Poul Anderson describes how a personality might be downloaded:
the subject lies semi-conscious under "electrophasing";
special artificial molecules invade and pervade his bloodstream and cerebrospinal fluid;
they examine him cell by cell;
resonances with external fields recover the data;
hypercomputers interpret and order the findings;
the subject is treated to rid him of the artificial molecules and to return him to normal;
designing, testing, redesigning and retesting produce a program or download of the subject's memories, inclinations, beliefs, prejudices, hopes, outlook, thinking style and awareness;
the download is mapped into the software of a neural network which in turn maps the subject's unique brain.
Although some computer language is used, it is clear that the neural network is an artificial brain, not a digital computer, and that the download is a duplicated personality, not a computer program.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
As always, Poul Anderson managed to make a scientific IMPLAUSIBILITY, in this case the downloading of a human personality into an artificial neural network, at least SEEM possible. Albeit, I remain skeptical of this particular speculation!
Sean
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