One of the (many and conflicting) theories about AI is that we need to make computers that work more like an organic brain if we want to build machines that really think. Jeff Hawkins, founder of Palm Computing, has written an article about Hierarchical Temporal Memory (HTM), which is “a platform for simulating neocortical activity” that he’s releasing freely for research purposes. Meanwhile, Warren Ellis draws our attention to a different deployment of technology called ‘speckled computing’ – spraying tiny match-head sized processors all over patients for medical diagnosis. Insert your own punchline here.

Cognitive longevity is starting to become as popular an idea as its physical equivalent, and with that comes the inevitable research into what works best. It’s fairly accepted that learning new things is a good for your mind, but some things are better than others, it seems – for example, studying theatre for a while appears to significantly boost cognitive performance for some time afterwards. Perhaps treading the boards will become fashionable once again.

Internet connectivity is covering the world at an increasing pace, but stringing optic fibres or installing wireless repeaters is an inherently limiting process. The launch of the first space-borne internet router heralds a near future where remote communities may be able to get online with a shared satellite dish. Which is, like all technology, a double-edged sword – after all, if terrorist groups can hack a regular television broadcast satellite, it won’t take them long to ramp up to the next level.

Chalk up another one for the underdogs. A hobby robot-builder has beaten the mighty Sandia Labs at their own game by making the smallest autonomous robot ever created, using methods available to any workbench geek and quite without a huge corporate lab to support him. Add this level of inventiveness and determination to emerging technologies like affordable desktop fabbing, and the potential for strange times ahead is looking strong. [SlashDot]

Freeman Dyson is a contentious figure in the world of science. He rejects what he sees as stultified institutions and the restrictions of consensus culture, he isn’t shy of saying that he thinks the global warming threat is vastly overstated, and he believes that once we make it out of the gravity well and into space we have every chance of spreading out and colonising the entire universe. I wonder if he’s considered writing fiction at all?