Palm's Jeff Hawkins is building a brain-like AI. He told us why he thinks his life's work is right

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Evaluating the cost of a DDoS attack

Feature Jeff Hawkins has bet his reputation, fortune, and entire intellectual life on one idea: that he understands the brain well enough to create machines with an intelligence we recognize as our own.

If his bet is correct, the Palm Pilot inventor will father a new technology, one that becomes the crucible in which a general artificial intelligence is one day forged. If his bet is wrong, then Hawkins will have wasted his life. At 56 years old that might sting a little.

"I want to bring about intelligent machines, machine intelligence, accelerated greatly from where it was going to happen and I don't want to be consumed I want to come out at the other end as a normal person with my sanity," Hawkins told The Register. "My mission, the mission of Numenta, is to be a catalyst for machine intelligence."

A catalyst, he says, staring intently at your correspondent, "is something which accelerates a reaction by a thousand or ten thousand or a million-fold, and doesn't get consumed in the process."

His goal is ambitious, to put it mildly.

Before we dig deep into Hawkins' idiosyncratic approach to artificial intelligence, it's worth outlining the state of current AI research, why his critics have a right to be skeptical of his grandiose claims, and how his approach is different to the one being touted by consumer web giants such as Google.

AI researcher Jeff Hawkins

The road to a successful, widely deployable framework for an artificial mind is littered with failed schemes, dead ends, and traps. No one has come to the end of it, yet. But while major firms like Google and Facebook, and small companies like Vicarious, are striding over well-worn paths, Hawkins believes he is taking a new approach that could take him and his colleagues at his company, Numenta, all the way.

For over a decade, Hawkins has poured his energy into amassing enough knowledge about the brain and about how to program it in software. Now, he believes he is on the cusp of a great period of invention that may yield some very powerful technology.

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Palm's Jeff Hawkins is building a brain-like AI. He told us why he thinks his life's work is right

Cobham Aviation British Aerospace RJ-100 – Take Off Runway 21 – Perth Airport PER/YPPH – Video

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Cobham Aviation British Aerospace RJ-100 - Take Off Runway 21 - Perth Airport PER/YPPH
Cobham Aviation | British Aerospace RJ-100 | VH-NJH | JTE1996 taking off at Perth Airport PER/YPPH bound for Barrow Island BWB/YBWX Date time filmed: 15/12...

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Cobham Aviation British Aerospace RJ-100 - Take Off Runway 21 - Perth Airport PER/YPPH - Video

Mining Genome Information for New Starting Points in Personalized Cancer Nanomedicine – Video

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Mining Genome Information for New Starting Points in Personalized Cancer Nanomedicine
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Jan Mollenhauer, NanoCAN, University of Southern Denmark (DK) "Clinical Nanomedicine Targeted Medicine", The European CLINAM ETPN Summ...

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Mining Genome Information for New Starting Points in Personalized Cancer Nanomedicine - Video

Hip/low back arthritis; 1.5yrs later, Sandra’s results from stem cell therapy by Dr Harry Adelson – Video

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Hip/low back arthritis; 1.5yrs later, Sandra #39;s results from stem cell therapy by Dr Harry Adelson
Hip/low back arthritis; 1.5yrs later, Sandra #39;s results from stem cell therapy by Dr Harry Adelson http://www.docereclinics.com.

By: Harry Adelson, N.D.

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Hip/low back arthritis; 1.5yrs later, Sandra's results from stem cell therapy by Dr Harry Adelson - Video

Scientists Build Artificial Chromosome

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In what is being called a major step forward in genetic engineering, scientists have built a customized copy of an entire yeast chromosome. Experts say it may lead to a better understanding of how the thousands of genes contained in these packages of genetic material work together in everything from yeast to humans. And it may make it easier to make designer yeast, creating living factories that churn out everything from antibiotics to biofuels.

GeneticistJef Boeke says it started with a coffee shop conversation with a colleague.

I mentioned casually to him that, of course we could make the yeast chromosome if we wanted to, but why on Earth would we want to do that? And he practically literally started jumping up and down with excitement when I told him that, he said.

So Boeke, the colleague, Srinivasan Chandrasegaran and a third partner, Joel Bader, spent the next year discussing how they could engineer the chromosome to make it worth the enormous investment of time and money it would take.

Working at Johns Hopkins University, they decided to create an artificial version of chromosome III, one of the smallest of yeasts 16 chromosomes. It carries about 100 genes. Boeke says scientists have studied it for years, adding It is the sentimental favorite of yeast geneticists.

Block by block

Boeke and his colleagues recreated their favorite chromosome, gene by gene, with synthetic chemical building blocks. They included molecular seams, so they could cut the chromosome apart, take some genes out, add others, rearrange them and stitch it back together in ways that would help them understand how different combinations of genes work together.

Since yeast genes are a lot like ours, Boeke says the research could lead to a better understanding of human genetics.

And perhaps most interesting of all, we think it will be useful for actually improving the strain under certain conditions of growth or production of some useful product, he said.

Different strains of yeast are already used to produce antibiotics, antimalarial drugs, vaccines, biofuels and much more. The ability to custom-tailor chromosomes could give the biotech industry a boost.

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Losing Weight is Exactly What You Think

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CARLSBAD, Calif., March 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --With 67% of the population of the United States and nearly 1.5 billion adults worldwide either overweight or obese, simply eating less and moving more are not working to stem the tide of one of the largest, preventable causes of chronic, life-threatening illnesses.

Weight, as one dimension of optimal health, is the by-product of our behaviors, the choices we have, and the ones we make. These behaviorshow much we eat, exercise, sleep and socializeare based on the way we think about ourselves, others, and about our circumstances. Understanding the need to address this critical element of reaching ones optimal health, Southern California's premier weight loss resort, PFC Fitness Camp welcomes the internationally acclaimed, Dr. Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. onboard as its Chief Behavior Science Consultant.

Dr. Mantell guides the way in wellness and fitness behavior science for many organizations around the country. He currently serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of the International Council on Active Aging, is the Senior Fitness Consultant for Behavioral Science for the American Council on Exercise (ACE), and is at the forefront of promoting optimal health, writing for Huffington Post's "Healthy Living" and as a founding member of "Doctors for a PHIT America." Needless to say, Mantell's place on the current "100 Most Influential People in Health and Fitness" is a well-deserved title.

"It is an genuine privilege to be associated with an esteemed professional group that's as passionate about promoting optimal health as is the PFC Team," states Dr. Mantell. "In the service of advancing the full wheel of wellness for clients, I'm ready to insure that our behavior transformation curriculum is evidenced-based, up-to-the-minute, and has long-term applicability for our clients after they leave our on-site program. Our program is fully about lifestyle habit change, 'THINK-EAT-MOVE', for life."

In collaboration with newcomer, Katie Erreca, Ph.D., who will serve as a member of the behavior science team as a Psychological Consultant and Behavioral Coach, this powerhouse of minds will deliver an unrivaled and unsurpassed weekly workshop dedicated to help clients build mental resiliency and endure behavioral change to secure and maintain optimal health.

The addition of Dr. Mantell and Dr. Erreca to the existing A-team at PFC Fitness Camp, positions the live-in weight loss and optimal health retreat to provide hyper personalized, high-touch, and unmatched learning experiences for individuals preparing to make a positive and lasting shift in their daily lifestyle habits.

About PFC Fitness Camp A world-class weight loss resort nestled in the coastal foothills of Carlsbad, California at Omni La Costa Resort and Spa, PFC Fitness Camp boasts a team of the nation's top experts in the health and wellness industry. Dedicated to providing an unprecedented experience, PFC Fitness Camp offers a comprehensive approach to Behavioral Science, Nutrition and Fitness, for a full wheel of wellness that has resulted in thousands of sustainable, life-transformations for individuals around the world.

For more information please visit us at http://www.premierfitnesscamp.com

Media Inquiries, please contact: Joni Parmer / 858.344.3777 / jonipremierfitnesscamp.com

SOURCE PFC Fitness Camp

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Losing Weight is Exactly What You Think

Behavioral Health Expert Ben Brafman Moderates Discussion on Dual Diagnosis

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Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (PRWEB) March 28, 2014

Behavioral health expert Ben Brafman served as moderator for the March 4, 2014 roundtable discussion, Limited Resources, Unlimited Hope: Addressing the Dual Diagnosis of Mental Illness and Substance Abuse. Held at Park Shore in Hallandale Beach, Florida, the healthcare roundtable discussion brought together experts from various addiction and mental health backgrounds for a lively discussion on the state of mental health and substance abuse treatment and what the future may hold.

Panelists included behavioral health expert Alton Smith, VP Business Development at Destination Hope, Robert Cole, Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Registered Dietician at The Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center, Dr. Bernd Wollschlaeger, MD, FAAFP, FASAM, a board-certified family physician and Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and Paul Gionfriddo, a member of the National Advisory Council to the SAMHSA Center for Mental Health Services.

Panelists covered a variety of the most pressing addiction and mental health issues of the day including medical marijuana, the increasing number of mass shootings and violent episodes across the country, the pharmaceutical industry, the lack of available mental health treatment and the changes in addiction therapy and coordination in the last 20 years.

The field of behavioral health is intertwined with virtually almost every current event of the day, said Brafman. This is an exciting time to be in the field and a terrific time to be discussing its past, present and future. I appreciate the opportunity to have such a lively and in-depth discussion with such distinguished behavioral health experts.

Preceding the panel, journalist and author Brian Bandell spoke about his new book, a science fiction thriller titled, Mute.

Area professionals attended the roundtable event, hoping to get insight from addiction specialists and behavioral health experts. Following the panel, the panelists and moderator took audience questions, leading to a lively debate on what can and should be done in the industry. Participants came from variety of professional industries including: insurance, medicine, real estate, marketing and law.

Anytime we can have a public discussion on mental health or addiction we help break the stigma and hopefully help people bring the discussion to their own homes, said Brafman. That is what is going to move this industry forward.

Brafman, founder and CEO of Destination Hope, Destination Hope: The Womens Program and the Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center is a 20 year veteran of the behavioral health field. He speaks across the country at addiction and mental health conferences as well as to private industry groups on addiction, mental health and behavioral health. His next speech will be at the Foundations in Recovery event in San Diego in April. As a behavioral health expert, Brafman also writes articles on the subject for a variety of health publications. More information on Ben Brafman can be found at http://www.benbrafman.com. Information on Destination Hope and its sister programs can be found at http://www.drugrehabfl.net.

FHI Communications produces frequent roundtable discussions on the most pressing health topics facing our community.

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Behavioral Health Expert Ben Brafman Moderates Discussion on Dual Diagnosis

STEM Science Fair intrigues students, parents

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Children of all ages enjoyed looking at science experiments and presentations, with their parents, at Fort Belvoir Elementary Schools fourth annual Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Science Fair March 19.

Students from all of the schools grade levels were eligible to participate in the fair on a voluntary basis, according to Nancy Rowland, FBES STEM coordinator. Sixth graders were judged on multiple categories and the winners can compete in an April 5 science fair at George Mason University. The rest of the students were not judged for their projects. About 400 students participated in the fair.

Their projects were displayed on multiple levels of the school.

It is nice to see this kind of energy, Rowland said during the fair. We are excited.

Theresa Carhart, FBES principal, said the science fair provided an opportunity for students and Families to see science in action.

FBES has been sponsoring STEM programs for more than four years, according to Rowland. The programs have been funded by two Operation Patriotic STEM grants from the Department of Defense Education

Authority worth more than $3 million.

The four categories that sixth graders were judged on during the fair include chemistry, biology, social behavioral and physics, according to Rowland. Some sixth graders earned first, second, third place recognition and there were some honorable mentions.

The students learned about hypothetical thinking when doing their projects. They would come up with an experiment and then they would hypothesize, or think, about what they expected the outcome of the experiment to be.

Kara Fahy, FBES STEM resource teacher, said the students loved doing the experiments. A lot of them were surprised when the results of their experiments did not match their hypotheses. Fahy liked that the students were taking risks.

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STEM Science Fair intrigues students, parents

Could 'anti-ageing' hormone shorten your life? Higher levels of hormones reduce the effect of the body's natural …

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Albert Einsten College of Medicine in New York carried out study They found 'anti-ageing' hormones may decrease life expectancy The hormones are often used for cosmetic reasons and to look younger Scientists found they may increase risk of disease and cut body's defences

By Luke Garratt

PUBLISHED: 11:00 EST, 28 March 2014 | UPDATED: 11:00 EST, 28 March 2014

Hormone therapy can be medically legitimate, but it can also be used by those wishing to look younger

'Anti-ageing' hormones could in fact shorten your life expectancy.

New research suggests higher levels of hormones can reduce the effect of the body's natural defences against diseases.

The study by scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York found that those in their 90s with naturally low levels of the hormone had a much better chance of living into their 100s than those with above-average levels.

Anti-ageing hormones are a billion dollar industry based on the theory that replenishing hormones, which disappear naturally as you grow older, will restore youth.

The hormones that are administered are mostly human growth hormone (HGH) which makes the body develop another hormone called insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), and dehydroepiandrostersone (DHEA).

Previous studies have found that using HGH, estrogen and other hormones has dangerous side effects like cancer, joint problems and cardiovascular disease.

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Could 'anti-ageing' hormone shorten your life? Higher levels of hormones reduce the effect of the body's natural ...