Pentagon research arm DARPA has handed out about $15 million to various institutions to research new implants that would replace damaged parts of the brain, allowing people to return to normal.
The implants developed by the project will likely be composed of electrodes or optical fibers, and will sit on the surface of the brain. They'll read electrical signals from neurons, and deliver appropriate light pulses to stimulate other brain regions in response. The implants would allow the brain to operate normally, by acting as substitutes for areas that were damaged or "unavailable."
Some interesting news, and some philosophy besides...
Just watched a Lincoln Center performance by Emmanuel Ax, Itzhak Perlman, and Yo-Yo Ma. They paused between pieces to tell a little of the tradition behind the music and to show how close we really are to composers born 200 years ago. Ax once played a Brahms piece for Rubinstein, who corrected his tempo. He explained that his tempo had been corrected by Joachim, who conducted the world premier performance with the composer at the keyboard. That ought to be a pretty definitive opinion on the tempo.
Ma borrowed a famous Stradivarius cello to play the next piece. It had once belonged to the man to whom Mendelssohn had dedicated the piece. It is entirely likely that the composer had heard that instrument played. And between owners, the cello belonged to Jacquline du Pre. Seems incredible that the line to people we think are so remote from us is really so short.
Chris Brogan says convincingly that the purpose and promise of social media is to "help everyone around you" and he gives some pretty good examples. I've been disappointed to see Toastmasters letting social media tools go pretty much unused as they get more introverted. The organization and members alike seem to be taking a narrower focus and remain pretty much apart from community issues. How about you? How do you think Toastmasters could get more active in their communities? What do you think the benefits would be?