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June 07, 2005
Modelling the Brain, You Say?
Red-hot cutting-edge sf author Charlie Stross has a fascinating post about the efforts of IBM and a team of Swiss university boffins (described in the New Scientist) to construct the first cellular-level computer model of the human brain. They expect the project to take at least ten years (I imagine that, like the Human Genome Project, it will take less than ten years once they get cracking and the technology improves). This all ties in with the current modish notion in the sf field regarding the Singularity, and the possibility of one day being able to upload one's mind/consciousness/personality into either something like the Internet, or into a handy robot body. Before you can upload, you have to have the means to scan your brain down to a pretty fine resolution. Whether or not such a future computer model of your brain would actually be "you", remains a vexed philosphical question, and no doubt will remain vexed for quite some time to come. Fascinating to contemplate, though.
Posted by adrian at June 7, 2005 07:45 PM
Comments
Speaking of stories, I just got an idea.... *runs and starts scribbling*
PS -- thanks for this post, Adrian! :)
Posted by: Charlie ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.kabedford.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at June 11, 2005 05:27 AM
Selkie--yes, it *is* a scary prospect. If it becomes possible to create working copies of one's brain, to such a degree that your mind and personality are also copied across, that presents a world of very worrying possibilities. There's a bunch of people who love the whole idea a lot, because to them it means that they could become effectively immortal (just get a new body from the vending machine when the old one wears out, transfer brain model, and off you go). I think this, like everything else, will only be part of the story.
Posted by: Adrian at June 8, 2005 03:09 PM
that shit scares me something fierce! it's kinda like another form of cloning. speaking of clones, have you heard about that new movie,the island? actually looks like it might be good.
Posted by: river selkie at June 8, 2005 06:50 AM
that shit scares me something fierce! it's kinda like another form of cloning. speaking of clones, have you heard about that new movie, the island? actually looks like it might be good.
Posted by: river selkie at June 8, 2005 06:49 AM
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