| Imagine a future in which your personal computer | | | | become a wise Buddha or guide? Or become |
| becomes a doorway into a world of enhanced | | | | psychoactive. Here are some of more wild-eyed |
| intelligence and creativity, emotional stability and | | | | guesses |
| previously unrealized personal success. In this world, | | | | One of the most important theoretical areas in |
| the computer has become more than just a word | | | | computer science concerns artificial intelligence. One |
| processor or a web browser; it has become both an | | | | area of AI is expert systems. For example, a |
| instantaneous communication tool for contacting | | | | computer is trained to emulate a medical doctor in |
| seminar leaders or personal therapists and an | | | | diagnosing a disease. These programs already exist, |
| interactive councilor that uses artificial intelligence to | | | | and have shown to be superior to human doctors in |
| provide personal coaching and wise guidance. Or even | | | | many cases in pinpointing illnesses. |
| further in the future, computer aided methods of | | | | Imagine then the computer developing an expert |
| transformation of human consciousness. Could that | | | | system model of a Zen master or psychotherapist. |
| colorful screen upon which you may be reading this | | | | Expert systems that go far beyond Eliza's simple |
| become that door? This is a question that has intrigued | | | | trickery to programs that teach real wisdom. |
| those who have studies the potential of the PC, and | | | | Now combine this with biofeedback, the technology |
| the answer may be that this reality is closer than we | | | | we have talked about below. The most recent |
| realize. | | | | biofeedback breakthroughs have involved the |
| In 1990, Simon and Shuster published Would the | | | | recording and training of actual altered states of |
| Buddha Wear a Walkman? by Judith Hooper and Dick | | | | consciousness experiences. There actually has been |
| Terisi, both editors at Omni magazine at the time and | | | | recording flesh-and-blood Zen Masters as they enter |
| co-authors of the best selling book, The Three-Pound | | | | Samadhi, the highest state of being in the Zen school. |
| Universe. | | | | Already, computers are giving us multimedia |
| In the chapter, "Using Your Computer to Expand Your | | | | biofeedback rather than the primitive tones of three |
| Mind", they say: The computer is more than a number | | | | decades ago. Certainly at the current rate of |
| crunching word processing, artificial brain. In the right | | | | technological progress, virtual reality will becomes |
| hands it's also a mind-expanding, creativity-boosting, | | | | available as an interface on the home PC. Already |
| even mind-altering tool. We have already accepted the | | | | there is a graphical VRML (virtual reality markup |
| microcomputer as a machine that can assume some | | | | language). Soon, goggles and gloves will supplement |
| of our tedious menial chores. But it has a potential as a | | | | screen and mouse. |
| mind-enhancing device as well. And the key is the | | | | Consider the power of a virtual reality computerized |
| software. Here is an excerpt: | | | | biofeedback system. A system augmented by an |
| "We have divided the field into five categories: | | | | artificially intelligent computer coach. Or perhaps a real |
| smartware (which makes you smarter, more | | | | human guiding a group of people over the Web. Still |
| organized, a better writer, a better negotiator), | | | | another possibility, a group of humans supporting each |
| psychological software (such as Eliza), stressware | | | | other in their exploration consciousness linked up |
| (aimed at reducing anxiety), games/head trips (trips into | | | | through a computer network. Shades of virtual group |
| alternative realities) and spiritual software (intended to | | | | therapy! |
| make you deeper). Thus far we have looked at some | | | | Looking to the future of software for enlarging the |
| of the kinds of software programs the authors | | | | capacity of the human mind and consciousness, turning |
| predicted. But as the technology of the compute leaps | | | | comptuers into true self improvment machines, |
| forward and our understanding of the mind become | | | | capable of helping us achienve self-actualization. We |
| increasingly better, some of these other more far-out | | | | may see: |
| mind/computer software programs will become | | | | * The power of computers doubling every two years, |
| possible." | | | | * The creation of a global community"-linking |
| In this chapter, they spotlight the founder of Mindware | | | | everyone's ?homes by PC through interactive video |
| and Mind Media in Bruce Ehrlich and Digital | | | | and the World Wide Web |
| Psychology." How does he see the future of | | | | * New technologies such as biofeedback and |
| comptuters, psychology and self-improvement? | | | | virtually-reality areready for prime time. |
| Ehrlich predicts that such software [mind software] will | | | | * The rapid and dramatic breakthroughs in our |
| eventually transform computer-human interactions. | | | | understanding of the brain, consciousness and |
| "The computer," he says," will become a friend." He | | | | behavior. |
| foresees a dramatic growth in future years in what he | | | | Computers and software as an expander of human |
| calls "electronic Buddhas." This is a program designed | | | | intellect, creativity and consciousness has a glorious |
| to enhance the users spirituality. Another growth area | | | | future that we only begin to imagine. |
| is "psychoactive software How can a computer | | | | |