BU Research Blog

Dear all,

We would like to invite you to our next Software Systems Research Centre seminar given by Prof. Kevin Warwick, University of Reading on “Cyborgs, Robots with Brains and the Turing Test”

Room: KG03,  Kimmeridge block,Talbot Campus: http://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/about/transport_and_maps/maps/pdf/talbot-portrait.pdf

Time: 14:00 – 15:30

Date: Monday, 13-May-2013

Title: Cyborgs, Robots with Brains and the Turing Test

Abstract. In this presentation Kevin will look at the latest results with implant technology (linking human brains with computers), culturing biological neurons and putting them in a robot body (robots with biological brains) and practical Turing Test results (can you tell the difference between a human and a machine from interactive communication?). New experimental data will be presented in each of these areas and participants will be able to see for themselves if they can tell the difference, in a Turing sense, between human and machine dialogue. A brief look will be taken at the future and what all this might mean.

Biography.  Kevin Warwick is Professor of Cybernetics at the University of Reading, England, where he carries out research in artificial intelligence, control, robotics and cyborgs.

Kevin was born in Coventry, UK and left school to join British Telecom, at the age of 16.  At 22 he took his first degree at Aston University, followed by a PhD and research post at Imperial College, London.  He subsequently held positions at Oxford, Newcastle and Warwick Universities before being offered the Chair at Reading, at the age of 33.

As well as publishing 600 research papers, Kevin’s experiments into implant technology led to him being recognised as the world’s first Cyborg and featured as the cover story on the US magazine, ‘Wired’. Kevin has been awarded higher doctorates (DSc) both by Imperial College and the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague. He was presented with The Future of Health Technology Award in MIT, was made an Honorary Member of the Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, and has received The IEE Senior Achievement Medal, the IET Mountbatten Medal and in 2011 the Ellison-Cliffe Medal from the Royal Society of Medicine.  In 2000 Kevin presented the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, entitled “The Rise of the Robots”.

Kevin’s present research involves the invention of an intelligent deep brain stimulator to counteract the effects of Parkinson Disease tremors. The tremors are predicted and a current signal is applied to stop the tremors before they start – this is to be trialed in human subjects. Another project involves the use of cultured/biological neural networks to drive robots around – the brain of each robot is made of neural tissue.

Perhaps Kevin is though best known for his pioneering experiments involving a neuro-surgical implantation into the median nerves of his left arm to link his nervous system directly to a computer to assess the latest technology for use with the disabled. He was successful with the first extra-sensory (ultrasonic) input for a human and with the first purely electronic telegraphic communication experiment between the nervous systems of two humans.

For more info please contact Dr. Raian Ali: rali@bournemouth.ac.uk

We hope you will join us.

 Kind regards,