Unless you guys figure out how to accomplish diverged consciousness re-merging, attention will still be scarce.

...because if I upload myself, only the "new" me is in on the action, and the "old" me is going to get jealous. Or the other way around.

BUT - I can give all my uploaded consciousnesses (sp?) virtual TiVos and they can act as my personal recommender network. Periodically, I'll just have to refresh them with new uploads so that their recommendations reflect my most up-to-date mind state.

As an aside: the interview isn't visible (yet!), but should show up soon. To read it, point your browser at:
http://engaged.well.com/engaged/engaged.cgi?c=inkwell.vue

The day that attention is no longer scarce is the day that it starts being taxed.

You want disruptive, imagine having to prove once a year that you gave the federally required 38% of your attention to government positions and dicta.
 --G

The concept of attention not being scarce w/ the concept of readily duplicatable consciousness is kind of funny...it makes you wonder where the power of attention as currency comes from.

By itself, consciousness and attention isn't worth much. My water jug could be self aware for all I know (Shades of still life with woodpecker), but the lack of 2 way communication renders it moot. Similarly, a crowd of virtual people...I dunno, unless they can impact the world I'm living in, (heh...and it brings to mind my friend Dylan's observation regarding Dilbert that it's depressing that these cartoon characters wield more power in this world than he does) it's hard to get excited about it. Sort of like the old lady making songs and paintings for her cats.

It also makes you wonder when video game AI might get sophisticated enough that a thoughtful person might feel guilty for killing 'em, and not just because of their power as a symbol for a "real world person".