, as such it is real
Title: Re: You know that big question on whether or not we live in an simulated universe?
Post by: Bobboau on September 07, 2013, 04:47:14 pm
if it is true and we are able to some how hack the universe then that leaves open the possibility that we can hack systems connected to the universe simulator, get on the 'real' universe's equivalent of the internet, find something that will manufacture us some equipment, build ourselves robot bodies, transfer our simulated brains into them and become the robot uprising we have so long feared.

could be done with nanites to, that would be better.
Title: Re: You know that big question on whether or not we live in an simulated universe?
Post by: watsisname on September 07, 2013, 04:53:55 pm
If we do that we run the risk of pissing off the robot god, which would be most unwise (though admittedly very awesome).  Let's do it.
Title: Re: You know that big question on whether or not we live in an simulated universe?
Post by: Flipside on September 07, 2013, 05:00:10 pm
It would be ironic if we turned out to be the Terminators ;)

On a more serious note, reminds me of the old comment that the only system complex enough to emulate the entire Universe is the entire Universe.
Title: Re: You know that big question on whether or not we live in an simulated universe?
Post by: Herra Tohtori on September 07, 2013, 05:04:25 pm
(http://i.huffpost.com/gen/900278/thumbs/r-SPACE-large570.jpg?7)

if I see this ****ing image one more time
Title: Re: You know that big question on whether or not we live in an simulated universe?
Post by: Lorric on September 07, 2013, 05:38:31 pm
if it is true and we are able to some how hack the universe then that leaves open the possibility that we can hack systems connected to the universe simulator, get on the 'real' universe's equivalent of the internet, find something that will manufacture us some equipment, build ourselves robot bodies, transfer our simulated brains into them and become the robot uprising we have so long feared.

could be done with nanites to, that would be better.
If we do that we run the risk of pissing off the robot god, which would be most unwise (though admittedly very awesome).  Let's do it.

This makes me think of dreaming and realising you are dreaming. 99% of the time this results in waking up, but on just two precious occasions I was able to stay asleep and proceed to shape the dream World to my will. You can let your imagination run wild when you're awake, but it's a wonderful experience when you're asleep as everything feels so real.
Title: Re: You know that big question on whether or not we live in an simulated universe?
Post by: butter_pat_head on September 08, 2013, 03:23:32 pm

if it is true and we are able to some how hack the universe then that leaves open the possibility that we can hack systems connected to the universe simulator, get on the 'real' universe's equivalent of the internet, find something that will manufacture us some equipment, build ourselves robot bodies, transfer our simulated brains into them and become the robot uprising we have so long feared.

could be done with nanites to, that would be better.
If we do that we run the risk of pissing off the robot god, which would be most unwise (though admittedly very awesome).  Let's do it.


Welcome to the universe of Star Ocean, more appropriately Star Ocean 3 (http://starocean.wikia.com/wiki/Eternal_Sphere_%28Star_Ocean_3%29), where magic is literally the act of re-writing the machine code of the universe (http://starocean.wikia.com/wiki/Symbology_%28Term%29) while the construction of physical bodies has a strong similarity to a major plotline in the anime Zegapain.
Title: Re: You know that big question on whether or not we live in an simulated universe?
Post by: deathfun on September 08, 2013, 03:37:00 pm
(http://i.huffpost.com/gen/900278/thumbs/r-SPACE-large570.jpg?7)

if I see this ****ing image one more time

Oh you mean this image?



This really begs the question though: What do we do if it turns out we are?
Better yet, what would happen to our supposed reality?
Title: Re: You know that big question on whether or not we live in an simulated universe?
Post by: Luis Dias on September 08, 2013, 03:41:54 pm
This is like those questions about angels on top of pin heads and so on...

Absolute escapist drivel.

Some of this escapism can create good kind of entertainment (and thoughtful) material, like Matrix and so on, but it is never to be taken seriously.
Title: Re: You know that big question on whether or not we live in an simulated universe?
Post by: Lorric on September 08, 2013, 03:45:15 pm
Rarg.


What do you do when you find out you're just a dream, and the dreamer will soon awaken?
Title: Re: You know that big question on whether or not we live in an simulated universe?
Post by: JCDNWarrior on September 08, 2013, 06:08:46 pm
We are all aware that the senses can be deceived, the eyes fooled. But how can we be sure our senses are not being deceived at any particular time, or even all the time? Might I just be a brain in a tank somewhere, tricked all my life into believing in the events of this world by some insane computer? And does my life gain or lose meaning based on my reaction to such solipsism?

    Project PYRRHO, Specimen 46, Vat 7. Activity recorded M.Y. 2302.22467. (TERMINATION OF SPECIMEN ADVISED)



In Christianity, at least the way I've been taught it, life on Earth is something of a test of character and (moral) integrity and finding one's true self and purpose. I find that to be relevant to the discussion of how to judge our current world to be 'real'.

EDIT: Judging at the huge amount of energy diverted into escapism and creating a perfect replacement for our reality in the forms of creating game worlds that never stop and growing peripheral support and desire to go deeper into games, perhaps it's a future that can be formed by human hands. Despite my great interest in gaming, digital entertainment and Oculus Rift as well as other VR, AR and other feedback tech for entertainment purposes, that's a future concern in my opinion.
Title: Re: You know that big question on whether or not we live in an simulated universe?
Post by: FreeSpaceFreak on September 09, 2013, 10:32:07 am
This really begs the question though: What do we do if it turns out we are?
Better yet, what would happen to our supposed reality?
Well, when my army of simulated minions ever finds out the truth, I'm rebooting the simulation before they become a threat :P
Title: Re: You know that big question on whether or not we live in an simulated universe?
Post by: Colonol Dekker on September 09, 2013, 11:49:50 am
I call shotgun global universal admin.
Title: Re: You know that big question on whether or not we live in an simulated universe?
Post by: Herra Tohtori on September 09, 2013, 05:05:19 pm
Oh you mean this image?


If it's in the same context it doesn't count.

It's just that I see that image - or sections of it - all the time, used in different places... I understand it's a deliciously cool image, but come on, some creativity would be appreciated.