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kingstnaptoday at 10:16 AM0 repliesview on HN

Software demand is philosophically limited by the question of "What can your computer do for you?"

You can describe that somewhat formally as:

{What your computer can do} intersect {What you want done (consciously or otherwise)}

Well a computer can technically calculate any computuable task that fits in bounded memory, that is an enormous set so its real limitations are its interfaces. In which case it can send packets, make noises, and display images.

How many human desires are things that can be solved with making noises, displaying images, and sending packets? Turns out quite a few but its not everything.

Basically I'm saying we should hope more sorts of physical interfaces come around (like VR and Robotics) so we cover more human desires. Robotics is a really general physical interface (like how ip packets are an extremely general interface) so its pretty promising if it pans out.

Personally, I find it very hard to even articulate what desires I have. I have this feeling that I might be substantially happier if I was just sitting around a campfire eating food and chatting with people instead of enjoying whatever infinite stuff a super intelligent computer and robots could do for me. At least some of the time.