Kevin Warwick on Singularity Podcast: You Have To Take Risks To Be Part Of The Future

by Socrates on September 3, 2010 · View Comments

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In today’s edition of Singularity Podcast I had the privilege of doing an hour long interview with the first cyborg — Prof. Kevin Warwick. I enjoyed talking to Prof. Warwick immensely and got him to share his views on a wide variety of topics such as human and artificial intelligence, robotics, the technological singularity, God, the beginning of the universe and so on.

Also, during the interview Kevin Warwick threw a friendly challenge towards Ray Kurzweil by asking: “Why is it that Ray hasn’t experimented with implant technology yet?”

Enjoy!

Who is Kevin Warwick?

Kevin Warwick is Professor of Cybernetics at the University of Reading, England, where he carries out research in artificial intelligence, control, robotics and cyborgs.

As well as publishing over 500 research papers, Kevin’s experiments into implant technology led to him being featured as the cover story on the US magazine Wired. He has been awarded higher doctorates (DSc) both by Imperial College and the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, and has received Honorary Doctorates from Aston University, Bradford University and Coventry University. He was presented with The Future of Health Technology Award in MIT, was made an Honorary Member of the Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, received The IEE Senior Achievement Medal and the Mountbatten Medal. In 2000 Kevin presented the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, entitled “The Rise of the Robots”.

Kevin’s most recent research involves the invention of an intelligent deep brain stimulator to counteract the effects of Parkinson Disease tremors. Another project involves the use of biological neural networks to drive robots around. Kevin is though best known for his pioneering experiments involving a neuro-surgical implantation into the median nerves of his left arm to link his nervous system directly to a computer. He was successful with the first extra-sensory (ultrasonic) input for a human and with the first purely electronic telegraphic communication experiment between the nervous systems of two humans — himself and his wife Irena.

For more information you can visit Kevin Warwick’s Official Site: http://www.kevinwarwick.com/


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The Singularity Survey Contest: Socrates’ 7 Questions For You

by Socrates on September 3, 2010 · View Comments

I want to make Singularity Weblog better.

I want to create the blog that you want to read instead of the one that I can make alone.

Will you be willing to answer 7 quick questions to help me?

It is easy:

Just tell me what you like and I will give you more.

Tell me what you don’t like and I will stop doing it.

All you need to do is answer the 7 questions below.

The best tag line or survey entry will receive a free hardcover copy of Ray Kurzweil‘s seminal book the Singularity is Near which is sold for 74 dollars on Amazon.com.

I will also pay shipping and handling.

Singularity Survey Contest

I appreciate your help with this. Please fill out this form as best as you can. You can add your email address at the end if you want to win a free copy of Ray Kurzweil's book the Singularity is Near. Thank you!

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Inside Google’s “Don’t Be Evil” Video

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PBS Reports On Ray Kurzweil and The Singularity

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