Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!uwm.edu!rutgers!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!nanotech From: geopi@hocpa.att.com (George P Cotsonas) Newsgroups: sci.nanotech Subject: Re: When Nanotech? Message-ID: Date: 7 Jan 91 13:58:50 GMT Sender: nanotech@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 43 Approved: nanotech@aramis.rutgers.edu In article , Hanson@charon.arc.nasa.gov (Robin Hanson) writes: > > I agree that there will be a significant time lapse between developing > nanotechnology and technologies that require substantial understanding > of how the brain works. then contradicts it by saying > However, it seems plausible that "uploading" > will only require that we have a reasonable model of the signal ---- > processing capabilities of neurons and synapses, and understanding we > seem close to today. Once we know what matters, we can dismantle a > brain recording only the relevant info about each neuron, and > reimplement the brain with computational models of those neurons. > > Since the nanotechnology to dismantle and record need not be > particularly advanced, it seems that uploading may come much sooner than > 50 years, and perhaps as soon as 20 years. I question whether the nanotechnology required to analyze, dismantle, and record neural nets would be "not particularly advanced." Brain function goes well beyond the realm of the structural, anatomical connectivity of neural nets and the electrical signal processing behavior of neurons themselves. It also encompasses a complex and dynamic biochemistry of neuropeptides. Are the mechanisms of memory and thought even understood in all their subtlety? Will they be within 20 years? I rather agree with the moderator (JoSH? jOSH? JOsH? jOsH?) that it is a very speculative realm we are dealing with when we start to consider such things as "uploading," and that the time frame is not around the corner. But many have been wrong before in the history of science... :-) -- George P. Cotsonas AT&T BL/CPL att!hocpa!geopi