Scientists have built artificial neurons that fully mimic human brain cells

[Steel Accord 6,660]

I see Reaper in everything! I could name other things I guess, but I'm lazy.

 

If.... we are to eventually become machines.. I rather we follow the path of Transcendent Humanity.

 

One good thing, these artificial neurons could cure my tinnitus.

 

You're applying fictional logic to a very real technology, that makes little sense and I'm usually the first on board to make the sci-fi a reality. That implies though that we are taking broad stroke concepts not beat for beat plot elements.

 

Second of all, again, this technology is so basic it's the equivalent of an early telescope. It's not going to take over the world unless some supernatural element grants it that power.

[Guest]

Pretty neat, science does all kinds of cool things. What I want to see is real world application.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Pretty neat, science does all kinds of cool things. What I want to see is real world application.

 

Well that's part of the point. Some science is just to advance our knowledge of the world while other science is meant to have commercial and practical application. (Even then, more knowledge of something can lead to greater understanding and therefore application.)

 

That being said, the article mentions a potential application for this technology.

[Guest]

Well that's part of the point. Some science is just to advance our knowledge of the world while other science is meant to have commercial and practical application. (Even then, more knowledge of something can lead to greater understanding and therefore application.)

 

That being said, the article mentions a potential application for this technology.

Of course, and I agree with you, and it is interesting; but what I'm saying is I would love to see some real-world applications of this technology, for example, curing severe or even minor mental disorders such as autism, or rehabilitating dangerous criminals.

 

With this technological advancement, we could be on the verge of curing debilitating illnesses such as sociopathy, psychopathy, autism, cerebral palsy, and countless others.

 

It could revolutionize psychology and psychiatry, even potentially eliminating the need for therapy and/or medications; which is what I'd like to see.

Edited July 1, 2015 by Guest

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Of course, and I agree with you, and it is interesting; but what I'm saying is I would love to see some real-world applications of this technology, for example, curing severe or even minor mental disorders such as autism, or rehabilitating dangerous criminals.

 

With this technological advancement, we could be on the verge of curing debilitating illnesses such as sociopathy, psychopathy, autism, cerebral palsy, and countless others.

 

It could revolutionize psychology and psychiatry, even potentially eliminating the need for therapy and/or medications; which is what I'd like to see.

 

Well except that last part. I don't know about you, but some problems can't be solved even with a healthy brain. Therapy, for me, has been less about my brain and more my personality and how I live. (Which I know, ties back to the brain, but indirectly.)

[Glike 487]

Brb, building life size models of GLaDOS, HAL9000, and The Terminator for future use.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Brb, building life size models of GLaDOS, HAL9000, and The Terminator for future use.

You know, it would be nice if once, just ONCE, people didn't treat the development of technology even tangentially related to the development of artificial intelligence like it was a prelude to flipping Judgment Day!

[Glike 487]

You know, it would be nice if once, just ONCE, people didn't treat the development of technology even tangentially related to the development of artificial intelligence like it was a prelude to flipping Judgment Day!

I'm just joshing. I know this discovery wouldn't even come close to helping create intelligent, sentient AI. Realistically speaking, I'm curious as to what psychological diseases we can help fight. For example, we're close to a pill that can actually erase memories. Although, figuring out how to erase memories selectively is a problem. Its too sciencey for me to give proper justice to. Here's an interesting article regarding possible future advancements. http://www.toptenz.net/10-science-fiction-technologies-becoming-reality-near-future.php

 

No hard feelings.

Edited July 2, 2015 by Glike

[Steel Accord 6,660]

I'm just joshing. I know this discovery wouldn't even come close to helping create intelligent, sentient AI. Realistically speaking, I'm curious as to what psychological diseases we can help fight. For example, we're close to a pill that can actually erase memories. Although, figuring out how to erase memories selectively is a problem. Its too sciencey for me to give proper justice to. Here's an interesting article regarding possible future advancements. http://www.toptenz.net/10-science-fiction-technologies-becoming-reality-near-future.php

No hard feelings.

No my apologies. It is my fault, I have trouble distinguishing between joking and being serious. Especially, in my defense, when there are so many responses like yours but they are not joking. Again though, my apologies.

Edited July 2, 2015 by Steel Accord

[Glike 487]

No my apologies.it is my fault, I have trouble distinguishing between joking and being serious. Especially, in my defense, when there are so many responses like yours but they are not joking. Again though, my apologies.

Seriously, don't worry about it. It's cool.

 

Anyway, for the sake of getting back on topic, do you think this discovery can really help extend a person's life expectancy? I think it might just be because this is such new technology, but it seems bizarre to think of something that can literally change life as we know it. Then again, who would've thought we could put a man on the moon?

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Seriously, don't worry about it. It's cool.

 

Anyway, for the sake of getting back on topic, do you think this discovery can really help extend a person's life expectancy? I think it might just be because this is such new technology, but it seems bizarre to think of something that can literally change life as we know it. Then again, who would've thought we could put a man on the moon?

Well I think it could change the life expectancy of people suffering degenerative diseases. Increasing longevity in general is a little beyond this technology's means, at least from what I can see.

[Lilly14 8]

No, I said neuron. Thank you very much

Now that said, let's harness the gamma radiation and mount it in the machine

[Steel Accord 6,660]

No, I said neuron. Thank you very much

Now that said, let's harness the gamma radiation and mount it in the machine

 

Again, that makes no sense. Neurons are just cells that use chemical and electric signals to communicate information. How could you put that in a gun? All you would be doing is sending a bunch of pulsating cell spasms with every trigger.

 

Radiation of any kind would also destroy said neurons. What the Hell are you suggesting we build?

[Justin_Case001 4,896]

Cool.  Maybe I'll live to see artificially intelligent androids yet.  I hope so.

 

 

One step closer to my dream of being a cybernetic cyborg ninja.

A cybernetic cyborg.  Now that...is...a thing.

[Misty Rose 3,216]

I swear to God though if this ends up being used for corrupted purposes in the future I'll wish it had never even been invented Somehow humanity always finds a way to screw a good thing up so I'm kinda worried to be honest

[Steel Accord 6,660]

I swear to God though if this ends up being used for corrupted purposes in the future I'll wish it had never even been invented Somehow humanity always finds a way to screw a good thing up so I'm kinda worried to be honest

 

Yet another neigh sayer. Why is optimism such a preciously rare commodity?!

 

The car was used to outrun the lawmen on horses, the cistern was used to make moonshine, the internet makes robbery nigh untraceable. Every invention has been exploited by some, that doesn't mean it shouldn't have been invented or needs to be done away with.

 

Besides, there's virtually no application for this technology that could be exploited for criminal purpose.

Cool.  Maybe I'll live to see artificially intelligent androids yet.  I hope so.

 

 

A cybernetic cyborg.  Now that...is...a thing.

 

A redundant thing that is redundant.

[Shanks 10,816]

Besides, there's virtually no application for this technology that could be exploited for criminal purpose.

There is none that we are aware of right now, but that dosen't mean it couldn't be abused. This could lead to advances in AI which has its own set of ethical questions but that shouldn't stop us from at the very least pursuing its positive applications. I don't think we as a species discuss the ethical ramifications of science and technology and the various ethical ramifications of its various uses nearly enough. Martin Luther King Jr. was sadly right when he said "our scientific progress has outrun our spiritual power, we have guided missiles and misguided men." The good news in that of course is humanities ability to evolve not just in terms of science and technology but also morality. There have been steps backward but also steps forward. Things like slavery for example which were once near universally accepted are now near universally opposed.

[GuyNamedEarl 1,332]

This is a great advancement of technology and hopefully can be used for medical advancements unprecedented by man.

[Dsanders 5,747]

What if these artificial neurons could pave the path towards telepathy? Do you think the implications would be good or bad for our future? 

[Shanks 10,816]

What if these artificial neurons could pave the path towards telepathy? Do you think the implications would be good or bad for our future? 

It would be a mix of both, telepathy has so many useful applications but can also be misused. We are already headed toward a form of telepathy with experiments with machines that can be controlled with the persons mind, and there are some artificial limbs being developed with this same technology.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

There is none that we are aware of right now, but that dosen't mean it couldn't be abused. This could lead to advances in AI which has its own set of ethical questions but that shouldn't stop us from at the very least pursuing its positive applications. I don't think we as a species discuss the ethical ramifications of science and technology and the various ethical ramifications of its various uses nearly enough. Martin Luther King Jr. was sadly right when he said "our scientific progress has outrun our spiritual power, we have guided missiles and misguided men." The good news in that of course is humanities ability to evolve not just in terms of science and technology but also morality. There have been steps backward but also steps forward. Things like slavery for example which were once near universally accepted are now near universally opposed.

That's far and away and theoretical. Saying this, specific, technology can be abused is like saying band aids can be abused.

[Misty Rose 3,216]

Yet another neigh sayer. Why is optimism such a preciously rare commodity?!

 

The car was used to outrun the lawmen on horses, the cistern was used to make moonshine, the internet makes robbery nigh untraceable. Every invention has been exploited by some, that doesn't mean it shouldn't have been invented or needs to be done away with.

 

Besides, there's virtually no application for this technology that could be exploited for criminal purpose.

 

 

A redundant thing that is redundant.

I can have optimism about many things, the future of humanity....not so much [/c

[Misty Rose 3,216]

Yet another neigh sayer. Why is optimism such a preciously rare commodity?!

 

The car was used to outrun the lawmen on horses, the cistern was used to make moonshine, the internet makes robbery nigh untraceable. Every invention has been exploited by some, that doesn't mean it shouldn't have been invented or needs to be done away with.

 

Besides, there's virtually no application for this technology that could be exploited for criminal purpose.

 

 

A redundant thing that is redundant.

I can have optimism about many things, the future of humanity....not so much

[Misty Rose 3,216]

What if these artificial neurons could pave the path towards telepathy? Do you think the implications would be good or bad for our future?

I think it would only be a necessary benefit for mute, blind or deaf individuals. Because be honest man why would us healthy human beings with no disabilities need telepathy? It would do more harm than good if the wrong people use it.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

I think it would only be a necessary benefit for mute, blind or deaf individuals. Because be honest man why would us healthy human beings with no disabilities need telepathy? It would do more harm than good if the wrong people use it.

 

Because it would be yet another method of communication that the average person could use in their everyday life. No more cell phones, you could just send your message to a family member, literally just by thinking about it. Likewise with the disabled individuals, we could use the technology to make many devices completely hands free. Turning on a car just by getting in it, operating heavy machinery from a safe distance, something as simple as changing the channel with a blink. There's lots of good ways this could be used.

I can have optimism about many things, the future of humanity....not so much

 

I would say you are wrong, but only time will tell. I have unshakeable confidence in the future of the human race.