Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!snorkelwacker!mintaka!ogicse!blake!milton!mann@watserv1.waterloo.edu
From: mann@watserv1.waterloo.edu (Shannon Mann)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: Re: Wetware
Keywords: Paranoia, Potential.
Message-ID: <1990May30.163341.2466@watserv1.waterloo.edu>
Date: 30 May 90 16:33:41 GMT
References: <1520@Terra.cc.brunel.ac.uk>
Sender: hlab@milton.acs.washington.edu
Organization: Computing Services, University of Waterloo
Lines: 45
Approved: hitl@hardy.u.washington.edu


In article <1520@Terra.cc.brunel.ac.uk> Student 29 <cceds29@cc.brunel.ac.uk> writes:
>
>If this is a repete of earlier discussions, forgive me as I'm new to S.V-W
>however it occurs to me that, if it is possable to feed data into the 
>"senses" via direct nureal stimulation, thus bypassing the data recievers
>(touch/taste nerves etc.) Then the process would be speeded up somewhat
>(in a simular way to Machine code programming cf Basic), as your talking,
>or capable of, to the "C.P.U." 

My understanding of the connection of mind and body, brain and senses says
that the experience of this flood of information would be devastating to 
the person experiencing it.  

Our senses do a tremendous amount of filtering and prefiltering to cut
back on the quantity of information our senses receive to leave just the
important information (at least we hope that is what is left.)

Bypassing this would permit an avalanche of sensory information into areas
of the brain not evolved to handle it.  

There is the further problem with this idea.  Much of the learning we do is not 
the simple intake of information, but its processing into memory...

Now, if we could directly insert memories into our brains, The potential for 
learning would be tremendous.  The information would exist in a pre-compiled 
form, and so, overwhelming sensory input by bypassing our sensory filters.

However, there are potential problems with direct memory insertion.

Our memories, before they become memories, go through our sensory mechanism,
and through this process are given certain kinds of bias.  The bias would be
those items of information our sensory filters eliminates.  How severe the 
bias, will be is of course entirely unknown.  But, it is possible that the 
memories will be completely unintelligible.  Consider.  If memories are tied 
into a persons language, and that language differs from yours, will you be
able to understand the meaning?

Still, with all the unknowns, memory transfer remains a fascinating possibility.

>						     Kingsley.

        -=-
-=- Shannon Mann -=- mann@watserv1.UWaterloo.Ca
        -=-