From: langston@memstvx1.memst.edu (Mark C. Langston)
Newsgroups: alt.cyberspace
Subject: Re: New senses and Geordi's Eyes
Date: 19 Nov 92 02:07:44 -0600
Distribution: world
Organization: Memphis State University

In article <1992Nov18.185521.1@hamp.hampshire.edu>, jnewman@hamp.hampshire.edu writes:
> Well, I have to agree that the eyes do take in huge amounts of data and process
> it remarkably well.  I think the human brain, though, can work at a much higher
> level than it generally does.  

More efficiently?  Possibly.  Differently? Definitely.  What do you mean,
  however, by 'higher level'?

> 
> In the article about the direct neural-visual implant, the thing that most
> sparked my imagination was the possibility for not only construction of
> replacement optical sensors, but addition of them as well.  Why should we see
> in only three dimensions? 

Well, this could be because this is all we can comprehend.  If you have
  ever tried to visualize a hypercube, you'll know what I mean.  Besides,
  hyperdimensional objects are only useful as information frameworks, and
  most probably not as percepts themselves, since we are contained to 3space
  perceptions.


 With this technology, especially in cyberspace, we
> can see in all directions at once and process that information visually (one of
> the most sensitive and accurate senses we have available)

  I seriously doubt we would be able to process that much information in
parallel.  At best, we could adapt to quick serial switches between various
aspects, e.g., driving, loking in rear-view mirror, looking in side-view
mirror, looking down at dash, up at road, ad nauseum.  Physically, I do not
think it would be possible to increase our informational capacity due to
the structuring of the visual cortex.  I think it would be equally improbable
that a 360 degree field-of-view would be particularly advantageous.  Besides,
some people have problems finding their way in 3space with only a limited
FOV.  Imagine them in your scenario!

> 
> The technology talked about here could obviously be used for other senses as
> well.  Think about a piece of software that was know to have a fault in its
> code because it didn't taste right.  

This is a good idea.  (however, the idea of eating my software doesnt appeal
to me...a lot of it leaves a bad taste in my mouth to begin with... :) )

> 
> And why stop there?  Why not continue past our original five (six?) senses? 
> After all, we have lots of spare grey matter, why not use it?  We're humans. 
> We adapt.  We will learn to use new senses as easily as we can use those we now
> have.
> 

um... not to be picky, but we don't have a lot of 'spare' grey matter.  It's
in use, and often doing double duty.  This is a common fallacy, and I always
try my best to squash this meme before it replicates...  However, we are
quite adaptive.  We are also quite genetically predisposed to using the
senses we already have.  It may be a more realistic goal to come up with
novel uses of our existing senses (e.g., the taste example above).

> I'm currently reading Benedikt's "Cyberspace".  Interesting stuff, and
> interestingly enough, I find Saint Gibson to be the leat visionary of all the
> authors.
> 
>                                 Write me mail.
> 				 Grendel
> 

I haven't picked this up (unfortunately, my several impossible things list is
full up with work and school projects right now, but I'm gonna get to it), but
it sounds quite interesting.  

On the topic of cyberspace theories/books, has anyone come across any ref's
re: cyberspace and  ..... a) psychology, b) artificial intelligence,
c) artificial life (particularly autonomous agents in hyperspace),
d) information representation/retrieval/indexing in hyperspace?  Please
tell me.

thanks,

-- 
+--------8<------Cut Here------8<------Cut Here------8<------Cut Here---------+
  Mark C. Langston   |  "Secrecy is the beginning of tyranny."                 
  Psychology Dept.   |  "Always listen to experts.  They'll tell you what can't
  Memphis State U.   |     be done, and why.  Then do it."                      
      "Pftph!"       |           -From the notebooks of Lazarus Long         
Newsgroups: alt.cyberspace