In DEBS 2012 I participated in the "Gong Show" and presented a short presentation about event processing as part of the singularity vision (key to immortality). Today, thanks to Rainer von Ammon, I noticed a cool project called RoboRoach, that is seeking crowdfunding. There is a short video demonstrating its work. In essence the cockroach has implant that based on BlueTooth controlled commands creates false sensing for the insect which effects its behavior. We may say that the natural event processing system of the insect is modified by feeding false events. The claim is that this technology can have implications on overcoming human neural and sensor handicaps. Note that on the webpage describing it there is a keen discussion of comments with various types of rejections on moral grounds. I am not joining this criticism, I think this is amazing scientific achievement with a potential to change life as we know them. I keep tracking singularity related news.
Peter Pischer, who chaired the "gong show" in DEBS 2012 was looking for volunteers to give a "gong show" talk. The gong show idea, borrowed from other conferences, and added to DEBS last year, is a forum to present futuristic, compelling ideas (which not need to have scientific proof). As Peter approached me in the break to see whether I would like to present, I thought about a past discussion I had with Rainer von Ammon about the singularity idea, and devised a quick presentation on a topic I don't understand anything about... I have uploaded the presentation to slideshare -- enjoy!
One of the amazing achievements of IBM Research is the recent triumph of the "Watson" program, whose avatar is seen above in the Jeopardy! game, beating two human champions. This raises back the question whether computer thinks, and whether we are getting closer to the "singularity" vision between human and machine intelligence. While this game is a question answering one, a complete machine intelligence will also require the ability to detect events and contexts, and react within a changing environment. I suggested (as a joke) that the next game that a humanoid robot should strive to is the "survivor", which requires other capabilities, like social capabilities, but I think that this challenge is somewhat beyond even the current wildest dreams.
