NationStates Jolt Archive


Cyborgs Invade Reading. Demand Cheese.

Fartsniffage
13-08-2008, 20:39
Well not quite but I think this is cool nevertheless.

Rat-brain robot aids memory study

A robot controlled by a blob of rat brain cells could provide insights into diseases such as Alzheimer's.

Created at the University of Reading, the project marries 300,000 rat neurons to a robot that navigates via sonar.

The neurons are now being taught to steer the robot around obstacles and avoid the walls of the small pen in which it is kept.

By studying what happens to the neurons as they learn its creators hope to reveal how memories are laid down.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7559150.stm

An entirely scientific straw poll of my brother and mum show a wide range of opinions on the subject of combining organic matter with technology so I'm asking for your opinions.

Personally I hope this is a step towards closer combinations of people and technology, plus I think Hawking would appreciate not having to type using an eyebrow. :)
Sumamba Buwhan
13-08-2008, 21:05
That
is
AWESOME!
I V Stalin
13-08-2008, 21:11
That
is
AWESOME!
I think that says all that needs to be said.

/thread.
Fartsniffage
13-08-2008, 21:16
I think that says all that needs to be said.

/thread.

I was hoping for more.

I finally find a cool news story that no-one else has made a thread about and no bugger posts.

I should just post something about Israel.
Tagmatium
13-08-2008, 21:21
The Computing Science school at Reading (where I go to uni) is full of right weirdos.

Dr Kevin Warrick, known as "Captain Cyborg", is one of the high-ups in the School, and he's got chips in his arm and stuff like that. Can control a robotic arm from anywhere on the planet, or something weird.

That stuff about wiring rat brain cells into robots is bloody freakish, though.
Sumamba Buwhan
13-08-2008, 21:22
Israel will use this technology to wipe out the Palestinians
Ifreann
13-08-2008, 21:24
I, for one, welcome our rat brained cyborg overlords.
Gravlen
13-08-2008, 21:32
We will be assimilated!
Lunatic Goofballs
13-08-2008, 21:32
I, for one, welcome our rat brained cyborg overlords.

There it is. I've been expecting it.
Exilia and Colonies
13-08-2008, 21:36
Great... just when I need to get into Reading its overrun with rat cyborgs...
Holy Cheese and Shoes
13-08-2008, 21:37
This Forum can't repel Rodent Cyborgs of that magnitude!
New Manvir
13-08-2008, 21:45
I'd rather have the Ironman suit.
Gravlen
13-08-2008, 21:49
http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u275/Gravlen/NSG/630.jpghttp://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u275/Gravlen/NSG/free_cheese.jpg
Ifreann
13-08-2008, 21:50
There it is. I've been expecting it.

I aim to please.
Xomic
13-08-2008, 21:55
I wonder how long until the religious right is up in arms against these 'unholy' experiments.
Gravlen
13-08-2008, 21:56
I aim to please.

So that's why you leave the toilet seat up! :eek2:
AB Again
13-08-2008, 23:51
I wonder how long until the religious right is up in arms against these 'unholy' experiments.

Probably a little longer than the cyborgs will take to learn something useful. They, the religious right, have less neurons after all.
Risottia
14-08-2008, 00:33
I, for one, welcome our rat brained cyborg overlords.

Reminds me about some rats who had some planet-builders build a planet-sized computer to find out the Question whose Answer is "42". Oh well, I'll suppose I shall invest my savings in Swiss cheese industry shares.
Ifreann
14-08-2008, 00:34
Reminds me about some rats who had some planet-builders build a planet-sized computer to find out the Question whose Answer is "42". Oh well, I'll suppose I shall invest my savings in Swiss cheese industry shares.

Those were mice. Well, kind of.
Conserative Morality
14-08-2008, 00:38
Awesome!

I however, will not be getting one of those, even assuming they come out for humans in my lifetime. "Why?" You ask? Because... Well, i dunno, it's awesome, but it's also kinda creepy.
Lunatic Goofballs
14-08-2008, 00:52
They gave a disembodied glob of rat brain bluetooth. I mean sure it's cool and all, but once it figures out how to access the internet, it'll start posting here on NSG and...

...:eek: Or has it already happened??? :eek:
Sumamba Buwhan
14-08-2008, 00:54
*whistles innocently*
Geniasis
14-08-2008, 00:56
They gave a disembodied glob of rat brain bluetooth. I mean sure it's cool and all, but once it figures out how to access the internet, it'll start posting here on NSG and...

...:eek: Or has it already happened??? :eek:

I really miss MTAE.
Lunatic Goofballs
14-08-2008, 01:02
*whistles innocently*

I really miss MTAE.

You know, a lot of things start making sense now.

You're all disembodied globs of bluetooth-enabled rat brains aren't you?
Geniasis
14-08-2008, 01:05
You know, a lot of things start making sense now.

You're all disembodied globs of bluetooth-enabled rat brains aren't you?

He knows! Bretheren, we must take action!
Lunatic Goofballs
14-08-2008, 01:07
He knows! Bretheren, we must take action!

I have a cat.
Geniasis
14-08-2008, 01:12
I have a cat.

I have two, myself. And in that statement, you will know why your felines can't--or rather, won't--save you.
Anti-Social Darwinism
14-08-2008, 02:51
This has all the makings of a great political party, I may abandon NIFLPP and start a Rat-Brained Cyborg Party.

*looks furtively about, rubs hands together. Grins maniacally.*
Non Aligned States
14-08-2008, 03:25
You know, a lot of things start making sense now.

You're all disembodied globs of bluetooth-enabled rat brains aren't you?

The test subject is aware. Terminate the project. Dispose of the subject- oops, I mean, nonsense! There's nothing at all like that. There's nothing to worry about.
Geniasis
14-08-2008, 04:28
This has all the makings of a great political party, I may abandon NIFLPP and start a Rat-Brained Cyborg Party.

*looks furtively about, rubs hands together. Grins maniacally.*

i wud join taht.

But yeah LG, if you'd like to take the bait and ask so I could begin my monologing, that'd be great.