BitCortex » Singularity University

Ray Kurzweil at the SU / MIT / X PRIZE BCI Workshop

Singularity University — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:33:06 +0000

Ray Kurzweil discusses the future of BCI (Brain-Computer Interfaces) at a workshop at the X-Prize lab at MIT, January 2010. This workshop was co-sponsored by Singularity University.

Exploring the Brain-Computer Interface: Singularity U Partners with X Prize Labs @ MIT

Singularity University — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 07:13:41 +0000

Imagine a direct connection between the human brain and the world’s most powerful computers… What if you could type with your thoughts? Or help the blind to see? Or give an amputee control over his bionic arm? How can the Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) positively affect humanity’s grandest challenges?

Singularity University partnered with X Prize Lab @ MIT for the 2-day “Brain-Computer Interfaces: Igniting a Revolution” workshop that kicked off today to discuss these questions and more with some of the leading minds in neurobiology. Special guests included SU co-founder and CEO of the X Prize Foundation, Ed Boyden, Director of the MIT Synthetic Neurobiology Group, and Gerwin Schalk, Director BCI2000, Wadsworth Center.

SU Graduate Studies Program alum Rod Furlan interviewed a few of the BCI experts to get their thoughts on the state of BCI, where it’s headed, and how it can affect “humanity’s grand challenges.” Check back soon for those videos, as well as the lively panel discussion on the future of BCI with Peter Diamandis, Ed Boyden, and SU instructor and Omneuron founder Christopher deCharms.

Greetings From Future Camp

Rod Furlan — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:30:21 +0000

Popular Science have just published a cool article about our summer at Singularity University. Late but great!

“According to Ray Kurzweil, the Singularity is a point at which man will become one with machine and then live eternally—which makes Singularity University, a nine-week academic retreat named for the concept, sound a little cultish. Our writer traveled west to investigate and found 40 stunningly sane brainiacs out to change the world.” – Popular Science [read full article]

Singularity University Executive Program

Rod Furlan — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 05:54:58 +0000

When: February 26 – March 6, 2010

Where: NASA Ames Research Center, Mountain View, CA

Who: Decision-makers, strategists, CEOs, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, government leaders — anyone thinking about their company and industry over a 5-to-10-year horizon

Click Here To Apply

SU Reunion @ Singularity Summit 2009

Rod Furlan — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:25:54 +0000

Never mind the incredible things you would learn or the stellar faculty you would meet at Singularity University – you should apply just for a chance to become part of such a wonderful network of people devoted to the creation of a better future for mankind.

No excuses, apply now.

View Pictures

How to give a Nano-Talk

Rod Furlan — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:12:52 +0000

I find it hard to imagine anything more disruptive to capitalism as we know it than nanotechnology. This summer at Singularity University we had the pleasure of meeting Ralph Merkle who taught us how to give a “nano-talk” in order to explain the benefits of nanotech to anyone:

The field of [field] is critically dependent on [product].

[Product] are made from atoms. Nanotechnology will let us make [product] that are lighter, stronger, smarter, cheaper, cleaner and just better.

This will have a huge impact on [field], for example, we could even have [product] that are [astonishing parameter] and cost only [remarkably cheap]!

Here is an example to drive the point home:

The field of [bicycling] is critically dependent on [bicycles].

[Bicycles] are made from atoms. Nanotechnology will let us make [bicycles] that are lighter, stronger, smarter, cheaper, cleaner and just better.

This will have a huge impact on [bicycling], for example, we could even have [bicycles] that are [just half a pound] and cost only [a dollar]!

Singularity University Video Moments

Rod Furlan — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:59:45 +0000

Singularity University Moments

Rod Furlan — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:03:54 +0000

I just got back from Singularity University‘s inaugural Graduate Studies Program. During the past 9 weeks I have learned incredible things and met incredible people. Here are a few moments I would like to share:

I will post more about my SU experience as soon as I can – right now I have to catch up with life

Singularity University

Rod Furlan — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:52:19 +0000

This is going to be a very special summer

I am one of the 40 candidates admitted to the inaugural class of the Singularity University at the NASA Ames Research Center starting today.

The Singularity University (SU) is a joint effort of NASA, Google, and some of the foremost authorities in science and technology. Its objective is to expose a group of promising graduate students and professionals to a broad range of cutting-edge research that is likely to lead to disruptive technological innovation in the near future.

Or according to their own words:

Singularity University aims to assemble, educate and inspire a cadre of leaders who strive to understand and facilitate the development of exponentially advancing technologies and apply, focus and guide these tools to address humanity’s grand challenges.

I will be meeting a lot of interesting people, student and faculty alike. It will be a life changing experience and hopefully world changing too.