Comments for BitCortex http://bitcortex.com Artificial Intelligence, Neuroscience, Quantitative Finance and the unedited thoughts of a soon-to-be robot Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:27:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on In Defense of Efficient Computing by Ken Dakin http://bitcortex.com/2009/05/25/in-defense-of-efficient-computing/#comment-39 Ken Dakin Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:58:38 +0000 /2009/05/25/in-defense-of-efficient-computing/#comment-39 Rod, I completely agree with your article and always wonder where people are coming from when they happily waste resources just because they can get away with it. Having faster processors is good because we can do lots more work for the same cost (or get faster answers to time critical questions) - not because we can acheive the same result by allowing ourselves to get lazy. I agree that for one-off programs that are run a couple of times it doesn't matter too much - but one-off programs have a tendency to outlive their creators and get modified to create more one-off programs that may also persist. This way lies madness (non-maintainable code that is both inefficient and inconsistent). For production programs we should construct solid frameworks that are as efficient as possible (and as re-useable as possible unless this conflicts with performance to a great extent). Most of the programs and sub-routines I produced over 40+ years were written with efficiency constantly in mind and yet they also had close to zero bugs and needed few changes if any over their very long lifetimes of 20 years or more. I produced instruction set simulators for test/debugging purposes where zero tolerance was the only option (otherwise the products would have been worse than useless and given false positives). I would like to say that I very much enjoy your blog and I am as impressed, as you clearly are, by the awe inspiring JFK speech which always gives me goosebumps each time I see it. My own wish is that world leaders get together soon and jointly commit to setting up a base on Mars by 2030 say. This might also kick start the world economy for years to come and inspire a new generation like nothing else could. My audacious vision is that we should send self assembly robots to carve out an underground base first using only materials to hand (e.g. to fashion most of the 'boring components' out of natural rock for instance - at ever increasing scales) and follow this with a manned expedition to secure and populate the prepared space. Rod,
I completely agree with your article and always wonder where people are coming from when they happily waste resources just because they can get away with it. Having faster processors is good because we can do lots more work for the same cost (or get faster answers to time critical questions) – not because we can acheive the same result by allowing ourselves to get lazy. I agree that for one-off programs that are run a couple of times it doesn’t matter too much – but one-off programs have a tendency to outlive their creators and get modified to create more one-off programs that may also persist. This way lies madness (non-maintainable code that is both inefficient and inconsistent).
For production programs we should construct solid frameworks that are as efficient as possible (and as re-useable as possible unless this conflicts with performance to a great extent). Most of the programs and sub-routines I produced over 40+ years were written with efficiency constantly in mind and yet they also had close to zero bugs and needed few changes if any over their very long lifetimes of 20 years or more. I produced instruction set simulators for test/debugging purposes where zero tolerance was the only option (otherwise the products would have been worse than useless and given false positives).
I would like to say that I very much enjoy your blog and I am as impressed, as you clearly are, by the awe inspiring JFK speech which always gives me goosebumps each time I see it. My own wish is that world leaders get together soon and jointly commit to setting up a base on Mars by 2030 say. This might also kick start the world economy for years to come and inspire a new generation like nothing else could. My audacious vision is that we should send self assembly robots to carve out an underground base first using only materials to hand (e.g. to fashion most of the ‘boring components’ out of natural rock for instance – at ever increasing scales) and follow this with a manned expedition to secure and populate the prepared space.

]]> Comment on AI, Miracles and Energy Efficient Supercomputing by One Genius or Two Normals http://bitcortex.com/2011/06/05/on-accelerating-the-artificial-general-intelligence-timeline/#comment-50 One Genius or Two Normals Tue, 07 Dec 2010 19:48:07 +0000 /?p=5686#comment-50 [...] Furlan recently published On accelerating the Artificial General Intelligence timeline on his blog. He writes: There is also the issue of energy consumption, while a human brain runs on [...] [...] Furlan recently published On accelerating the Artificial General Intelligence timeline on his blog. He writes: There is also the issue of energy consumption, while a human brain runs on [...]

]]> Comment on AI, Miracles and Energy Efficient Supercomputing by David Roberts http://bitcortex.com/2011/06/05/on-accelerating-the-artificial-general-intelligence-timeline/#comment-49 David Roberts Tue, 07 Dec 2010 00:06:16 +0000 /?p=5686#comment-49 Agree with your assessment. A different approach more along the lines your speaking of: low power brain chips...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC7Q-ix_0Po Agree with your assessment. A different approach more along the lines your speaking of: low power brain chips…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC7Q-ix_0Po

]]> Comment on Pragmatic Automated Trading – Part 1 by Duncan Krebs http://bitcortex.com/2008/12/28/pragmatic-automated-trading-part-1/#comment-33 Duncan Krebs Sat, 20 Feb 2010 05:35:45 +0000 http://www.quaternix.com/bitcortex/?p=182#comment-33 Nicely written, just spent the last two years of my life dedicated to building something sustainable and you have a lot of good points. Math however in my opinion is not the only way to create alpha. Good architecture with the ability to monitor a large segment of the market as well as creative web crawling goes a long way. Also clever frameworks for taking like you say complexity in the universe and boiling it down to something simple is where the innovation happens. Will stop by more often, like your points. - Duncan Krebs Nicely written, just spent the last two years of my life dedicated to building something sustainable and you have a lot of good points. Math however in my opinion is not the only way to create alpha. Good architecture with the ability to monitor a large segment of the market as well as creative web crawling goes a long way. Also clever frameworks for taking like you say complexity in the universe and boiling it down to something simple is where the innovation happens. Will stop by more often, like your points. – Duncan Krebs

]]> Comment on Brain-computer interfaces: Input/Output vs Read/Write by Igniting a Brain-Computer Interface Revolution – BCI X PRIZE | Singularity Hub http://bitcortex.com/2010/01/03/brain-computer-interfaces-inputoutput-vs-readwrite/#comment-48 Igniting a Brain-Computer Interface Revolution – BCI X PRIZE | Singularity Hub Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:37:21 +0000 /?p=1048#comment-48 [...] main challenge we would need to overcome to enable augmented learning is that talking to the brain and purposefully altering the brain to implant a memory or a skill are two fund... and we currently lack significant understanding of how to manipulate neuronal topology in a useful [...] [...] main challenge we would need to overcome to enable augmented learning is that talking to the brain and purposefully altering the brain to implant a memory or a skill are two fund… and we currently lack significant understanding of how to manipulate neuronal topology in a useful [...]

]]> Comment on New Year’s Resolutions for 2010 by David Orban http://bitcortex.com/2010/01/01/new-years-resolutions-for-2010/#comment-43 David Orban Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:00:04 +0000 /?p=1017#comment-43 My son @cosmyco also has a NIA. You two should find a way to train together online in VR, reaching two of your '10 goals simultaneously! My son @cosmyco also has a NIA. You two should find a way to train together online in VR, reaching two of your ’10 goals simultaneously!

]]> Comment on Brain-computer interfaces: Input/Output vs Read/Write by Mike http://bitcortex.com/2010/01/03/brain-computer-interfaces-inputoutput-vs-readwrite/#comment-47 Mike Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:28:35 +0000 /?p=1048#comment-47 Nice post. I think we will have a connectome (wiring diagram) of the human brain within 4-7 years. Once we have that, it will become easier to construct better brain computer interfaces. A BCI could communicate with brain cells using optogenetics or perhaps ultrasonic neuromodulation. Modifying consciousness with neurotechnology should be awesome as well (Paradise engineering). I did a post about BCI's and the wireless neurosociety a while back on my own blog that covers related material. Nice post. I think we will have a connectome (wiring diagram) of the human brain within 4-7 years. Once we have that, it will become easier to construct better brain computer interfaces. A BCI could communicate with brain cells using optogenetics or perhaps ultrasonic neuromodulation. Modifying consciousness with neurotechnology should be awesome as well (Paradise engineering). I did a post about BCI’s and the wireless neurosociety a while back on my own blog that covers related material.

]]> Comment on Brain-computer interfaces: Input/Output vs Read/Write by Dr. Yitzhack Schwartz, MD http://bitcortex.com/2010/01/03/brain-computer-interfaces-inputoutput-vs-readwrite/#comment-46 Dr. Yitzhack Schwartz, MD Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:10:45 +0000 /?p=1048#comment-46 Nice (!) up-to-date post Rod, but... even judging by the number of patent filings dealing specifically with BCI it seems that the hype in the media is much bigger than the true hope. The numbers of relevant published US patent applications were merely 23, 11 and 13 for 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. This represents mostly technological imaturity. One may claim that most researchers nowadays believe in open sharing and don't even bother filing for patents. I still think the numbers are so low because nothing much is actually happening and the significant breakthroughs we are all awaiting are yet to come. As the comercial impact is going to be huge I'm certain companies as well as universities will protect the IP by all means and thus IP is a good indicator. BTW, are you aware of a serious (evidence-based) forecast that aims to project when we'll truly be utilizing BCI in big numbers? I'm not referring to the rather 'low-hanging-fruits' but to more complex applications that would revolutionize our lives. I tend to agree they will arrive but later than most 'futurists' predict. Nice (!) up-to-date post Rod, but… even judging by the number of patent filings dealing specifically with BCI it seems that the hype in the media is much bigger than the true hope. The numbers of relevant published US patent applications were merely 23, 11 and 13 for 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. This represents mostly technological imaturity. One may claim that most researchers nowadays believe in open sharing and don’t even bother filing for patents. I still think the numbers are so low because nothing much is actually happening and the significant breakthroughs we are all awaiting are yet to come. As the comercial impact is going to be huge I’m certain companies as well as universities will protect the IP by all means and thus IP is a good indicator. BTW, are you aware of a serious (evidence-based) forecast that aims to project when we’ll truly be utilizing BCI in big numbers? I’m not referring to the rather ‘low-hanging-fruits’ but to more complex applications that would revolutionize our lives. I tend to agree they will arrive but later than most ‘futurists’ predict.

]]> Comment on New Year’s Resolutions for 2010 by Rod Furlan http://bitcortex.com/2010/01/01/new-years-resolutions-for-2010/#comment-42 Rod Furlan Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:40:12 +0000 /?p=1017#comment-42 Actually, I got a NIA instead: http://bit.ly/xtBz Actually, I got a NIA instead: http://bit.ly/xtBz

]]> Comment on New Year’s Resolutions for 2010 by Collin Bockman http://bitcortex.com/2010/01/01/new-years-resolutions-for-2010/#comment-41 Collin Bockman Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:57:49 +0000 /?p=1017#comment-41 "learn how to control a computer using an EEG interface no matter how exhausting it might be" Rod, does this mean you've purchased one of the Emotiv headsets? You'll have to let me know if it is at all useful. “learn how to control a computer using an EEG interface no matter how exhausting it might be”

Rod, does this mean you’ve purchased one of the Emotiv headsets? You’ll have to let me know if it is at all useful.

]]> Comment on Brain-computer interfaces: Input/Output vs Read/Write by Collin Bockman http://bitcortex.com/2010/01/03/brain-computer-interfaces-inputoutput-vs-readwrite/#comment-45 Collin Bockman Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:53:04 +0000 /?p=1048#comment-45 Great post Rod. The thing about I/O, though, is that output is typically much easier than input. We see this with modern robotic prostheses. Getting a person's nervous system to move a robotic arm around is easier to do than getting the person's brain to recognize where the arm is located in space and whether it is touching anything, is hot or cold, etc. I think we will have reliable output devices--things like the "interceptors" in Ghost in the Shell, devices that tell whether a person is recalling or fabricating a "memory," etc--well before we have reliable input devices. Indeed we already have lots of pretty good output devices while inputs like bionic eyes are coming along more slowly and inputs to non-sensory functions such as language are basically still on the drawing board. Not that this is a terrible situation, I think we can get a tremendous amount of usefulness from output devices alone, especially output devices that let us study brain data in real-time. I'm currently obsessed with the research being done on monks who have practiced many thousands of hours of meditation and how their brains are different. Also think output combined with feedback through a traditional computer screen might enable an entirely new method of learning things and, if capable of outputting what a person is imagining in her "mind's eye," a way of helping people learn how to visualize things better. Anxiously waiting for my ACME home brain scanning device. Great post Rod. The thing about I/O, though, is that output is typically much easier than input. We see this with modern robotic prostheses. Getting a person’s nervous system to move a robotic arm around is easier to do than getting the person’s brain to recognize where the arm is located in space and whether it is touching anything, is hot or cold, etc. I think we will have reliable output devices–things like the “interceptors” in Ghost in the Shell, devices that tell whether a person is recalling or fabricating a “memory,” etc–well before we have reliable input devices. Indeed we already have lots of pretty good output devices while inputs like bionic eyes are coming along more slowly and inputs to non-sensory functions such as language are basically still on the drawing board.

Not that this is a terrible situation, I think we can get a tremendous amount of usefulness from output devices alone, especially output devices that let us study brain data in real-time. I’m currently obsessed with the research being done on monks who have practiced many thousands of hours of meditation and how their brains are different. Also think output combined with feedback through a traditional computer screen might enable an entirely new method of learning things and, if capable of outputting what a person is imagining in her “mind’s eye,” a way of helping people learn how to visualize things better. Anxiously waiting for my ACME home brain scanning device.

]]> Comment on Brain-computer interfaces: Input/Output vs Read/Write by Tweets that mention Brain-computer interfaces: Input/Output vs Read/Write « BitCortex -- Topsy.com http://bitcortex.com/2010/01/03/brain-computer-interfaces-inputoutput-vs-readwrite/#comment-44 Tweets that mention Brain-computer interfaces: Input/Output vs Read/Write « BitCortex -- Topsy.com Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:23:07 +0000 /?p=1048#comment-44 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Richard Leis, Jr., Bruce Klein. Bruce Klein said: /2010/01/03/brain-computer-interfaces-inputoutput-vs-readwrite/ [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Richard Leis, Jr., Bruce Klein. Bruce Klein said: /2010/01/03/brain-computer-interfaces-inputoutput-vs-readwrite/ [...]

]]> Comment on Pragmatic Automated Trading – Part 1 by BitCortex » Book Recomendation http://bitcortex.com/2008/12/28/pragmatic-automated-trading-part-1/#comment-32 BitCortex » Book Recomendation Wed, 11 Mar 2009 06:45:08 +0000 http://www.quaternix.com/bitcortex/?p=182#comment-32 [...] Ernest Chan’s Quantitative Trading. In fact, his books cover many topics I had planned for my own Pragmatic Automated Trading [...] [...] Ernest Chan’s Quantitative Trading. In fact, his books cover many topics I had planned for my own Pragmatic Automated Trading [...]

]]> Comment on Pragmatic Automated Trading – Part 1 by BitCortex » Automated Trading Platform Show & Tell http://bitcortex.com/2008/12/28/pragmatic-automated-trading-part-1/#comment-31 BitCortex » Automated Trading Platform Show & Tell Wed, 11 Mar 2009 03:41:30 +0000 http://www.quaternix.com/bitcortex/?p=182#comment-31 [...] I have been receiving a lot of emails asking when will Part 3 of my Pragmatic Automated Trading series be published and I would like to apologize for the delay. The truth is that I haven’t [...] [...] I have been receiving a lot of emails asking when will Part 3 of my Pragmatic Automated Trading series be published and I would like to apologize for the delay. The truth is that I haven’t [...]

]]> Comment on Profit is a side-effect of a job well done by Mikey http://bitcortex.com/2009/04/15/profit-is-a-side-effect-of-a-job-well-done/#comment-38 Mikey Wed, 04 Mar 2009 23:51:47 +0000 /2009/02/05/profit-is-a-side-effect-of-a-job-well-done/#comment-38 I like that quote you said: I feel like the journey is more important than the destination. Profits are nothing but a side-effect of a job well done. Very inspirational I like that quote you said: I feel like the journey is more important than the destination. Profits are nothing but a side-effect of a job well done. Very inspirational

]]> Comment on Profit is a side-effect of a job well done by Rod Furlan http://bitcortex.com/2009/04/15/profit-is-a-side-effect-of-a-job-well-done/#comment-37 Rod Furlan Mon, 09 Feb 2009 03:39:52 +0000 /2009/02/05/profit-is-a-side-effect-of-a-job-well-done/#comment-37 Deciding on what to do next is so hard sometimes. Make sure you are excited about whatever you choose to do next. Life is too short to work on things you don't care about ;) Deciding on what to do next is so hard sometimes. Make sure you are excited about whatever you choose to do next. Life is too short to work on things you don’t care about ;)

]]> Comment on Profit is a side-effect of a job well done by McLarty http://bitcortex.com/2009/04/15/profit-is-a-side-effect-of-a-job-well-done/#comment-36 McLarty Sun, 08 Feb 2009 22:42:04 +0000 /2009/02/05/profit-is-a-side-effect-of-a-job-well-done/#comment-36 I'll take 1000 contracts of that at $0.02! haha. I find myself in the exact same boat. I got laid off...now I'm like, BAM: TONS OF TIME...which way do I sprint first? I’ll take 1000 contracts of that at $0.02! haha. I find myself in the exact same boat. I got laid off…now I’m like, BAM: TONS OF TIME…which way do I sprint first?

]]> Comment on Introducing HotArb.com by McLarty http://bitcortex.com/2009/01/30/introducing-hotarbcom/#comment-35 McLarty Sun, 08 Feb 2009 22:39:14 +0000 /2009/01/30/introducing-hotarbcom/#comment-35 Very cool bud. -Jeffrey McLarty Very cool bud.

-Jeffrey McLarty

]]> Comment on Pragmatic Automated Trading – Part 2 by BitCortex » Pragmatic Automated Trading - Part 1 http://bitcortex.com/2009/01/04/pragmatic-automated-trading-part-2/#comment-34 BitCortex » Pragmatic Automated Trading - Part 1 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:45:34 +0000 /?p=210#comment-34 [...] Next on Part 2: The Scientific-Minimalist-Economic (SME) approach to Automated Trading [...] [...] Next on Part 2: The Scientific-Minimalist-Economic (SME) approach to Automated Trading [...]

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