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10/26 Creepy. Rat brain cells + computer control F-22 simulation http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20041018/brain.html \- ChimpBrain controls world's largest economy and military. --psb http://csua.org/u/9ni \_ You're one post too high troll boy. \_ Is this the real psb? I didn't think he was this brain dead, and he's supposed to end with "ok. tnx". \_ Don't you know, psb is a 'kantian.' \-IAJS,YSTL. --psb \-Hello, ok tnx. |
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dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20041018/brain.html DeMarse with His Brain DeMarse with His Brain Brain in a Dish Flies Plane By Jennifer Viegas, Discovery News Oct. Scientists say the research could lead to tiny, brain-controlled prosthet ic devices and unmanned airplanes flown by living computers. And if scientists can decipher the ground rules of how such neural networ ks function, the research also may result in novel computing systems tha t could tackle dangerous search-and-rescue jobs and perform bomb damage assessment without endangering humans. advertisement line The end result is a neural network that can fly the plane to produce re latively stable straight and level flight. Additionally, the interaction of the cells within the lab-assembled brain also may allow scientists to better understand how the human brain work s The data may one day enable researchers to determine causes and possi ble non-invasive cures for neural disorders, such as epilepsy. For the recent project, Thomas DeMarse, a University of Florida professor of biomedical engineering, placed an electrode grid at the bottom of a glass dish and then covered the grid with rat neurons. The cells initial ly resembled individual grains of sand in liquid, but they soon extended microscopic lines toward each other, gradually forming a neural network a brain that DeMarse says is a "living computational device." The brain then communicates with the flight simulator through a desktop c omputer. "We grow approximately 25,000 cells on a 60-channel multi-electrode array , which permits us to measure the signals produced by the activity each neuron produces as it transmits information across this network of livin g neurons," DeMarse told Discovery News. "Using these same channels (ele ctrodes) we can also stimulate activity at each of the 60 locations (ele ctrodes) in the network. Together, we have a bidirectional interface to the neural network where we can input information via stimulation. The n etwork processes the information, and we can listen to the network's res ponse." The brain can learn, just as a human brain learns, he said. When the syst em is first engaged, the neurons don't know how to control the airplane; But, he said, "Over time, these stimulations modify the network's respons e such that the neurons slowly (over the course of 15 minutes) learn to control the aircraft. The end result is a neural network that can fly th e plane to produce relatively stable straight and level flight." At present, the brain can control the pitch and roll of the F-22 in vario us virtual weather conditions, ranging from hurricane-force winds to cle ar blue skies. Not Science Fiction This brain-controlled plane may sound like science fiction, but it is gro unded in work that has been taking place for more than a decade. A break through occurred in 1993, when a team of scientists created a Hybrot, wh ich is short for "hybrid robot." The robot consisted of hardware, computer software, rat neurons, and incu bators for those neurons. The computer, programmed to respond to the neu ron impulses, controlled a wheel underneath a machine that resembled a c hild's toy robot. Last year, US and Australian researchers used a similar neuron-controll ed robotic device to produce a "semi-living artist." In this case, the n eurons were hooked up to a drawing arm outfitted with different colored markers. The robot managed to draw decipherable pictures albeit it bad ones that resembled child scribbles but that technology led to today' s fighter plane simulator success. Steven Potter, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Georgi a Tech who directed the living artist project, believes DeMarse's work i s important, and that such studies could lead to a variety of engineerin g and neurobiology research goals. "A lot of people have been interested in what changes in the brains of an imals and people when they are learning things," Potter said. "We're int erested in getting down into the network and cellular mechanisms, which is hard to do in living animals. And the engineering goal would be to ge t ideas from this system about how brains compute and process informatio n" Though the "brain" can successfully control a flight simulation program, more elaborate applications are a long way off, DeMarse said. But using this model will help us understand th e crucial bit of information between inputs and the stuff that comes out ," he said. "And you can imagine the more you learn about that, the more you can harness the computation of these neurons into a wide range of a pplications." |
csua.org/u/9ni -> www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/achievement/index.html Email this page Introduction President George W Bushs first term has been among the most consequenti al and successful in modern times. Under his leadership, the United Stat es is waging and winning the war against global terrorism. The United St ates and its coalition partners liberated more than 50 million people fr om two regimes of extraordinary brutality that had provided safe haven t o terrorists. And we are promoting democracy in regions of the world tha t have never known it. The United States military is receiving the strongest support from a comm ander-in-chief in two decades. President Bush has taken unprecedented st eps to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction and he has signe d one of the most sweeping arms reduction pacts in history. America is i n the process of deploying a missile defense that will help protect the United States and its allies from catastrophic attacks. President Bush s igned into law landmark legislation that better prepares our defense est ablishment to meet the challenges of the 21st century and he announced the most comprehensive restructuring of US military forces overseas sin ce the end of the Korean War. During his first term, President Bush has signed into law three major tax cuts, including the largest in two decades and since the summer of 20 03, America has had the fastest-growing economy of any major industriali zed nation in the world. Under President Bushs leadership, the economy has been growing at rates as fast as any in nearly 20 years. Interest and mortgage rates have been near historic lows. The core rate of inflation over the past year r anks among its lowest in 40 years. The rate of growth of Federal spendin g is slowing, jobs are being created at a brisk pace (13 million jobs i n the first six months of this year), and the unemployment rate today re mains below the average unemployment rate of the 1970s, the 1980s, and t he 1990s. President Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act, the most imp ortant Federal education reform in history, one that insists that testin g, accountability, and high standards will accompany record new resource s Medicare has been modernized, prescription drug coverage has been add ed, and Americans now have the opportunity to use Health Savings Account s, tax-free accounts designed to help individuals save for health expens es. Faith-based groups are receiving unprecedented support and encourage ment. And President Bush signed into law the most far-reaching reform of American business practices since the time of Franklin Roosevelt. To ensure the safety of our citizens, President Bush has implemented the most sweeping changes in the organization of our national security insti tutions since World War II. With the creation of the Department of Homel and Security, America has seen the most extensive reorganization of the Federal government since President Truman. President Bush has proposed t he most thoroughgoing reorganization of the intelligence community in mo re than a half century. And thanks to the USA PATRIOT Act, Federal law e nforcement agencies can better share information, track terrorists, and protect American lives. President Bush has strongly advocated open markets for American goods; and environmental standa rds that are making Americas water and air cleaner. In the social realm , he has championed a culture of life and a new culture of responsibilit y; He has put together an Administration comprising enormously talented men and women and one with more diversity in senior positions than any in history. These achievements are anchored in a set of core beliefs: America is a de fender and promoter of freedom and the advance of freedom brings peace . Government should encourage ownersh ip and opportunity, compassion and responsibility. The proper role of go vernment is to create the environment in which small business owners and entrepreneurs will take risks and invest, hire workers and spark econom ic growth. The last four years have been a time of extraordinary challenges. They in clude the horrific terrorist attack on the American homeland; an economy that was sliding toward recession when President Bush took office; and the revelation of corporate scandals long in the making tha t undermined investor confidence. Such times demand a leader of clear convictions and determination, hope a nd vision, integrity and the courage to act. These qualities are the hal lmarks of the Bush Presidency. There is much that remains to be done y et as this document illustrates, an enormous amount has already been acc omplished. President George W Bush put forward a historically ambitious agenda and restored dignity to the office he holds. He has provided ste ady leadership in the face of unprecedented challenges. The United State s is safer and stronger, more resilient and better for his efforts. |