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View Full Version : MEART - neural/ artificial "lifeform" and artbots


blackstar
05-08-2003, 19:57
this does count as other hardware i think (but best if i include it in general discussion - bit radical really)

MEART is is interesting stuff, if you are interested in interfacing living neurons with artificial input/ output in an attempt to produce a semi living entity capable of “creative” thought.
it incorporates a real time feedback system for 2-way communication between a computer and a cultured neural network. the computer controls a robot arm, and the resulting entity is called a Hybrot.

http://www.wireheading.com/article/meart.jpg

best if i quote:

Quote:
MEART - The Semi Living Artist is a geographically detached, bio-cybernetic project exploring aspects of creativity and artistry in the age of biological technologies and the future possibilities of creating semi living entities. It investigates our abilities and intentions in dealing with the emergence of a new class of beings (whose production may lie far in the future) that may be sentient, creative and unpredictable. Meart takes the basic components of the brain (isolated neurons) attaches them to a mechanical body through the mediation of a digital processing engine to attempt and create an entity that will seemingly evolve, learn and become conditioned to express its growth experiences through "art activity". The combined elements of unpredictability and "temperament" with the ability to learn and adapt, creates an artistic entity that is both dependent, and independent, from its creator and its creator's intentions.

MEART is assembled from:

"Wetware" - cultured neurons from embryonic rat cortex grown over the Multi Electrode Array
"Hardware" - the robotic (drawing) arm
"Software" - that interfaces between the wetware and the hardware

http://www.fishandchips.uwa.edu.au/images/meart/installation/SealedMEALR.jpg
MEART's CPU(!).

http://artbots.org/2003/participants/MEART/

http://www.fishandchips.uwa.edu.au/mearthp.html

http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~ashkoln/meart/

http://www.neuro.gatech.edu/potter/Meart/MEART.html


heres a page detailing other "artbots" - artificial devices which in one way or another, process real life inputs into abstract outputs.

http://artbots.org/2003/participants/

try a google (or other engine) search for these keywords "MEART" "fish and chips" "artbots" "cyborg"

its fascinating, philosophically, to think that in a way, the MEART CPU is living in a matrix style world. brain in a jar..

EJ Will
05-08-2003, 20:07
Wow this stuff has always fascinated me.. gr8 read!

Although it's kinda scary what if they use it to create warmachines.. or am i watching too many films :)

Will

iggy
05-08-2003, 20:27
quite... scary.


has good implications medically tho, u just patch a guys new robitic limbs in through the nerve endings.

then you get folk doing it as self improvement and stuff, and you get biff from bttf 2 :/

and universal soldier type stuff, and robocop

blackstar
05-08-2003, 20:39
did you read the last link, about the artbots?

iggy
05-08-2003, 20:45
yeah, i find that partcularly disturbing :(

blackstar
05-08-2003, 20:59
oh no man :(

didnt mean it to be negative...

EJ Will
05-08-2003, 22:39
no m8 you ain't being negative :) This was a good find, i don't usually hear about this stuff :)

Maybe Deus Ex wasn't a fantasy :eek:... at least we can wear sun glasses in the dark :)

Will

kessellrun
05-08-2003, 23:21
Wonder who'll be first to mod a bloo led onto their nether regions....?

:D

blackstar
06-08-2003, 00:28
heheh i wear sunglasses in the dark anyway :cool:
(well, late evening anyway)

blackstar
06-08-2003, 16:02
now thats a good idea.

Raelrigs
07-08-2003, 03:54
Originally posted by kessellrun
Wonder who'll be first to mod a bloo led onto their nether regions....?

:D

this might be posible sooner than you think looking at this lot

thread link (http://kustompcs.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8861)

lol
Rael

blackstar
07-08-2003, 05:37
the BBC website is full of cool stuff at the mo :D

strange to find two really bizzare technological articles at the same time.. haha, these two pieces could put you in the matrix :eek: