Singularity is the Future of ICT Research 1Osuagwu O.E1, Ndigwe Chinwe2, Uzoma Peter O3., Nwanjo C.I3., Duru Rosetta Okwuchi4, Ogbonna Dave5 1 Dept of Computer Science, Imo State University, Owerri . [email protected] . +234 803 710 1792 2Department of Computer Science, Anambra State University 3Department of Computer Science, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri 4 Department of Computer Engineering, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba 5 Department of Network Engineering Technology, South Eastern College of Computer Engineering & Information Technology, Owerri, Nigeria Abstract Research in Information and communications technology (ICT) is tilting towards the Singularity. Technological singularity refers to the hypothetical future emergence of greater- than-human intelligence through technological means, resulting in explosive super- intelligence. Since the capabilities of such intelligence would be difficult for an unaided human mind to comprehend, the occurrence of a technological singularity is seen as an intellectual event horizon, beyond which events can not be predicted or understood. Proponents of the singularity call the event an "intelligence explosion" which is a key factor of the Singularity where super-intelligence design successive generations of increasingly powerful minds. The originator of the term – Vernor Vinge - and popularized by Ray Kurzwei has proposed that Artificial Intelligence, human biological enhancement or brain-computer interfaces could be possible pushers of the singularity conundrum. It is envisaged that if the singularity does occur, the predicted super-intelligent machines might take over full control of human activity resulting in the possibility of humans becoming subservient to machines. It could also lead to existential risks of the human race. The authors propose a paradigm shift in the current education practice in ICT towards advanced practical and dynamic training in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, mechatronics, nanotechnology, Software Engineering and now the Internet of all Things!. Government would need to develop positive political will to invest in Research and Development and create an enabling environment for supporting innovation if the black race are not to be left one hundred years behind Western nations.. 1.0 Introduction What is technological singularity? A progress becomes so rapid and the growth technological singularity is a hypothetical of artificial intelligence is so great that the event occurring when Technological future after the singularity becomes West African Journal of Industrial & Academic Research Vol.11 No.1 June 2014 81 qualitatively different and harder to machine creators to the extent of predict. The Singularity is an era in which challenging the existence of its our intelligence will become increasingly creators![2] non-biological and trillions of times more There is a total of 16 major fields in powerful than it is today—the dawning of science and technology where current a new civilization that will enable us to research is taking place around the worlds’ transcend our biological limitations and best learning and research centres. Of amplify our creativity [1] these major fields, AI, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the area of nanotechnology, Electronics and Energy computer science focusing on creating are the busiest and converging towards machines that can engage on behaviors Internet of all Things. All the new research that humans consider intelligent. The directions points to the coming of ability to create intelligent machines has technological singularity. You may also intrigued humans since ancient times and have observed that six main technologies today with the advent of the computer and are converging towards the singularity – 50 years of research into AI programming AI, Nanotechnology, Electronics, techniques, the dream of smart machines is Robotics, Information Technology and becoming a reality. Researchers are communications. creating systems which can mimic human Mechatronics is the synergistic thought, understand speech, beat the best combination of precision mechanical human chess player, and countless other engineering, electronic control and feats never before possible. Find out how systems thinking in the design of products the military is applying AI logic to its hi- and manufacturing processes. It relates to tech systems, and how in the near future the design of systems, devices and Artificial Intelligence may impact our products aimed at achieving an optimal lives, AI, Robotics, nanotechnology, balance between basic mechanical mechatronics are collaborative agents of structure and its overall control. The key technological singularity. The singularity objectives of our mechatronics program is is already here! Think of modern houses to provide rapid advancement in practical now remotely controlled from far developments in the field of mechatronics distances, think of e-commerce and ranging from application areas including electronic banking where you can be up- consumer product design, instrumentation, to-date with all your business and banking manufacturing methods, computer transactions on minute basis. However the integration and process and device control, real singularity is referring to an envisaged and will attract a interest from across the future where intelligent machines built industrial and academic research spectrum. with the tools of AI, nanotechnology, Particular importance will be attached to robotics, mechatronics will completely aspects of innovation in mechatronics change the future of humanity such that design philosophy which illustrate the machine will be the controller of global benefits obtainable by an a priori activities with less assistance from the integration of functionality with embedded West African Journal of Industrial & Academic Research Vol.11 No.1 June 2014 82 microprocessor control. A major item will • Fourth-Generation Optical Disks be the design of machines, devices and and Holographic data storage for storing systems possessing a degree of computer and archiving data previously erased for based intelligence [3] economic reasons Wikipedia has defined Nanotechnology • Optical computing for smaller, as “the study of manipulating matter on an faster, lower power consuming computing. atomic and molecular scale.” Generally, • Quantium computing for faster nanotechnology deals with structures sized computing, particularly in chemical between 1 to 100 nanometre in at least one modeling. dimension, and involves developing • Quantum Cryptography for materials or devices possessing at least securie communications. one dimension within that size. Quantum • Radio Frequency Identification for mechanical effects are very important at smart storage this scale, which is in the quantum • Three Dimensional Integrated realm.[3] Circuits Global Current Research Directions • 3D printing for rapid processing of Of the six science and technology plastic objects strongholds identified above all are Robotics converging towards the singularity, Self-reconfiguring modular robots to leading to unique research trusts, thus: change the way we make physical • I.T. and Communications structures and • Artificial Brain for applications in machines. Swarm Robotics to make for neurological treatment autonomous and space construction • Virtual Reality for entertainment Modular nanotechnology or nano-robotics and education for designing and building smart machines • AI for creating intelligent devices Powered exoskeleton for heavy lifting, • 4G cellular communication for paralysis, muscle related diseases, warfare pervasive computing, machine translation and construction as well as molecular for cross-cultural communication robotics, i.e., robotic devices that are • machine vision for biometrics and molecular both in their size and precision control of processes • Speech recognition (b) Electronics • Cybermethodology Spintronics for data storage • Machine augmented cognition and Memrisistor for use in analogue electronic exotics and Artificial Intelligence • Mobile collaboration to extend the Thermal Copper pillar bump for electric capabilities of video conferencing for use circuit cooling on hand-held devices. Micro-fluidic actuators • Semantic Web for making the web Small device thermoelectric power machine-readable generation Flexible Electronics for developing flexible and folding electronic West African Journal of Industrial & Academic Research Vol.11 No.1 June 2014 83 devices such as smartphone, flexible solar work and concepts that are more cells which are lightweight advanced. In its original sense, Electronic nose for detecting spoiled food, nanotechnology refers to the projected chemical weapons and cancer ability to construct items from the bottom up, using techniques and tools being Research Directions in Artificial developed today to make complete, high Intelligence - performance products. One nanometer (nm) is one billionth, or 10−9, of a meter. Nano-Technology or Nano-scale Nanotechnology will help man achieve the Engineering ultimate in precision: almost every atom in Wikipedia has defined nano-technology exactly the right place; make complex and as the study of manipulating matter on an molecularly intricate structures as easily atomic and molecular scale. It can also be and inexpensively as simple materials. defined as the engineering of functional Molecular nanotechnology will let us build systems at the molecular scale. The term new and entirely novel molecular was popularized