Microsoft researcher converts his brain into 'e-memory'

This is just ridiculous. This man has worked at this for years to make it a reality.

Here's a tidbit from the article:

(CNN) -- For the past decade, Microsoft researcher Gordon Bell has been moving the data from his brain onto computers -- where he knows it will be safe.

In sum, this mountain of data -- more than 350 gigabytes worth, not including the streaming audio and video -- is a replica of Bell's biological memory. It's actually better, he says, because, if you back up your data in enough places, this digitized "e-memory" never forgets. It's like having a multimedia transcript of your life.

By about 2020, he says, our entire life histories will be online and searchable. Location-aware smartphones and inexpensive digital memory storage in the "cloud" of the Internet make the transition possible and inevitable. No one will have to fret about storing the details of their lives in their heads anymore. We'll have computers for that. And this revolution will "change what it means to be human," he writes.

This is a bit troubling however. Everybody's memories and lives at the tip of your finger? Can you say Big Brother much?

I like this kind of technology, it's neat. However, what are the applications?

There's a little Q&A as well.

What do you all think ATS?

Souce

~Keeper

It doesnt sound like he's really backed up his memory. Just sounds like he's spent a lot of time blogging about his day. Every day.

Some sort of glorified live journal doesnt really cut it for "backing up your memory." Not to me at least.

The thread title is absolutely misleading and sensational.. Shame on you..
There is nothing special about this.. Your title make it seems that somehow he plugs his brain and download information.. Non-sense.. He just carries a camera and other stuff with him and record what he sees, eared, ate, etc..

Move along, nothing to see her

[edit on 25-9-2009 by Picao84]

reply to post by Picao84


It's not my title, it's CNN's. I have not mislead anyone.

It may not be something that's "out of this world", but it's the beginning of what anybody would call "e-memory".

You people are so hard to impress

~Keeper

reply to post by tothetenthpower


Ok sorry, didnt saw it was CNN title too..

But yes, it fails to impress.. Particularly because everyone can do that stauff now with mobile phone cameras if they want.. I dont know whats really new here.. Even him says that he only does that on non-regular things, not everyday..

He says also that the information will be on the cloud for everyone to see.. Again whats new? Hint: Facebook..

It'd be like if you do something stupid now, you just hope it doesn't come up on youtube

With this, it's immediately uploaded to youtube!

Otherwise, as long as there is a lock on it, and a really good lock.

Should be pretty neat. I'm sure it'd be optional right.

reply to post by tothetenthpower


Well just in case this ever happens from this day forward I will now be filling my head with nothing but absolute nonsense because that way nobody will have a fricken clue whats going on in here.

Right, off to BTS!

It might be possible to some how inscribe the raw data of our brains onto another format, but computers don't process data in the same ways our brains do. Even if every bit of data in my brain was on a hard drive, the external computer would not be able to simulate or otherwise output my emotions, memories, thoughts, etc. Cognitive science is still just learning how our brains process all this data.

reply to post by tothetenthpower


Thought this might be worth mentioning.

Wonder how this type of technology might fare with diseases like this...

reply to post by XXXN3O


Wow, that would suck... or would it?

lol,

Doctor- I'm sorry but you've been diagnosed with, cancer, and amnesia

Patient- Well great at least I don't have cancer!

Great..... Microsoft memory storage.... I can't wait to be re-living a past memory when I get the big old Blue screen of death.....