The BBC are broadcasting a two-part programme on swarm behaviour. It’s worth checking it out for the terrific footage – not having had the sound on, I don’t know if anything conceptually interesting is discussed. I will revisit the programme with sound soon. Click here to view part 1.
I came across this pretty impressive video of Boston Dynamics’ BigDog robot. Click on image below to view.
If you’ve ever heard the term “extended mind” and thought it denoted some sort of hocus pocus, then this recording will set you straight. Zoe Drayson of Bristol University has recorded a superb overview of the notion and the ethical implications arising from it. Zoe’s motivation for coming to this multidisciplinary literature had resonance for…
For those who have been following the work of Andy Clark – Natural-Born Cyborgs – and his latest – Supersizing the Mind – not mention Ray Kurzweil (and The Matrix) – should enjoy this article from Scientific American (November 2008, pp. 56-61). Not included here are two subsections that outline progress and propspects for neurotechnology (“How…
A very basic overview of embodied cognition in Science News. Why do so many researchers insist on cutifying or the Spielbergerization of robots?
Good news. Andy Clark’s eagerly awaited book Supersizing the Mind is now available. I notice that Clark and Chalmers’ “The Extended Mind” is reprinted here as well. Groovy Dali-esque cover! (Now that I actually have the book in my hands, I see that it is a Dali painting). Something to look forward to will be…
Joel Parthemore’s well considered review of Richard Shusterman’s A Philosophy of Mindfulness and Somaesthetics. The current fashion, in certain circles of cognitive science and philosophy of mind, is to talk up the importance of embodiment and enshrine it in lots of well-considered theories without grasping the irony of pursuing what is, on the surface at…
Here is a slideshow giving an overview of the concept of stigmergy and its applications.
Another journal plug – this time for a special issue of Swarm Intelligence on Swarm Robotics. Check out the announcement on Simon Garnier’s blog.
manwithoutqualities 