Looking Forward by Kenneth Jr. (snow like ashes .txt) 📗

modern hospitals give medical care or nursing care to a population of 1,000,000 people with a staff of only 10, who contribute their services from time to time because of their interest in this work. There is, of course, much less illness in the new world than in previous centuries, and there are practically no accidents. Disasters and accidents were almost eliminated by an attitude toward engineering that minimized economy and maximized safety. All diagnostic techniques, laboratories, surgery, behavioral assistance, and nursing procedures are cybernated. The small staff performs no routine duties in the cybernated hospital. They are only there to help in the rare event of a problem.

The second ring from the core contains multi-story apartments. They are over a quarter-mile from the research ring. Recreational facilities and circular parks surround the apartments on both sides of the ring.

When Scott goes from his apartment to any part of the city, he asks the cybernator to summon an auto. As Scott approaches the vehicle, the door automatically opens and the seat swings out. Scott verbally gives his destination and reclines on the contour chair. He is then free to read, to think, or simply to relax. Within minutes the auto chauffeurs him to wherever he wishes to go in the city. All vehicles have proximity mechanisms for the prevention of what were formerly called “accidents” but are now considered technical negligence in planning the transportation system.

These autos are available throughout the entire city for the use of everyone. When Scott gets out at the research laboratory, the auto is directed by the city’s cybernator to the next point at which it will probably be needed.

Scott always enjoys the warm feelings of teamwork and cooperation that are experienced by people working together on common problems. There is an esprit de corps—a feeling of man against the unknown; a feeling of contributing significantly to the present and future happiness of all mankind. People in the twenty-first century are eager to accept opportunities for participation and research. They are never paid for this activity as had been common in previous centuries. How could they be paid? They already have every material resource of the twenty-first-century civilization available for their use. They are not even “paid” by prestige or status.

Almost everyone at one time or another plays a part on various research teams. If someone doesn’t, it really doesn’t matter. The only reward lies not on the outside, but on the inside. It comes from the pleasure that one gets from exercising his mind, from growth and improvement, from the pleasures of understanding, and, from the contented feeling of saying, “Well, we certainly solved that one.”

The Genetics Laboratory

The laboratory to which Scott is assigned specializes in the manipulation of the DNA and RNA structures of human genes. The people of the twenty-first century have worked out techniques for varying the structure of the human body. By using a computer to change various sets among the five billion specifications carried by DNA and RNA molecules, almost any change may be made in a human body. Their major concern at this point lies not, for example, in how to equip a human being with two hearts instead of the usual one, but in whether such an arrangement will add to human happiness.

“All changes made in the structure and function of human beings are first thoroughly tested in research labs,” Scott is informed. “Then experimental and control groups are set up to get valid comparisons. No improvements are considered desirable in their own right. No guessing is permitted. It has been found that something that can seem like a great idea might turn out in practice to be nothing of the sort. All ideas for the genetic improvement of human beings are thoroughly tried out, usually over a period of decades, before they are generally adopted for programming into the new generation. The door is always left open. ‘Blueprints’ for genes are always stored in case future generations evaluate differently and wish to eliminate any changes made.”

Scott is quickly brought up to date on research in progress. Trial runs involving 500 people are now being made with brain structures containing twenty billion neurons—double the usual number. Other projects in progress are designing eyes that can shift from regular vision to telescopic and microscopic vision and altering the liver to change the composition of the blood in a way that seems to add 36 per cent to the human life span.

They are experimenting with an improved hormone balance for women that eliminates the monthly cycle of moodiness—menstruation was eliminated previously by designing a uterus with a stable lining. Men have also benefited from the improved techniques of genetic manipulation. A greater climax frequency now enables them to perform at the high level usually desired by twenty-first century women.

Scott knows that in previous times there were five races of mankind. Since individuality and diversity are prized in the twenty-first century, these genetics laboratories have produced eight more races. Corcen is seeking data to determine whether additional races should be designed to add even more variety to the lives of future men and women.

Suppose a part of the body should wear out or get injured. How could we get a duplicate organ? Each cell in the body contains a blueprint for growing a replacement part. Research is in progress to use a cell from the body of an injured person to grow an identical part in vitro that a cybernated surgical mechanism could install.

One of the most exciting new developments is a built-in receptor that makes it possible to connect one’s brain directly with Corcen or any other input source. If invited, you can tune into another person’s brain and share his thoughts and feelings without the distorting effects of words. When this is perfected, any sensations can be experienced through direct neuronal input.

Other researchers are developing a lifetime implanted communication unit that would permit two-way thought messages. By thought, one could request from Corcen a bit of information, and