Stephen Malina
This is my blog. There are many others like it but this one is mine.
Weekly Newsletter
Neuroscience and Neurotech
Hypnosis reaches the parts brain scans and neurosurgery cannot
A good, succint article about the use of hypnosis in real neuroscience. Makes me hope I’m in the 10% of people who are highly suggestible.
Playing 20 Questions with the Mind
Summarizes a new study in which two individuals in isolation played 20 questions using a brain-to-brain interface. This is a big first step towards more usable brain-to-brain interfaces. I dream of the day when two people can put on headsets and communicate with each other at the speed of thought.
Apex: Nexus Arc Book 3
I just finished Apex, the third in a series of books about the emergence of a new technology that allows individuals to interface with each other through a direct brain-to-brain connection. This series, starting with Nexus, provides a convincing portrayal of the effect near-future technology can have on global society. I’m including a link to this book because I think it goes well with the two articles about brain-computer-interfaces.
Paraplegic man walks with own legs again
A man who was paralyzed from the waist down walks again thanks to brain-to-computer technology. While this system has a long way to go before it is ready for the consumer market, this demo shows the potential of the technology.
Design
The Bourne Aesthetic
A discussion of Jason Bourne versus James Bond and how that relates to Apple’s disregard for longevity and maintainability. This is a ramble for sure but I enjoyed the writing style and agree with the author’s conclusions. The highlight of this piece is definitely this passage:
“If you’re already rolling out your “resigned disappointment” face: believe me, I totally understand. I suspect we’ve both dealt with That Guy Who Calls Himself A Designer at some point, that particular strain of self-aggrandizing flake who’s parlayed a youth full of disdain for people who just don’t understand them into a career full of evidence they don’t understand anyone else. "
War
The Art of Influence
A retired general discusses the techniques he employed in the mission to take Musa Qala, Afghanistan.
Other Contributions
Living in a Code Yellow World (Will Baird)
Bruce Schneier, one of my favorite Computer Security figures, discusses the dangers of always being “on alert”.