In this series we have been discussing a new technology known as augmented reality (AR), which uses heads up displays (HUD's) to map and embed information into the real, physical world around us. Before continuing, I want to refer back to something I discussed yesterday.
A World Government's PIM
Our previous essay on the Badi' Blog showed how John Amos Comenius in the 25th chapter of his 1670 work "Panorthosia, or Universal Reform" drew up the details of the constitutional convention of a democratic world government. Surprisingly, he suggested that one of its first actions after forming be the following:
"Finally, consideration can be given to the question of a private calendar which each individual can start for himself on an attached sheet of blank paper, as a record of past activities and future engagements." (Comenius, Panorthosia, Ch. 25, para 10, pp. 147-149)
Imagine, three hundred and forty years ago how crazy this idea must have seemed. A world government starting off its agenda by devising a calendar or personal planner for every individual in the world? That must have seemed as crazy as that of a world government itself!
Today, however, it has the mark of genius.
What better way to cut through the chaos and complications of our high tech lives than for everybody to use a standardized planner? How better to coordinate our complex and diverse personal priorities with the needs of all humanity than for each of us to be on the same page, quite literally? How better to get every world citizen committed to the myriad changes that sustainability and environmental friendliness demand of us than to use a standard computerized, interactive planning application?
A calendar and planning program or PIM (Personal Information Manager) that is made up by a world government in Comenius's model would be meant to forge what he calls a "universal bond" with each of his three-branched governing institutions.
First of all, the planner would be designed with the values and needs of scientists and teachers in mind, since the College of Light, a world department of education, would be tasked with making it up. It would also be responsive to religious sensitivities, since it would be approved by an interfaith parliament (the Ecumenical Consistery). The Consistery would enlist the help of all religious groups to adapt the calendar to the needs of believers of every background. Finally, the planner would enlist grassroots support for a comprehensive peace program devised by the political branch of the world governing body, the Dicastory of Peace. This dicastory would see to it that peace is not a distant dream but any everyday, personal priority.
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The recent development of augmented reality (AR) and live data feeds projected onto heads-up-displays (HUD's) will surely make this world planner more intimate and effective than Comenius could have imagined with his low-tech planner based on a blank sheet of paper. Because cars and driving are so ubiquitous, the most familiar model for an AR data feed is the dashboard of a car. A few years ago I speculated on how a dashboard planner display might look.
The Dials on a Personal Dashboard
A dashboard life planner, periodically adjusted by expert advisors, should be made available in order to make everyone a more effective world citizen, to enable us on a moment by moment basis to train and hone our leadership and "followership" skills. Comenius held that all citizens, not only kings and presidents, should be surrounded by a coterie of wise advisors.
"... our mind, which rules its own body like a queen, is provided with a guard of senses, such as sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Therefore every king, prince, consul, and even the individual citizen should have (1) his own preacher, as a guardian of his conscience, and a counsellor in the things which concern God, (2) his own lawyer as a supervisor in the things which concern man, (3) his own philosopher or sage to guide him in the business of life, and (4) his own doctor as guardian and director of his physical health." (Panorthosia, pp. 110-110)
While it might be mathematically impossible for everybody to be surrounded by a half dozen human advisors, with a dashboard display the average citizen would have to next best thing. Indeed in many cases dials and displays are more detached, accurate advisors than a human can ever be. Here is how a modern advisory dashboard display might look:
The first dial is a summary of known measures of spiritual health, such as time spent reading scripture, listening to inspiring speakers, attending community meetings, group and individual prayer, meditation, pilgrimage, and perhaps the amount of money given to the poor, as well as other charitable acts.
A second dial is a "justice meter," displaying measures of study and inquiry accomplished, and an indicator of how one is keeping up with career plans and goals. Here are dynamic indicators measuring how well we respect the rights and property of others, how well we negotiate usufruct, and so forth.
The third indicator, science and philosophy, shows metrics of wisdom, such as the quality of one's discussions and teaching, progress in virtues, as shown from feedback from those we interact with which is provided anonymously, and other metrics.
The fourth dial charts physical health through blood pressure, quality of diet, exposure to stress, and whatever other factors physicians consider important.
A fifth character dial might keep track of the virtues that one has chosen to develop. For example, if a person chooses humility, statistical indicators of this virtue, as modelled by exemplars deemed by experts in psychology to have high ratings for this quality, would allow the subject a basis upon which to improve this quality in her speech and actions.
Of course we have to recognize that the best of advisors, dials and indicators, be they automated or human, may still be unable to cure the bungler or fool. However there surely would be fewer fools and bunglers if the tools of assessment and self-criticism are literally placed put directly their eyes using AR and HUD technology. Nothing can replace personal integrity, that special combination of good leadership and good "followership," that makes for a model human being. As Comenius put it,
"It is essential that those who are appointed to rule over others should themselves be honest, wise, pious, brave, and vigilant, since nothing can rule unless it is right, nor enlighten unless it is full of light." (Panorthosia, p. 110)
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