X-Message-Number: 26103
Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2005 10:54:38 -0400
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: To Yvan, once more

TO Yvan, once more:

Your comments totally fail to answer my criticism of them. One millisecond
does not equal instantaneously, no matter how much computer and   
mathematical jargon you through at it. Your idea of connecting neurons 
with light or radio or whatever (lasers?) may appear a bit better founded,
until you really start thinking about exactly how this will work. You're
going to need considerable devices on each neuron for each neuron to
be able to communicate with (as sometimes happens, but admittedly not
always) as many as 10,000 others. Sounds to me like a good way to slow
all your hyperfast chips down a bit. Putting them on the Net would be
even worse, in terms of speed. Just how your artificial brain will grow
NEW neurons remains a question you haven't yet come close to answering.

Look here. It's not that I think that biological methods must necessarily
be used to create a working conscious brain. I do think, though, that
we'll need devices with some of the major traits of biological devices:
growth and multiplication among them. Admittedly, even most
neuroscientists thought only 15 years ago that neurons remained unchange-
able once we'd grown to adulthood. The early observations of neuron 
growth, change, and creation of new neurons caused almos
neuroscientists to pour scorn upon the discoverors. But guess who won
in the end.

           Best wishes and long long life to all,

                Thomas Donaldson

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=26103