[MURG] re: Introduction

[John Latimer]

--- Ben Hyink <ben_hyink9 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hi John,
> 
> I just wanted to let you know I completely agree
> with
> you about the replication issue and I think an
> increasing number of people are coming to their
> senses
> about it or at least showing signs of ambivalence. 
> 
John L: Thanks. Everyone has the right to view things
as they feel is best whether that is similar or
dissimilar to your own views.  Still though, it is
nice when someone agrees with you.

> I am planning on a career in cognitive neurobiology
> and cybernetics, 

John L: Anything that helps to improve the "human
condition" is essentially worthwile.

and I have developed a vague notion
> of a process that would seem to facilitate a
> transition to another substrate, which would
> preserve
> continuity and the relevant networks. It's merely a
> vague outline of areas that need more attention, but
> it's a start. 

John L:Vague or not, hang on to it!  There is a
greater mass of knowledge that we are merely tapping
into with our psyches.  Those "vague" ideas are the
ones that we haven't fully downloaded.  It's like
waking from a dream and trying to remember it.  The
info is there, we just can't quite grasp it.

Over time, try to figure out the "questions" rather
than the answers.  The questions are ever so much more
important for developing an idea.  That way when you
happen upon the "answers" either by inspiration or by
reading or hearing it somewhere, you are prepared to
recognize their value rather than passing it by and
never associating it.

Essentially, it has to depend on an
> active *growth* process if we want it to be
> verifiable
> (through senory module acquisition, learning
> enhancement, etc.). 

John L:Quite right.  As humans, when we stop growing,
we die.  This applies to our bodies as well as our
minds.

We continue to grow into people that we formerly were
not.  The first year of marriage is a great example. 
After one year, neither you nor your spouse are the
same people that you got married to.  Hopefully the
changes have been for the better, but the changes and
"growth" will be there none the less.  The trick is to
"grow together" rather than to "grow apart".

The same concepts can be applied to neuroprosthetic
implants.  Our minds will continue to grow, and
neuroprosthetics can become a part of that growth
until eventually the mind exists without the existance
of the original biological substrate.

The quick-switch "soft
> uploading"
> could be a lot like hard uploading if it is not done
> right, 

John L:  That could be like going to bed single and
waking up maried with four children.  I don't believe
the mind could recover from such a shock. {;-)-[--<

and the easiest way to ensure that it is done
> right And enhance survivability seems to be to a
> path
> of "wireless" cybernetics (nanowires would likely be
> used). 

John L: curently, Auditory implants have an induction
coil or antenna module under the skin, and a similar
induction coil/antenna is merely placed in proximity
of it on the outside of the skin for comunication
purposes.  The skin is not breached and infection is
not an issue once the surgical wound is healed.  Huge
bandwidth signals could be multiplexed across this
interface without needing any kind of "plug" to plug
into.

To preserve continuity, a process of active
> growth and change will need to be conducted. I've
> called it a "metabrain growth process" to
> distinguish
> it from bad life exension proposals based on
> outdated
> uploading ideas.

John L:  Sounds like you're hitting the nail squarely
on the head.
> 
> Check out my informal site on Tribe.net
> http://Metabraingrowthprocess.tribe.net 
> 
> I'm saving your file Hologenic Man (nice pun) to
> read
> later. 

John L:By the way, Hologenic stands for Holographic
Genesis, which is the fundamental premis for the
Hologenic Brain to which I aspire.

I look forward to actualizing these visions
> someday with people like you and Peter Passaro*.
> 
> Very Best,
> 
> Ben Hijink
> Chair, Transhumanist Student Network
> 
> 



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John A. Latimer



The Hologenic Man





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John A. Latimer



The Hologenic Man