thinking processors

[Werewolfdaddy]

All ethical and moral issues aside, how far off in the future are processors with brain cells integrated on them. It seems to me that they would be capable of faster processing speeds, maybe. Ofcourse, that would open a whole new arena of troubleshooting. Imagine a computer with ahlzeimers. And, it would definitely give a different conotation to the term "upgrade." Computers would exercise at night, striving to improve their performance, trying to avoid being "upgraded."

[mosquito]

I think that a bio chip won't be faster than the chips we have now. The power of a human brain lays in the ability to guess an answer. Not in calculating it.

[jessho]

It (http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Living/reuters20010827_380.html) might not be that far away.

[SINND3R]

This is the oddest idea I've ever heard... it just beat "Jumping To Conclusions" by Tom from Office Space

[DrZaius]

We are definately advancing in processor and microchip technology in regards speed and complexity. Especially with all this GHz power on the home market, imagine what is in store for the future. But any current super-computer is not even close to being as complex and sophisticated as the human brain. We still have to figure out how to brain works before we can try to copy it using chips, and like mosquito said, the brain doesn't just crunch numbers.

[Toaster]

The first step will be a "learning" computer.
This wouldn`t be a BIO computer but rather a form of AI.
This isn't as far off as some may think.
But to be truely "learning" in the human sence is another matter.

The biggest stumbling block is the definition of learning and how to program a computer to do so.
We carbon based life forms (humans) learn by doing, watching others and making mistakes umongst other things.
Ask a computer which way to turn a door knob to open a door and you might get nothing done unless the program said: "Try one way then the other"
We humans instictively try both ways unless the door is marked which way to turn the handle/knob.
For the computer to "learn", we simply say via programming:
"This device allows access to another area"
"Minimal force via rotation either L>R or R<L"
We knock, the computer may simply "try the door".
When a computer can make an "Emotional" decision, then things will proceed at a dizzying rate. Without "intuiton" and other data, the computer is nothing more then task orientated system.
The computer will need to know:
Order of task
type of task
do what on failure
do what on success
error management
cycle repeat
cycle retry
cycle on "X"
abort on "X"
and on and on......
I think you might see where this goes and the hurdles that need to be overcome.
Once these are overcome, the final obsticle would be mans own arrogance.

[Floppyman]

Well the only thing that computers really can't do right now, unless they're programmed to, is to "predict" (Remember the big blue chess match). I suppose if a computer chip ever got human characteristics (like brain cells etc.) it maybe able to predict better? What do you guys think?

[Charliey]

once they get quantum computers working, that'll be a huge step forward in computing technology. that will be able to do huge scale parallel computing, so its not quite learning, but it can go fast enough that it doesnt have to learn.

[Toaster]

Prediction is a method that has several meanings.
In the computer world, "prediction" is a logical process where that which is "unlikely" is set aside for that which IS likely. In this case, the software would "predict" the logical conclusion.
Another prediction is really an educated "guess".
Then there is "prediction on data sets" which is similar to the first description and has modifications of the second description.
Computers already "predict" in function. In the CPU itself is a "branch prediction" register.
A computer will always use "logical prediction" and we humans use "emotional prediction" or "what we feel will happen".
Ask a computer to predict an outcome and not rely soley on processed data and you get "randomization". (or W.A.G.)

[Colonel Sanders]

My first question, why? Why would you want to put a human brain in a computer? I think that maybe if you wanted to make a really cool android, but as far as practical uses, I don't see a whole lot.

How much will these parts cost? Will we have to worry about parts literaly dieing? I have heard that quite a few brain cells die each day, but are grown back. However, when a cell in a computer dies, it would not be able to be replaced.

Logan

[Werewolfdaddy]

I remember reading a few years back that scientists were trying to grow braincells on computer chips. I can't remember the reasoning involved, but I thought it would open an interesting discussion here.