But when Dolly the sheep burst onto the scene, old anxieties about technology began to resurface. From genetically modified foods to human cloning, there have been intense public debates over the dangers of scientific progress in recent years. But the resistance mostly surfaced outside the technology industry. Then came Joy's now-famous epistle in Wired magazine warning of the possibility of technological doom. While the article written by Sun's chief scientist created an instant media buzz, the reaction from Silicon Valley has remained skeptical.
Ordinary people seem more able to get the point.
Wired magazine writer Erik Davis says people working within the Silicon Valley beltway have a deeper stake in the value of technology. It's very Star Trek . But he says the public at large is becoming increasingly anxious about technological change. And now someone's been able to articulate that sense of unease. Scientific advances seem to be occurring at a dizzying rate, making yesterday's science fiction look like tomorrow's reality.