semantic blog http://blog.semantic.ch Manufacturer of Intelligent Computer Systems Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:01:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 en Ghost in the shell http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/03/09/ghost-in-the-shell/ http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/03/09/ghost-in-the-shell/#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:01:06 +0000 June von Bonin http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/03/09/ghost-in-the-shell/ Watch Hod Lipson talk about “Adaptive and Self-Reflective Systems”. Hod Lipson demonstrates several experiments in self reflecting robotic systems and argues that reflective processes are essential in achieving meta-cognitive capacities.

While we are wondering if machines can think about themselves, why not watch Michael Anissimov who tells us not to fear the Singularity - and why not.

(via vimeo.com)

]]> http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/03/09/ghost-in-the-shell/feed/ Interview with Peter Norvig http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/03/04/interview-with-peter-norvig/ http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/03/04/interview-with-peter-norvig/#comments Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:49:39 +0000 June von Bonin http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/03/04/interview-with-peter-norvig/ Peter Norvig, Director of Google Research answers our top ten questions (reddit.com/youtube.com), like if Google is working on Strong AI. The video is 30min long. You can also follow and be part of the post-interview discussion here.

]]> http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/03/04/interview-with-peter-norvig/feed/ Catch up on your meetings http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/02/25/catch-up-on-your-meetings/ http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/02/25/catch-up-on-your-meetings/#comments Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:47:15 +0000 June von Bonin http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/02/25/catch-up-on-your-meetings/ You can address your iPhone like Captain Kirk the Enterprise’s computer (see Your personal assistant Siri). How about letting your computer summarize (verbally) in almost real time what has been said in a business meeting (especially, when you were boosting your brain power with a kip at your desk)?

Read about the system Catchup (newscientist.com) which is able to identify the important words and edit out the unimportant ones and about how a midday nap markedly boosts the brain’s learning capacity (theregister.co.uk).

]]> http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/02/25/catch-up-on-your-meetings/feed/ Your personal assistant Siri http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/02/16/your-personal-assistant-siri/ http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/02/16/your-personal-assistant-siri/#comments Tue, 16 Feb 2010 09:01:27 +0000 June von Bonin http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/02/16/your-personal-assistant-siri/ After the universal translator how about addressing your iPhone like Captain Kirk the Enterprise’s computer?

With the new application, Siri, you can literally have a conversation with your Apple iPhone. Expect “Better wear a warm winter coat today” when asking for the weather report.

The tech behind this app came out of a project from the Stanford Research Institute as part of a government funded artificial intelligence project called CALO, or Cognitive Agent that Learns and Organizes. Over time, the app will learn about what a user likes and the searches will get better and better.

(via wired.com)

]]> http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/02/16/your-personal-assistant-siri/feed/ Do you want an universal translator? http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/02/11/do-you-want-an-universal-translator/ http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/02/11/do-you-want-an-universal-translator/#comments Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:01:00 +0000 June von Bonin http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/02/11/do-you-want-an-universal-translator/ Remember the science fiction Star Trek and how human beings could communicate with each other and also with aliens? They had a so called universal translator.

Now Google is working on an automatic system for translating languages which will be based upon the existing translate.google.com and the voice recognition system goog-411. And, with each use, translation software is likely to become smarter.

(via timesonline.co.uk)

]]> http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/02/11/do-you-want-an-universal-translator/feed/ How to boost brainpower http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/02/04/how-to-boost-brainpower/ http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/02/04/how-to-boost-brainpower/#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:56:06 +0000 June von Bonin http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/02/04/how-to-boost-brainpower/ Surf the web. Stay physically active. Eat healthily. And leave time in the day to day dream.

According to a series of studies, it is important to keep the body as fit as the mind and to sleep enough. The results of a new study suggests that chronic insomnia may be another condition associated with reduced cortical volume. Eat a healthy diet and take magnesium supplement which boosts brainpower - that is if you are a mouse. Last but not least, take breaks. Research shows that memories are strengthened during periods of rest while we are awake, not just during sleep.

]]> http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/02/04/how-to-boost-brainpower/feed/ This is your brain on nouns http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/01/28/this-is-your-brain-on-nouns/ http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/01/28/this-is-your-brain-on-nouns/#comments Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:30:15 +0000 June von Bonin http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/01/28/this-is-your-brain-on-nouns/ Scientist have discovered how the brain codes and represents nouns. They have found, that the brain uses three basic categories to think about common nouns: Can I hold it, can I get inside it and can I eat it?

For their study, the scientists showed people 60 words and analyzed the brain’s activation patterns with a functional magnetic resonance imaging machine. Really intriguing is the inverse process: To find out, which of the 60 words the subject was thinking of, by analyzing the brain’s activation patterns.

You can find the study in the journal PloS One or read the article in prnewswire.com

]]> http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/01/28/this-is-your-brain-on-nouns/feed/ Brain and “quantum entanglement” http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/01/20/brain-and-quantum-entanglement/ http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/01/20/brain-and-quantum-entanglement/#comments Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:52:41 +0000 June von Bonin http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/01/20/brain-and-quantum-entanglement/ Remember the quantum mind hypothesis? Now scientist have found that unique patterns of electrical signals spread to neurons in different areas of the brain. These patterns of activity started in one set of neurons, only to be mimicked by others milliseconds later. The brains own “quantum entanglement” could explain memories.

(via Newscientist)

]]> http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/01/20/brain-and-quantum-entanglement/feed/ Red Herring Global Finalist presentation http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/01/15/red-herring-global-finalist-presentation/ http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/01/15/red-herring-global-finalist-presentation/#comments Fri, 15 Jan 2010 13:41:22 +0000 June von Bonin http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/01/15/red-herring-global-finalist-presentation/ January 14, 2009, Walter Diggelmann spoke at the Red Herring Global Conference and received the Red Herring Global 100 Finalist award. You can download or watch the presentation and view the handover ceremony on youtube.

]]> http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/01/15/red-herring-global-finalist-presentation/feed/ Biologically inspired “wet computer” simulates brain cells http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/01/14/biologically-inspired-wet-computer-simulates-brain-cells/ http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/01/14/biologically-inspired-wet-computer-simulates-brain-cells/#comments Thu, 14 Jan 2010 08:38:18 +0000 June von Bonin http://blog.semantic.ch/2010/01/14/biologically-inspired-wet-computer-simulates-brain-cells/ Researchers are working on a project to adapt brain processes to “wet computing” by setting up chemicals in a tube which behave like the transistors in a computer chip. The “wet computer” will literally simulate neurons and signal processing on the chemical level.

(via bbc.co.uk)

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