that.’
The woman shifted in her seat. ‘You people?’ The nervous giggle had returned.
‘Yes,’ James said, ‘the truth of the matter is, with technology of this magnitude it is impossible to predict exactly what affect it will have on society. This technology in uncontrollable and will continue to grow on itself, more than likely at an exponential rate and at an unstoppable pace. It is inevitable. The singularity has already arrived and no one saw it coming. What it starts out as is not what it will end up as, in a few years; you will not be able to even recognise it.’
He leant in closer.
‘Does that answer your question satisfactorily?’
My mouth went dry at his words. It sent a wave of unease rolling through me. He’d named everything I hadn’t been able to.
The woman sucked in a noisy breath through her surgically altered nose. ‘My, isn’t that ominous.’ She turned back to the camera once she realised James had seemed to drop out of the conversation completely. ‘Well, I would like to thank you all for joining us for this fascinating discussion. And thank you, Mr Nightgood for taking time out of your busy schedule to be with us and make us all a bit smarter.’
He smiled drily.
Her eyes went back to the camera. ‘And keep tuned into this station for more information in the upcoming months about InVizion and what this will mean to society.’
The programme ended. Went to news. Once I realised I would not be seeing any more of my mysterious friend I turned it off and sat in silence. My brain ran on and on with questions. If James was going to appear on a television programme today, why had he been teaching a lecture at the college? Had he completely forgotten about it? And who were those two people who had been so quick as to usher him out? His handlers? Was that they type of person James was? Someone so important as to have handlers?
I hadn’t thought so. Then again, I hadn’t thought James to be the type who’d be on television.
I turned my eyes back to the thumb drive on the table next to me, and then swore. I couldn’t take this curiosity. It was nothing, surely, just lecture notes, but I had to know.
I pulled my computer out and brewed some tea as I waited for it to boot up, which took an irritatingly long time. Once it finally decided to turn on and was waiting for me, I didn’t hesitate as long as I should have done to plug in the drive. It took just a moment for the file to pop up, full of folders. Each one named with a bizarre combination of letters and numbers I couldn’t understand.
I clicked on one, which in turn contained more files. I was already growing overwhelmed. So many documents. I tried one. And was met by an error message. Unreadable file. Code or print needed. I tried the next, and the next, all unreadable. I sat back, disappointed by my results with snooping. The only file I was able to open was a power-point, yet it covered such complicated material that I soon lost interest.
I ejected the drive in defeat and sat back. Then I swiped up my phone and sent a text off to James which I’d not been able to compose earlier: HEARD ABOUT YOUR TALK TODAY SO THOUGHT I WOULD COME. PITY I DIDN’T GET TO SEE YOU. THINK YOU LEFT YOUR THUMB DRIVE. FOUND IT ON THE FLOOR. HOW SHALL I RETURN IT TO YOU?
I didn’t expect it to be replied to any time soon. James had just been on television not an hour ago, after all.
I glanced at the clock. Just after noon. I did get paid today. I needed to buy some groceries. The contents of my fridge were looking pitiful. I sighed and stood, picking up the thumb drive with me. I put it in my pocket. Perhaps if James text me whilst I was out I could just post it. I pocketed my phone, grabbed my wallet and locked the door behind me.
Stepping out on to the street I almost collided with a man whom, if I was not mistaken, had been camped outside my place.
‘Sorry, sorry, mate,’ he stammered, holding up his hands. He had his hood up, but I did
The woman shifted in her seat. ‘You people?’ The nervous giggle had returned.
‘Yes,’ James said, ‘the truth of the matter is, with technology of this magnitude it is impossible to predict exactly what affect it will have on society. This technology in uncontrollable and will continue to grow on itself, more than likely at an exponential rate and at an unstoppable pace. It is inevitable. The singularity has already arrived and no one saw it coming. What it starts out as is not what it will end up as, in a few years; you will not be able to even recognise it.’
He leant in closer.
‘Does that answer your question satisfactorily?’
My mouth went dry at his words. It sent a wave of unease rolling through me. He’d named everything I hadn’t been able to.
The woman sucked in a noisy breath through her surgically altered nose. ‘My, isn’t that ominous.’ She turned back to the camera once she realised James had seemed to drop out of the conversation completely. ‘Well, I would like to thank you all for joining us for this fascinating discussion. And thank you, Mr Nightgood for taking time out of your busy schedule to be with us and make us all a bit smarter.’
He smiled drily.
Her eyes went back to the camera. ‘And keep tuned into this station for more information in the upcoming months about InVizion and what this will mean to society.’
The programme ended. Went to news. Once I realised I would not be seeing any more of my mysterious friend I turned it off and sat in silence. My brain ran on and on with questions. If James was going to appear on a television programme today, why had he been teaching a lecture at the college? Had he completely forgotten about it? And who were those two people who had been so quick as to usher him out? His handlers? Was that they type of person James was? Someone so important as to have handlers?
I hadn’t thought so. Then again, I hadn’t thought James to be the type who’d be on television.
I turned my eyes back to the thumb drive on the table next to me, and then swore. I couldn’t take this curiosity. It was nothing, surely, just lecture notes, but I had to know.
I pulled my computer out and brewed some tea as I waited for it to boot up, which took an irritatingly long time. Once it finally decided to turn on and was waiting for me, I didn’t hesitate as long as I should have done to plug in the drive. It took just a moment for the file to pop up, full of folders. Each one named with a bizarre combination of letters and numbers I couldn’t understand.
I clicked on one, which in turn contained more files. I was already growing overwhelmed. So many documents. I tried one. And was met by an error message. Unreadable file. Code or print needed. I tried the next, and the next, all unreadable. I sat back, disappointed by my results with snooping. The only file I was able to open was a power-point, yet it covered such complicated material that I soon lost interest.
I ejected the drive in defeat and sat back. Then I swiped up my phone and sent a text off to James which I’d not been able to compose earlier: HEARD ABOUT YOUR TALK TODAY SO THOUGHT I WOULD COME. PITY I DIDN’T GET TO SEE YOU. THINK YOU LEFT YOUR THUMB DRIVE. FOUND IT ON THE FLOOR. HOW SHALL I RETURN IT TO YOU?
I didn’t expect it to be replied to any time soon. James had just been on television not an hour ago, after all.
I glanced at the clock. Just after noon. I did get paid today. I needed to buy some groceries. The contents of my fridge were looking pitiful. I sighed and stood, picking up the thumb drive with me. I put it in my pocket. Perhaps if James text me whilst I was out I could just post it. I pocketed my phone, grabbed my wallet and locked the door behind me.
Stepping out on to the street I almost collided with a man whom, if I was not mistaken, had been camped outside my place.
‘Sorry, sorry, mate,’ he stammered, holding up his hands. He had his hood up, but I did
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