Using technology to understand the human brain

Technology and Web 2.0

2010-05-17T08:01:00.001-07:00

As I ponder my life on another birthday... I begin to think about all the events that have happened only a year ago. Never before has the chronological documentation of ones life been so easy to share with so many people (i.e. FaceBook and Twitter). Sharing takes on a new dimension when it lives on the net and so accessible to everyone... globally. In many ways it has changed how we nurture relationships and looks at ourselves.

Back in the day... when you moved away from friends, you would exchange mailing address (street, city and zipcode) and say, "we'll stay in touch". Sure... you exchanged letters for a while, then before you knew it... it would be several months or years until you hear from them again. With today's Web 2.0 tools... the communication is instant and we now have the ability to develop those ties into a personal community or network. Which can be viewed as a snapshot of who we are. If you believe in the old saying "bird of a feather flock together"... then in some way's the people that make up your friends or follow list, are actually a small component of who you are.

By selectively picking and choosing who you friend, they are a part of who and what you identify with (albeit a small component). Somewhere in our lists are the people, events, ideas and dreams of our past, present and future. It would make sense given that we are shaped and molded by the informal (and sometimes formal) learning experiences who have shared in our lives and have made it to our friends list. So... if you want to learn about someone... look at their friends list. With the Library of Congress storing all of our tweets for the future, our lives (and in some ways a small piece of ourselves) have been made immortal by this thing we call the Internet. Okay... before you start rushing off and looking at everyone's friends and follows list to figure out if why they're a Twilight fan, you may want to think about one more thing.

The lists that make us up are encrypted. With one person as the keyholder, the owner. There isn't an algorithm (so far) that has the ability to understand who, what, when, where and how the people that make up your list are relevant to the individual. Just because I follow or have friended someone doesn't mean I subscribe to everything he/she says... but I would like to keep them in my life... even if its only 140 characters at a time.

Thanks for reading.
Sean

Twitter in your brain.

2009-04-21T20:11:00.000-07:00

Okay... given that I've been using twitter to keep up on news and everything that interests me, I just have to share this link with you.

http://wistechnology.com/articles/5959/

It's a combination of hardware and software that allows individuals who are "locked in" (their own bodies) to communicate in one of the fastest growing real-time micro-blogging tools, Twitter.

S:^)

Playing to heal...

2009-01-24T07:52:00.000-08:00

Another excellent example of why I plan to play video games as I get older.

"Can playing the computer game "Tetris" reduce the build-up of Flashbacks for Trauma?"

I could spend days, weeks... or months reading all the articles here. Its really great reading and a great site for all. It does really make me wonder about the physiology of it all...

Enjoy.

VR and your brain...

2008-10-29T21:30:00.000-07:00

I really had to include this link because it helps us think about how we can use technology to treat trauma to our psyche...

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=YXnfsCjthuI&feature=related

Imagine what could do by combining these glasses ...

This glove...

http://www.cwonline.com

Or this complete authoring and emmersive solution..

http://www.eonreality.com

Here's a complete list of some of the devices out there...

http://www.inition.com/

Thanks.

Seeing your brain... from the inside out.

2008-10-20T19:11:00.000-07:00

If you have to see one video about the human brain and its innerworkings... make it this one. It really made me think about how we're put together, the "black box" on our shoulders and our concepts about conciousness/reality.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight.html

Give it a look and I hope you enjoy the video... feel free to visit http://www.ted.com/ where I saw this video. Its an excellent site!

2008-09-30T20:44:00.001-07:00

Listed below are articles/journals supporting the use of online gaming/learning environments to improve brain performance and rehabilitation.

Given this information... listed below are a number of FREE or Low Cost applications available for you to consider. Keep in mind that some of the sites and games are more "entertaining". So, use your best judgement.

More later.

Brain Computer Interface

2008-09-17T21:53:00.000-07:00

Okay... Here's a list of some notable sites and or papers I've run across on the net.

Then I came across BCI (Brain Computer Interface)... with this article.

Brain-controlled computer switches on in a heartbeat

and... it made me think about what research is out there to provide support to individuals with physical disabilities and learning.

Article for individuals who experience a stroke
BCI allows totally paralyzed individuals to communicate
Neurological Rehabilitation

Very interesting.

Sean's HCI blog

2008-09-07T13:28:00.000-07:00

Greetings,

The purpose of this blog is to post and share any information I have discovered regarding any new, developing technology pertaining to the Brain and new/developing Human Computer Interfaces (HCI) to better understand the human brain. With a focus on interfaces that are beneficial to individuals who have experienced some sort of physical brain trauma.

Thanks for reading.
Sean Mendoza