Aspies For Freedom - Nanobots to be implanted into bodies

I haven't read this full thread, but my thoughts are this:
Bring on the singularity \_/

I don't think it'll come by 2029, still skeptical of that (as fast as things are developing, i'm still too skeptical).

For those curious: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_singularity
As I said, i'm still skeptical of the 2029 figure (my estimate is generally near 2100 at least), but since I just realised yesterday that my system RAM on my current desktop is greater than all the memory and harddisk space in my whole household a few years ago and the world's first commercial BCI (Brain/Computer Interface) goes on sale end of this year (only to US customers at first, a friend has one on pre-order for me, $300 per headset) i'm rethinking that viewpoint.

Obligatory brag:
I used to work with a guy who used to work at the ASF (Accelerating Studies Foundation) and my old boss's former employer is contracting with the current leader in AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) to provide intelligent bots within second life. Same company has got their AI analysing medical journals apparently and their main project is the simulation of the mind of an infant child which can then be taught within a virtual world and raised.

Not if there's no virtual food or TV Smile

pikajedi4 Wrote:

so Gareth, what is your view on Prosthetics, AI's and implants? (going with the Ghost in the Shell model)

I'm already a partial cyborg on some days, love my wearable computer and CES (Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulator). Personally i'd happily upgrade every part of my body except the brain (which i'll only interface with, never replace - since replacing it would just end up killing me) so long as my external appearance still looks vaguely human. Get me a qualified surgeon who'd be willing to bypass the bioethics committee and i'd start implanting my retinal implant and onboard computer with inner ear transducer for audio output today.

EvilZakkie Wrote:

Breeze Wrote:

What is this? I never heard of it.

Gareth Wrote:

world's first commercial BCI (Brain/Computer Interface) goes on sale end of this year (only to US customers at first, a friend has one on pre-order for me, $300 per headset) i'm rethinking that viewpoint.

Basically, it allows you to use your thoughts as computer input. Here's an article on it:

http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/...17,00.html

Also, just wanted to point out that the worlds first commercial BCI was out a few years ago - it was a TV remote control, only really available in Japan. It cost around $4,000, and it was pretty unreliable, by all accounts...

BCIs have been around for years, i'm more excited by the fact that we'll soon be able to buy a general-purpose BCI at an affordable price. I can't wait to start hacking up a neural interface for second life (something I planned to attempt using an EEG, but that would require saving up for a very high quality professional unit and the end result would likely not work unless I was sat in a quiet room and highly focused).

pikajedi4 Wrote:

Gareth Wrote:

pikajedi4 Wrote:

so Gareth, what is your view on Prosthetics, AI's and implants? (going with the Ghost in the Shell model)

I'm already a partial cyborg on some days, love my wearable computer and CES (Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulator). Personally i'd happily upgrade every part of my body except the brain (which i'll only interface with, never replace - since replacing it would just end up killing me) so long as my external appearance still looks vaguely human. Get me a qualified surgeon who'd be willing to bypass the bioethics committee and i'd start implanting my retinal implant and onboard computer with inner ear transducer for audio output today.

hm...fair enough.

but what about the potential for being hacked?

If such a computer did get hacked i'd get annoyed, audit it and reinstall the OS. The attacker wouldn't get direct access to my mind - we don't have BCIs that advanced yet.

couldbecousin Wrote:

AWK! O_O Then there will have to BE virtual food and TV! My virtual infant's life depends upon it!!!

He/she will only need to eat CPU cycles Smile

Heh, you read my mind - i've often pondered a dynamic music system that would score things based on my mental state and people's conversations around me. I don't have the time these days to do such pointless (but fun) hacks though.

Breeze Wrote:

Thanks for the link Smile

. Its for video games which is probably why I never heard of it. I'm sure my husband will be wanting one of those Cool

This one is marketed at gamers, but traditionally BCIs are used for paralysed patients in hospital. I'm not a gamer myself and interested more in scrapping the keyboard to substitute direct neural input eventually.

pikajedi4 Wrote:

Gareth Wrote:

Breeze Wrote:

Thanks for the link Smile

. Its for video games which is probably why I never heard of it. I'm sure my husband will be wanting one of those Cool

This one is marketed at gamers, but traditionally BCIs are used for paralysed patients in hospital. I'm not a gamer myself and interested more in scrapping the keyboard to substitute direct neural input eventually.

ever see "The Matrix"?
remember the dirty great Neuro jacks?
Ghost in the Shell has something similar, but sensible; there are four (sometimes six) ports on the back of the neck, and they look to be about the same size as the standard 3.5mm jacks.not all need to be used, its simply for things which require more.

The real life equivalent:

The one marketed at gamers:

And yes, i'm familiar with "project cyborg" - to be honest, not all that exciting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxMux4uEkLI

Noticeable lag, but still cool

Way better than the wii, wii requires physical interaction, with this the hand poses etc are simply for show. The SDK (Software Development Kit) includes a cool little app called "EmoKey" which maps certain patterns of brain activity to keys or (i'm told) mouse movements. It also includes a scripting interface for testing out before the actual headset ships. I've got a headset on pre-order (proxied via a friend) and downloaded the SDK and registered for updates.

Batman55 Wrote:

Gareth Wrote:

couldbecousin Wrote:

AWK! O_O Then there will have to BE virtual food and TV! My virtual infant's life depends upon it!!!

He/she will only need to eat CPU cycles Smile

How can any of these devices help the learning challenged among us, like me? Is there anything out there that will "increase" intelligence, in some idiosyncratic way?