HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: richard@paragon.folly.welly.gen.nz (Richard Parry)
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
Subject: Biochips?  Yeeeaaah riiight...
Date: Tue, 01 Sep 92 21:16:58 GMT
Reply-To: parry_r@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz
Distribution: world
Organization: Masterful Enterprises UnLimited.


In article <30AUG199218471820@zeus.tamu.edu> jrs2556@zeus.tamu.edu writes:

 > 
 >      I've heard about " biochips " -- computer chips that use actual
 > living cells and use them to store ridiculously large quantities of
 > memory.  I've also looked for material on them, and can't find any
 > information ANYWHERE !  
 >      Anybody out there know where I could find such info ? :)

Hm.  You can find info on such things in some of the best science
fiction around... ;)  I think someone's been pulling your chain...

I'm sure that they're doing experiments and popadoms and shit with
biological stuff, but it ain't been released yet.  If it had, do you
think it would be so hard to find info on?  It'd be the latest
breakthrough! 8-)

Similar to my flatmate who said recently (after seeing Back to the
Future II) that they had hoverboards in the States.  She had sent a
friend over there to have a look.  He couldn't find any... ;)  I tried
explaining to her about som of the less well known laws of physics - you
know, gravity and shit.

She wants to kill the person who told her... ;)

Later!
From: Jeremiah.Blatz@dartmouth.edu (Jeremiah Blatz)
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
Subject: Re: Devices
Date: 24 Aug 92 01:03:21 GMT
 <1992Aug15.170252.7956@dartvax.dartmouth.edu>  
 <1613@sousa.ltn.dec.com>
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

In article <1613@sousa.ltn.dec.com>
gorton@blorf.ltn.dec.com (Richard Gorton) writes:

> Sony "compute-man" systems capable of storing terabytes of information
> 	  on non-volatile media (optical disk, flash memory, etc.)

Did anyone else read that article in the "New York Times" a while ago
about that guy who made the terrabyte obtical drive using a cube
(that's right kids, it was *3D* storage) of photo-sensitive plastic and
two or three lasers of different colors?
It worked something like this:
To write, the two lasers would intersect at a certain point in the
block. Where they intersected, the cube would turn a different color.
To read one or another laser would be shined on that spot and one could
determine (I don't remember exactly how) if the spot was clear or
colored.
The only problem was that the data would only last for a few
minutes(?), or a few months if the cube was cyongenically frozen.

Jeremiah
jerbl@dartmouth.edu
Organization: Freshman, CIT general, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
Date: Wed,  2 Sep 1992 15:02:59 -0400 
From: Geoffrey Spear <gs32+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: Monomyl wire : Is it possible?

	I think it would be possible to create a strong monomolecular fiber
that could cut like that found in SF, but the problem is creating the
bonds between the molecules such that they are strong enough not to
immediately break.  I'm a Computer Engineering major, though, so I
wouldn't know about such things :)
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
From: csmith@blackplague.gmu.edu (Blackplague)
Subject: Re: Brain is READ ONLY
Followup-To: alt.cyberpunk.tech
Organization: George Mason University-IDO
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 14:36:21 GMT

> In article <8H88PB3w165w@angus.mi.org>, thx1138@angus.mi.org (Scott Abfalter) writes:
 >
 >RE: Brain is READ-ONLY 
 >
 >   What sort of drivel is that?  How do you explain memory?
 [stuff deleted]

Absolute drivel.  Not only is the brain writable, but it is REwritable and
programable.  Take for an example the aquisition of a language.  When a
person learns a language, a path is created for this language.  If a second
language is learned later in life, the original path is modified to include
the new language.  If instead, the person is taught two languages
simultaniously from childhood, two seperate paths are created, one for each
language.

On another note, scientists working with canaries have discovered a VERY
interesting fact.  When a canary learns a new song (from being introduced
to a new species of canary) not brain of the canary GROWS a new section to
deal with the new song.  Yes, GROWS.  New brain cells are created.  This
flies in the face of all previous experiences in brain developement.

Blackplague
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
Subject: Re: Devices
From: daniel.moran@pcb.batpad.lgb.ca.us (Daniel Moran) 
Date: 30 Aug 92 20:56:00 GMT
Reply-To: daniel.moran@pcb.batpad.lgb.ca.us (Daniel Moran) 
Distribution: world
Organization: The Batchelor Pad PCBoard ~ Long Beach, CA ~ +1 310 494 8084

JB>Did anyone else read that article in the "New York Times" a while ago
JB>about that guy who made the terrabyte obtical drive using a cube
JB>(that's right kids, it was *3D* storage) of photo-sensitive plastic and
JB>two or three lasers of different colors?

JB>The only problem was that the data would only last for a few
JB>minutes(?), or a few months if the cube was cyongenically frozen.

Check out the current issue of Byte Magazine. Lengthy and very
interesting section on optical devices, including optical storage
devices that are not far away from being practical.
---
 . OLX 2.1 TD . Press any key to continue or any other key to quit
                                                                                                                         
Organization: Freshman, CIT general, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1992 10:37:41 -0400 
From: Geoffrey Spear <gs32+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: Brain is READ ONLY
	<0095FC68.3D1E9320@Msu.oscs.montana.edu>

	Personally, I like Plato's philosophy... BUT to actually "remember"
what you already know in your mind at birth (or whenever...), there has
to be SOME area in your brain that stores what parts of your knowledge
you can access.  So at least that part of your brain is writeable, even
if the rest is Read-Only.
From: z_rasmusseam@ccsvax.sfasu.edu
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
Subject: Re: Monomyl wire : Is it possible?
Date: 2 Sep 92 15:48:06 GMT
Organization: Stephen F. Austin State University

About that mono-filament wire... Yes, its possible.  Well, will be anyway...
Think of it this way... WAY back in feudal Japan they had swords that were
made of folded carbon.  They folded those swords as many as 400 times.  That
gave you an edge on the sword that was approximately 1 atom thick.  Pretty
close to monomolecular?  I think so.  As to it actually being in the form
of a wire?  Well, not for a bit yet, but as a Chem Major, I can tell you that
there is stuff out there that will eventually yield that kind of strength, but
as you said, the stuff in the lit. is a) a ways off or b) A little over-rated.
Now if you are creating some edged weapon instead of a mono-wire from which
to dangle worry free from... It could be done, but the technology or rather
the methods that were used in fuedal Japan have been lost/guarded and aren't
currently/readily available.  Ie, about the best we can do now-adays is 200
times.  That gives you an edge thats ~1.5-2.5 atoms thick... All of this is
coming from memory, but I can go dig the lit if necessary...  Btw, I personally
have a carbon-steel dagger that is folded 45 times and well, it goes through
a stack of 5 quarters without dulling.  Pretty neat huh?

Pasta...
Adam "Quiverclaw" Rasmussen
From: merlin@fennec.sccsi.com (Lorne Naff)
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
Subject: Re: Jacking In
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 92 19:16:12 CST
Organization: Fennec Information Systems, The World View Magazine

osendai@well.sf.ca.us (Mark Pesce) writes:

> 
> 
> 
> With all of this talk about jacking-in, I think it would be a good
> time to mention something that I've been warned of by Dave Warner,
> a medical neuroscientist at Loma Linda Medical School:\
> 
> The brain is READ-ONLY device.
> 
> If you attempt to send signals _into_ it, certain cellular
> structures are disrupted (no matter how careful you are) and
> the brain starts decoding oncogenes (cancer-causing genes).
> 
> Evidentally some government (I couldn't guess which one) did quite
> a bit of work on this over the last two decades, and found that
> their test subjects got cancer.  Rapidly.
> 
> So, not to rain on your parade, but neural input is out.
> For the moment.
> 
> Play safe...
> 
> Mark Pesce
> Ono-Sendai Corporation

  Mark, are you talking about the braile-reader implants for the blind? ( 
in the 70's, the had a visual implant that wouldd translate signals to an 
8X8 grid on the optic center of the brain.  They used it to make it 
easier for the patient to read braile)  I hope this isn't what you're 
talking about, or neural implants of ANY use to use for Cspace will be 
out. 

/// &///


--------
Lorne Naff  <merlin@fennec.sccsi.com>
Fennec Information Systems and The World View Magazine 
11504 Hughes Rd. Suite 131 - Houston, Texas USA 77089 - (713) 479-3107 Data
From: dewind@acsu.buffalo.edu (Idbil Fubar)
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
Subject: Re: Monomyl wire : Is it possible?
Date: 2 Sep 92 17:19:59 GMT
Organization: UB

z_rasmusseam@ccsvax.sfasu.edu writes:

>Ie, about the best we can do now-adays is 200
>times.  That gives you an edge thats ~1.5-2.5 atoms thick... All of this is
>coming from memory, but I can go dig the lit if necessary...  

Not too bad!  Granted that Monomollecular is quite a ways off, as with many
things we will probably just keep getting better as we go on.  Remember 
machines as ENIAC and UNIVAC1?  If people gave up on computers back then
because they were too slow and unweildy we wouldn't have shit for the 
super computer systems that we have today.  All it takes is persistance on the
part of lots o' scientists and enthusiasts to make a technical advancement.
  
>Btw, I personally
>have a carbon-steel dagger that is folded 45 times and well, it goes through
>a stack of 5 quarters without dulling.  Pretty neat huh?

Damn!  Where could I get my hands on one of those!

-Id
From: megazone@rivdell.UUCP (Megazoner)
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
Subject: Re: Problems with Spinal "breakout boxes"
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 92 19:56:27 CDT
Organization: Rivendell BBS / Hou, TX. / +1 713 941 2236

tripstr@cats.ucsc.edu (Christopher Todd Courtois) writes:

> 	One really appealing aspect of this technology is that once
> 	implanted, it is completely passive. That is, in theory,
> 	your spinal cord should function normally as long as
> 	the control disk allows all nerve impulses to pass through.
> 	Disengaging from the body then becomes as simple as
> 	rerouting body-maintenance functions to a host computer,
> 	and routing information directly to the brain.

 Oh yeah, sounds great. Let's all get one...problem is, how about a 
simple routine that'll cut off yer forebrain while the rest of you 
suddenly goes on a murderous rage...or just shuts off...

 I wouldn't mind some enhancements, like a bonephone, but to willingly 
give over my body to a computer, even part time, gives me the willies. 
There has to be a better way.

     MI

--
megazone@rivdell.UUCP (Megazoner)
Rivendell BBS -*- Houston, TX -*- +1(713)941-2236
From: pierson@aludra.usc.edu (Steve Pierce)
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
Subject: Re: Devices
Date: 31 Aug 1992 09:55:51 -0700
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: aludra.usc.edu

In article <23.862.uupcb@pcb.batpad.lgb.ca.us> daniel.moran@pcb.batpad.lgb.ca.us (Daniel Moran)  writes:
>>Did anyone else read that article in the "New York Times" a while ago
>>about that guy who made the terrabyte obtical drive using a cube
>>(that's right kids, it was *3D* storage) of photo-sensitive plastic and
>>two or three lasers of different colors?
>
>>The only problem was that the data would only last for a few
>>minutes(?), or a few months if the cube was cyongenically frozen.
>
>Check out the current issue of Byte Magazine. Lengthy and very
>interesting section on optical devices, including optical storage
>devices that are not far away from being practical.

August 1992 issue of Electronic Musician had an article on Optical RAM...or
ORAM.  According to the article, it is possible to store a terabyte of info
in a bloack the size of a sugar cube.  The substance is non-volitile, and 
ultra-fast.  Work on this is being done at UC Irvine and UC San Diego (Again,
according to the article...)

STEVE PIERCE
THE AUDIO MERCENARY
pierson@usc.edu
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
From: jwtlai@jeeves.uwaterloo.ca (Jim W "GrimJim" Lai)
Subject: Re: Biotechnology - Computers
Keywords: Biotechnology,Computers,Nanotechnology
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 07:59:08 GMT

In article <30AUG199218471820@zeus.tamu.edu> jrs2556@zeus.tamu.edu (John Su) writes:
>     I've heard about " biochips " -- computer chips that use actual
>living cells and use them to store ridiculously large quantities of
>memory.  I've also looked for material on them, and can't find any
>information ANYWHERE !  

The most I've heard of is the culturing of a small number of neurons on a
silicon substrate.  The biochip you mention is still hypothetical.  We still
have a while yet to go.  They are mentioned in "Count Zero" by Gibson, and
no doubt elsewhere in fiction.
From: joelong@romeo.caltech.edu (Long, Joseph Louis)
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
Subject: Re: Devices
Date: 29 Aug 92 20:04:00 GMT
Organization: California Institute of Technology
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In article <20.862.uupcb@pcb.batpad.lgb.ca.us>, daniel.moran@pcb.batpad.lgb.ca.us (Daniel Moran) writes...
>JB>Did anyone else read that article in the "New York Times" a while ago
>JB>about that guy who made the terrabyte obtical drive using a cube
>JB>(that's right kids, it was *3D* storage) of photo-sensitive plastic and
>JB>two or three lasers of different colors?
> 
>JB>The only problem was that the data would only last for a few
>JB>minutes(?), or a few months if the cube was cyongenically frozen.

A few minutes.... thats a long time for computers....  just need to make
"refresh" circuit.

-joe   *** I take no responsiblity for anything I do... just shove it!
From: alex@retina.anatomy.upenn.edu ( Alex)
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
Subject: Re: My thoughts
Date: 1 Sep 92 15:23:58 GMT
Organization: University of Pennsylvania

In article <MecfVjW00VosM3JV1a@andrew.cmu.edu>, cc79+@andrew.cmu.edu (Carey D. Clevenger) writes:

|> The point is this: your mind CAN remember what things look like. But,
|> the reliability is dependent on how vivid your imagination is. Why not
|> control the visiual images through the optic nerve? That's what it was
|> designed for, and we understand MUCH BETTER how IT works than we do the
|> brain. True, it will get messy to place branch-wires off of the optic
|> nerve, but it will be much easier than replicating amino acids and then
|> worrying where to send them. 
|> 
|> Well, that's my belief anyway.
|> 
|> Carey

	That was what I was suggesting, but the only problem is that the optic nerve doesn't just carry information from every single photoreceptor--it only carries the important stuff, boiled down from receptors grouped together, reports changes in light, contrast, etc...
	Rather than plugging into the nerve, it would probably be more feasible to go one step back and project onto the retina. A clear implant in the middle of the light path--some sort of LCD for your heads-up--would allow light through for everyday stuff when needed, while the info on the "display" would always be in focus.
-- 

		  --==>> Alex Shrom <==--
		alex@retina.anatomy.upenn.edu
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
From: sunthej@alleg.edu (Jake Blues)
Subject: Re: n-Dimensional Cyber Space
Reply-To: sunthej@alleg.edu
Organization: Allegheny College
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 15:12:13 GMT

In article <3525@bcstec.ca.boeing.com> hall@bcstec.ca.boeing.com (Robert  
J. Hall) writes:
>Here's something I've been a bit curious about since first reading about  
>the concept of 'Cyberspace' some years ago. Since the human brain can  
>(in theory) be linked directly to the network, will the mind be capable  
>of dealing with more than three computer generated spacial dimensions?  
>(I'm not talking about converting the fourth and higher spacial  
>dimensions into some other form, such as color, texture, sound, size,
>etc. I mean an actual 4th, 5th, 6th,... and so on, spacial dimensions.)
> 
> Does anyone have any insights on this?

	Actually, I have very little insight into this, although it has  
the potential to be a helluva lot more interesting then most of the BS I  
see here.  I have a question for you though- What exactly would constitute  
a fourth+ spacial dimension?

							Jake
From: merlin@fennec.sccsi.com (Lorne Naff)
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
Subject: Re: Problems with Spinal "breakout boxes"
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 92 16:36:15 CST
Organization: Fennec Information Systems, The World View Magazine

megazone@rivdell.UUCP (Megazoner) writes:

> 
>  Oh yeah, sounds great. Let's all get one...problem is, how about a 
> simple routine that'll cut off yer forebrain while the rest of you 
> suddenly goes on a murderous rage...or just shuts off...
> 
>  I wouldn't mind some enhancements, like a bonephone, but to willingly 
> give over my body to a computer, even part time, gives me the willies. 
> There has to be a better way.
> 
>      MI
> 
> --
> megazone@rivdell.UUCP (Megazoner)
> Rivendell BBS -*- Houston, TX -*- +1(713)941-2236

   Awww, come one Jaosn, don't be a wimp! ;)
   But seriously, I can think of some seriuos nasty that is NON-cyber 
that this thingie could do.  I was in a wreck in second grade, messed up 
my back, I'm still seeing a chiropractor off-and-onn now almost 10 years 
later ( other problems didn't help ).  If somone was injured here, our 
wonderful this slice of silicon that acts as a neural intraface could 
slice the cord pretty easily.  Jacking out, for ever...


--------
Lorne Naff  <merlin@fennec.sccsi.com>
Fennec Information Systems and The World View Magazine 
11504 Hughes Rd. Suite 131 - Houston, Texas USA 77089 - (713) 479-3107 Data
From: jwtlai@jeeves.uwaterloo.ca (Jim W "GrimJim" Lai)
Subject: Re: Brain is READ ONLY
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 10:37:53 GMT

In article <1992Aug31.221805.23819@nntp.uoregon.edu> rubout@comix.cs.uoregon.edu (Matthew Rubin) writes:
>Check out _Snow Crash_ by Neal Stephenson.
[...]

>The crux of it is that since we are all human we have
>the same hardware (brain) programmable by a universal machine language (PROM). 
>This is what was spoke prior to the Babel incident.  After Babel, language 
>diverged (ie. was erased) and humans spoke many different languages.  In order
>to communicate another level had to be added on top of the machine level.

Interesting story concept.  But I would challenge the assertion that we all
have the same "hardware".  :)  Seriously.  As we have seen, the hormonal bath
that brains are constantly seeped in has undeniable effects on development of
pathways.  Add in other environmental factors, and it would be unlikely for
two people to end up with the same "hardware".

But, hey, read up sometime on how neural nets converge upon solutions.  They
are generally not guaranteed to reach optimal solutions.  This has interesting
consequences.
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
From: cjudd@esk.compserv.utas.edu.au (Craig Thomas Judd)
Subject: Re: Silicon & people
Organization: University of Tasmania at Launceston
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 92 00:52:10 GMT

In article <webXuum00VpGIkc3xU@andrew.cmu.edu>, "Jon C. Slenk" <angst+@CMU.EDU> writes:
>
>There was a news item last night which said that some researchers
>somewhere had come up with some information that made them think the
>body's immune system is naturally designed to fight off silicone implants.
>Or something like that. :-)
>
>Maybe that means we'd have a tougher time of the idea of directly
>implanting hardware in people.
>
>-Jon.

Who said anything about silicon (or silicone) implants? Titanium is a metal that
the body will graft around (they use it for tooth implants), and one of the 
best materials to make nanotech devices out of would be carbon, not silicon.
I don't think choice of material is going to restrict us much. Anyway, if you
needed a silicon chip-board implanted somewhere, you could always coat it in a
more bodily-acceptable substance.

Yours hypothetically;

-- 
   \/\ "Turn out the lights! Or do you want everyone for miles around to /\/
====\/\      know about our secret base?!" - Colonel, AKIRA Book 2      /\/====
=====\/\  WANT ANY MANGA ARTWORK DONE? Email me! (NO Anthropomorphs!)  /\/=====
      \/\   cjudd@esk.compserv.utas.edu.au      a.k.a. KUROTO Shiro   /\/
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
Subject: Re: Devices
From: daniel.moran@pcb.batpad.lgb.ca.us (Daniel Moran) 
Date: 29 Aug 92 02:23:00 GMT
Reply-To: daniel.moran@pcb.batpad.lgb.ca.us (Daniel Moran) 
Distribution: world
Organization: The Batchelor Pad PCBoard ~ Long Beach, CA ~ +1 310 494 8084

JB>Did anyone else read that article in the "New York Times" a while ago
JB>about that guy who made the terrabyte obtical drive using a cube
JB>(that's right kids, it was *3D* storage) of photo-sensitive plastic and
JB>two or three lasers of different colors?

JB>The only problem was that the data would only last for a few
JB>minutes(?), or a few months if the cube was cyongenically frozen.

Check out the current issue of Byte Magazine. Lengthy and very
interesting section on optical devices, including optical storage
devices that are not far away from being practical.
---
 . OLX 2.1 TD . Press any key to continue or any other key to quit
From: colin@Cayman.COM (Colin "Atilla" Steele)
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
Subject: Re: Please allow me to introduce myself--
Date: 29 Aug 92 01:19:54 GMT
Organization: Cayman Systems Inc., Cambridge, MA
In-reply-to: moon!cyberden!verge@well.sf.ca.us's message of 28 Aug 92 03:05:01 GMT


Huh?  As they say on the "viscious edge of no rules, morality sucks,
and life is only on the edge":  Get a life.  No, let me rephrase that.
Get a fuckin' life.

Once again, I'm asking myself, why do I read this group? ;^)
--


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Colin Steele     | Cayman Systems, 26 Landsdowne St., Cambridge, MA 02139
 colin@cayman.com | (617) 494-1916 x209 | applelink D0523 | Fax (617) 494-9270
From: thx1138@angus.mi.org (Scott Abfalter)
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
Subject: Brain is READ ONLY
Date: 28 Aug 92 16:54:54 GMT
Reply-To: thx1138@angus.mi.org
Organization: North Star BBS


RE: Brain is READ-ONLY 

   What sort of drivel is that?  How do you explain memory?  Electical
   signals could be converted into electrochemical signals and fed 
   along our normal sensory routes.  

   Sure, I'll accept you can't plug an RS-232 cable into your cerebral
   cortex but isn't it a bit ridiculous to say that the brain is 
   READ-ONLY (thus incapable of ever gaining new data)?  

   C'mon.. 


THX

--
Scott Abfalter (thx1138@angus.mi.org)
North Star BBS, Royal Oak, MI --------------------------------------------+-
From: shaun@octel.com (Eine keine Nichtmusik)
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech
Subject: Re: Input Devices
Date: 23 Aug 92 22:58:53 GMT
Organization: Octel Communications Inc., Milpitas Ca.

In article <1992Aug18.143756.1@qucdntri.ee.queensu.ca> morton@qucdntri.ee.queensu.ca writes:
>Digital cellular communications standards are in the midst of being established 
>in North America. (I believe there is a standard in Europe, that is currently
>being phased in.) 

Do you know if the FCC has lottered off all the cellular phone MSAs and RSAs
in the USA yet?  
-- 
shaun@octel.com  ||  They lie, lie, lie and over simplify, I can't stannum; 
                 ||  They give me the fear.
@Man:  Hey...  You look like a floating disembodied head!
Beej:  Don't we all?
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.tech