AUSTIN, Texas -- As a plane with a Grumpy Cat flag flew overhead, courtesy of Friskies, the Technorati flooded into panel discussions and happy hour spots at the annual tech festival South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, on Sunday.
Top tech influencers pondered immortality and mind cloning. FireChat, an app that lets smartphone users connect via mobile chat even without a cellular connection, was another hot topic. Here's a look at the most notable trending topics Sunday at the tech jamboree.
Off-the-grid mobile chat
No cell service? No problem.
An app called FireChat uses phone signals such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to connect to other users' phones and enable chats without any network connection. The app, created by a San Francisco startup called Open Garden, debuted in 2012 and was a hit last August at the Burning Man festival in Black Rock, Nevada, where cell phone service is scarce.
It links people via what it calls a "peer-to-peer mesh network," connecting through phone signals rather than a network. The range is about 90 feet but the connection can jump from phone to phone if there's a crowd. It's software-only, says co-founder and CEO Micha Benoliel. Currently the app supports public group chats and hashtags; private messaging is coming.
The app, which is a finalist for South by Southwest's innovation awards, has 5 million users and has been used by tens of thousands of people in India and the Philippines at political protests. As a new startup, Benoliel says his first time at South by Southwest has been positive. "The best surprise has been going to parties and having people asking how they can use FireChat for their event," he says.
Transgender and beyond in tech
United Therapeutics CEO Martine Rothblatt, who considers herself a "transhumanist," discussed advances in "mind cloning" in a keynote Sunday. She said she believes people will one day be able to clone their cognitive functions, and detailed her biotech company's advances in cloning organs and making the process of transferring organs from donor to recipient more efficient.
Rothblatt urged everyone to question authority and noted that in other eras she might not have survived as a transgender person.
Excerpt from:
Hottest tech at South by Southwest: FireChat, 'mind cloning'
- Human Genetic Enhancements - A Transhumanist Perspective - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- TRANSHUMANIST AGENDA: Would You Live For 10,000 Years? - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- What If You Could Live for 10,000 years? Q&A with Transhumanist Zoltan Istvan - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- We Are Change Luke ~ Links to Transhumanist Positivity & NWO? Feb 4 2015 - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- TRANSHUMANIST AGENDA: The End of Religion and Review of Lab Rats - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- 10 Insights from The Transhumanist Wager, with Zoltan Istvan - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- DAVE HODGES: THE MASS POISONING OF THE PLANET IS TO FULFILL A TRANSHUMANIST AGENDA - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- TRANSHUMANIST AGENDA: Eliminate Suffering? - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Transhumanist Propaganda as Entertainment - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- TRANSHUMANIST AGENDA: Lab Rats - Rise of the Secret Soldiers - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Vote Zoltan Istvan - Transhumanist U.S. Presidential Candidate For 2016 - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Transhumanist - Video - February 12th, 2015 [February 12th, 2015]
- Transhumanist Values - Nick Bostrom's Home Page - February 15th, 2015 [February 15th, 2015]
- Transhumanist Declaration - Humanity+ | Elevating the ... - February 15th, 2015 [February 15th, 2015]
- Creative AI: The robots that would be painters - February 16th, 2015 [February 16th, 2015]
- Scientists propose 'cortical modem' implant to give you Terminator vision - February 17th, 2015 [February 17th, 2015]
- DARPA's 'Cortical Modem' will plug straight into your BRAIN - February 17th, 2015 [February 17th, 2015]
- TRANSHUMANIST AGENDA: Androgyny and the Antichrist - Video - February 18th, 2015 [February 18th, 2015]
- Alfred Webre:Draco, CIA drive child sacrifice in Religions, Gov, Schools, Wars-Transhumanist Agenda - Video - March 5th, 2015 [March 5th, 2015]
- Transhumanist Propaganda - Video - March 5th, 2015 [March 5th, 2015]
- Transhumanist Extermination Plan, Machine Merge - SteveQuayle - AJShow QC - Video - March 5th, 2015 [March 5th, 2015]
- Africa, Shamanism and The Transhumanist Future with Kilindi Iyi - Video - March 5th, 2015 [March 5th, 2015]
- Theorist to Theorist - Godrules Pt 1 - Transhumanist Confusion - Video - March 5th, 2015 [March 5th, 2015]
- Transhumanist Agenda Revealed - Video - March 5th, 2015 [March 5th, 2015]
- Ask Warren Ellis Your Craziest Questions About The Future - March 10th, 2015 [March 10th, 2015]
- Chappie Satanic Illuminati Transhumanist Agenda EXPOSED - Video - March 12th, 2015 [March 12th, 2015]
- Reply To Face Like The Sun Transhumanist video - Video - March 14th, 2015 [March 14th, 2015]
- Apple Watch Exposed! NWO Conspiracy to Popularize Useless Product for Promoting Transhumanist Agenda - Video - March 14th, 2015 [March 14th, 2015]
- Trending at SXSW: Mind cloning, off-the-grid messaging - Quincy Herald-Whig | Illinois & Missouri News, Sports - March 16th, 2015 [March 16th, 2015]
- Mind cloning, off-the-grid chats & ambient mobile alerts lead chatter at South by Southwest - March 16th, 2015 [March 16th, 2015]
- Tranhumanist CEO Wants to Help You Live Forever - March 16th, 2015 [March 16th, 2015]
- Humans: The Next Platform - March 18th, 2015 [March 18th, 2015]
- Satanic Illuminati Super Soldier Captain America & MK Ultra Transhumanist Winter Soldier EXPOSED 108 - Video - March 20th, 2015 [March 20th, 2015]
- TRANSHUMANIST AGENDA Androgyny and the Antichrist 720p - Video - March 20th, 2015 [March 20th, 2015]
- TRANSHUMANIST AGENDA Eliminate Suffering 720p - Video - March 20th, 2015 [March 20th, 2015]
- The Everyday Transhumanist | Solve all the Problems! - March 22nd, 2015 [March 22nd, 2015]
- Chappie Satanic Illuminati Transhumanist Agenda EXPOSED 1080p - Video - March 22nd, 2015 [March 22nd, 2015]
- Transhumanist Advert ~ Usain Bolt March 19 2015 - Video - March 22nd, 2015 [March 22nd, 2015]
- TRANSHUMANIST AGENDA The End of Religion and Review of Lab Rats 720p - Video - March 22nd, 2015 [March 22nd, 2015]
- TRANSHUMANIST AGENDA Lab Rats Rise of the Secret Soldiers 720p - Video - March 22nd, 2015 [March 22nd, 2015]
- TRANSHUMANIST AGENDA Would You Live For 10,000 Years 720p - Video - March 22nd, 2015 [March 22nd, 2015]
- Anticipating tomorrows politics, and introducing the Transhumanist Party - Video - March 25th, 2015 [March 25th, 2015]
- EUCACH: Melanie Vritschan homage to Dr Rauni Kilde, whistleblower against Transhumanist Agenda - Video - March 27th, 2015 [March 27th, 2015]
- The Transhumanist Wager- TwinCities+ - Video - March 27th, 2015 [March 27th, 2015]
- Transhumanist politics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - April 8th, 2015 [April 8th, 2015]
- What does transhumanist mean? - Video - April 9th, 2015 [April 9th, 2015]
- Normal day in transhumanist life - Video - April 9th, 2015 [April 9th, 2015]
- The Transhumanist (Original Mix) - Video - April 9th, 2015 [April 9th, 2015]
- Transhumanist Party - Transcending human limitations - Video - April 11th, 2015 [April 11th, 2015]
- The Age of Transhumanist Politics Has Begun - April 13th, 2015 [April 13th, 2015]
- Why Im Running for President As the Transhumanist Candidate - May 8th, 2015 [May 8th, 2015]
- The Transhumanist Party Supports Bitcoin: Zoltan Istvan ... - May 10th, 2015 [May 10th, 2015]
- Transhumanism and the Technological Singularity - December 8th, 2016 [December 8th, 2016]
- U.S. Transhumanist Party PUTTING SCIENCE, HEALTH ... - December 21st, 2016 [December 21st, 2016]
- Nick Bostrom's Home Page - December 21st, 2016 [December 21st, 2016]
- U.S. Navy Held Meetings With Transhumanist to Discuss ... - December 22nd, 2016 [December 22nd, 2016]
- H+: True Transhumanism - Essentials | Metanexus - January 12th, 2017 [January 12th, 2017]
- About | Mormon Transhumanist Association - January 12th, 2017 [January 12th, 2017]
- The Transhumanist Wager - amazon.com - January 15th, 2017 [January 15th, 2017]
- An interview with Zoltan Istvan, leader of the Transhumanist ... - January 24th, 2017 [January 24th, 2017]
- Filthy Assistance: Revisiting 'Transmetropolitan: Lust for Life' - ComicsAlliance - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Meet the Body Hacker Trying to Become a Human Vibrator - Gizmodo - Gizmodo - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Editor's Picks #463 - Archinect - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Stunning Transhumanism Dominates New 'Ghost in the Shell' Trailer - Inverse - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Transhumanist politician wants to run for governor of California - Engadget - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Why Elon Musk's transhumanism claims may not be that far-fetched - Wired.co.uk - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Mark O'Connell's Journey Among the Immortalists - The Ringer (blog) - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Zoltan Istvan, Nick Bostrom, and the Anti-Aging Quest - The Atlantic - The Atlantic - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Are We Mature Enough to Deal with Climate Change? - Yahoo News - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Wow! Really? The Hungarian-American Transhumanist Who Wants to Become a CyborgAnd Live Forever - Hungary Today - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- Transhumanists, biohackers, grinders: Who are they and can they really live forever? - ABC Online - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- 'They want to be literally machines' : Writer Mark O'Connell on the rise of transhumanists - The Verge - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- 'To Be A Machine' Digs Into The Meaning Of Humanity - NPR - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- The Transhumanist's Quest for Godhood: 'Remember, Thou Art Mortal' - CNSNews.com - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Top 5 Transhumanist Technologies With Major Implications ... - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Michael O'Connor : Does He See Himself being a Transhumanist? - Mobile Magazine - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Transhumanist Wants to Run for California Governor Under Libertarian Banner - The Libertarian Republic - March 7th, 2017 [March 7th, 2017]
- Is Zoltan Istvan a Libertarian? - Being Libertarian - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Secret to a better life? - Piqua Daily Call - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- U.S. Transhumanist Party Discussed - Lifeboat Foundation (blog) - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]