8 replies to this topic

[the thing]

http://med.stanford....on-imaging.html

New techniques of imaging shows that the brain is a lot more complicated then thought before. Is this good or bad news for the singularity? The situation just might the opposite of what we thought. Imaging may not be a problem, but the hardware might be delayed.

[forever freedom]

Hardware will be enough. It doubles its power every 2 years, so even if we're wrong by a big margin, possible hardware limitations will only delay the singularity by some years. Hardware really isn't the problem. Our supercomputers of today already have the processing power of the human brain.


What is really doing to be challenging is the software... and that could be handled in the next few decades or centuries or never.

[the thing]

Hardware will be enough. It doubles its power every 2 years, so even if we're wrong by a big margin, possible hardware limitations will only delay the singularity by some years. Hardware really isn't the problem. Our supercomputers of today already have the processing power of the human brain.

What is really doing to be challenging is the software... and that could be handled in the next few decades or centuries or never.

“One synapse, by itself, is more like a microprocessor —with both memory-storage and information-processing elements — than a mere on/off switch. In fact, one synapse may contain on the order of 1,000 molecular-scale switches. A single human brain has more switches than all the computers and routers and Internet connections on Earth,”

Computing performance doesnt double every two years. This is a misconception. The ammount of processor transistors doubles every two years or so, but computing performance doubles significantly slower. If you think a new computer is twice as fast as a two year old computer you are deluded. Memory speed growth in computers for example has not matched the growth of processor speed.

Edited by the thing, 26 November 2010 - 12:50 PM.

[Aetherius]

http://www.hplusmaga...ful-brains-glia

[Ghostrider]

“One synapse, by itself, is more like a microprocessor —with both memory-storage and information-processing elements — than a mere on/off switch. In fact, one synapse may contain on the order of 1,000 molecular-scale switches. A single human brain has more switches than all the computers and routers and Internet connections on Earth,”

Computing performance doesnt double every two years. This is a misconception. The ammount of processor transistors doubles every two years or so, but computing performance doubles significantly slower. If you think a new computer is twice as fast as a two year old computer you are deluded. Memory speed growth in computers for example has not matched the growth of processor speed.

I was just about to mention that...however, I don't think hardware will be the bottleneck. Software will be the hard part.

[the thing]

“One synapse, by itself, is more like a microprocessor —with both memory-storage and information-processing elements — than a mere on/off switch. In fact, one synapse may contain on the order of 1,000 molecular-scale switches. A single human brain has more switches than all the computers and routers and Internet connections on Earth,”

Computing performance doesnt double every two years. This is a misconception. The ammount of processor transistors doubles every two years or so, but computing performance doubles significantly slower. If you think a new computer is twice as fast as a two year old computer you are deluded. Memory speed growth in computers for example has not matched the growth of processor speed.

I was just about to mention that...however, I don't think hardware will be the bottleneck. Software will be the hard part.

All I am saying is that it might take a lot longer than people here think. There are so many variables that might make the hardware and software so much bigger problem than what was predicted. Also just because something grows exponentially doesnt mean it grows fast. Your bank account grows exponentially, but that doesnt mean you will have billions when you retire (unless you are really old).

Edited by the thing, 01 December 2010 - 12:00 PM.

[marthawill]

I am computer engineering student and these posts gives me good information.

[Ghostrider]

I am computer engineering student and these posts gives me good information.

I studied EE, but if I was going to do it over again, I would have done CS. You can develop software with just a computer. You can start the next Google in your garage. I don't know very many people who are starting their own computing companies from nothing. That's pretty hard to do. You can also apply CS to almost any field. Follow your passion.

[TelepathicMerg]

Hardware will be enough. It doubles its power every 2 years, so even if we're wrong by a big margin, possible hardware limitations will only delay the singularity by some years. Hardware really isn't the problem. Our supercomputers of today already have the processing power of the human brain.


What is really doing to be challenging is the software... and that could be handled in the next few decades or centuries or never.

I see Singularity as a "time" where computer and brain will merge. No longer will computer be our "extension" or will it overpower us such. In place of BCI there will be "internal monitors" and internal on-demand connections. But... how is it that we are discussing this? It is to be beyond what anyone could imagine. (: