Jeremy J.

Doyle Monday 16, February 2009

James Burkes:Brainsand How A Mind is aTerrible thing to Lose

In a presentation titled How Technology is Changing the Way We Think, James Burke, a

well known science historian gave a speech in the Buskirk-Chumley Theater at 7p.m., Monday the 16th of February 2009. The event was sponsored by the IU School of Journalism. In it he discussed what he likes to call The Future of the Future, or rather how data is col-

lected and formatted today provides the opportunity to open doors for an unimaginable wealth of information. Furthermore he cites some interesting facts like how brains have more cells in them than the number of known atoms in the universe, and compares them with the likes of which each cell stores a specific type of information depending on where it is located within the brain. If each cell represented a particular a brain and a brain represented a node in a network nodes containing a given amount of knowledge and experience, then imagine the unbridled power of our collective consciousness would unleash when we develop the ability to access it in this way. As a matter of fact we already have, it is called the world wide web. According, James Burke and many others, the vast majority of brains as he so affectionately

calls them, remain unused. The human brain is composed of a highly sophisticated set of fatty cells; it is comprised of about a hundred billion neurons, roughly 10,000 synapses and thousands of interconnected axons all of which are constantly transmitting, receiving and storing memory. Although, as we may well already know due to current studies and further scientific research, we really only use some ten percent of it consciously. However, much like the human mind, with recent developments concerning information technology and Burkes knowledge mapping the internet will make it possible to store very large volumes of information. In a nutshell, Burke explains that in the same way that axons connect synapses and the synapses to neurons in our brains work, so to do comput-

ers, internet and people who use it. A progressive supporter of science, James Burke is as the Washington post has quoted, One

of the most intriguing minds of the western world, sitting in on his lecture is proof enough of that. He argues the point that knowledge has been highly valued since before the concept of time was created. By way of the inter-connectivity of the ever more developing world wide web, Burke said

people and/or ideas come together in a way that they have not before. Ever since before recorded history, or when ever the first cross-cultural event took place, people have been innovating. In essence, the history of science proves when one culture comes into contact with another a synthesis of knowledge is formed and information or change is produced. Burke aptly demonstrates how in reality, when ever people meet,a small database equivalent of privileged information is formed between brains where ever two or three are gathered collaboratively together. Now, imagine that on a global scale and how promising the prospects for order and progress would be. Although the knowledge of information and technology has almost always been used for the benefit of one culture without regard for the other; furthermore, it has frequently offset the balance of power and caused the rise and fall of a great many number of civilizations. However, Burke believes the use of the internet and knowledge mapping will democrasize the knowledge of information thereby leveling the political playing field and eventually even change the face of democracy itself. Later on, in the following presentation, Burke began anew by providing a working model dem-

onstrating a culmination of information and how we will be able to make use of it in the future. He continued to explain as far as to how computer interfacing contributes to the development of innovation. As Burke has said,innovation can be quite surprising, and through our collective knowledge and the exchange or otherwise transfer of information, a set of limitless possibilities are created leading us to unexpected ends. Sharing an experience with an other is an example of the possibility for potential change. He proclaims that, by going beyond serendipitous innovation you can change innovation itself. It has been said that, necessity is the mother of invention, well, with James Burkes concept of knowledge mapping used in tandem with a network of participants, it may be that innovation will not happen by

pure happenstance any longer. By summation, using each others experience as resources via knowledge mapping, it will allow us to access information simultaneously. In order for us to more fully understand his point Burke breaks his idea down into smaller more

manageable pieces for us to digest. To better demonstrate his point on how his knowledge web works, Burke told his audience that he was going to draw a correlation between two seemingly unrelated subjects, such as a bird and fruit. At this point in his lecture he gave pause to add a joke for a brief moment of respite as the audience captivated by his words: A man who had been sitting at a bar for a considerable amount of time drinking stopped a waitress to ask a question as she had hurried by... Miss! Miss! Excuse me, Miss! I need to ask you a question! Wait! It is very important! Not wanting to upset the old man that he may become loud obnoxious and belligerent, she responded quickly, What, what is it? The man responded, I really need to know if lemons squeak. Slightly flustered and perturbed she replied, No. Why do you ask? At this, the man immediately blushed and said, oops in that case, I just squeezed your canary into my gin and tonic.

Here, Burke goes on to explain that innovation works in the same way by taking two unlikely things and drawing a synthesis or some other means of relationship between them. It takes a select number of subjects and connects them in an order of innumerable amounts of other objects they are associated with so they make sense. Using these associations as a tool to collect information we can access a vast quantity of resources, the only trouble is filtering the most desirable results. In much the same way as his example, many a synthesis like this commonly occur in our every

day conversation. When ever we actively participate in an open discussion with others we begin the process of innovating first by listening in, and second by imagining what the other person might say. Burke began again to describe another instance citing our routine dialogue as an example, While I am talking you are running a simultaneous syntax of words I will probably say next. In other words, you are giving this talk before I am...one wonders why you came. Comparatively, if a system is developed that works as well as the brain it can used it as a tool with potential to unlock an incredibly useful mode of inno-

vation. However it is at times our thoughts seem to strike us as a completely random cloud of jumbled information, not unlike the model he presented us with. Yet, somehow in the act of thinking when placed in the right order they make sense. According to the information Burke divulged in his lecture, no data is boring or irrelevantly existing isolation. Although some information may not appear to be valid or useful, in any case it will no longer exist in a vacuum outside of human perception. Once it has been discovered it can be counted, catalogued and called upon if the need should arise for future use. Eventually, computers operations will not be so unlike our own thought processes and they will be able to help us innovate and solve problems in the future of mankind Knowledge and the transfer of information has as an effect, largely been responsible for change

all through out history. He poses a perplexing point when he says information causes change, if it doesnt it is not information. Although this statement is somewhat of an oxymoron, in other words if unless we learn something new about what we do not already know, then there will have been no change at all in the knowledge we possess. However, change is inevitable and in a failing world economy Burke exclaims the most important thing is education, ecucation, education! Throughout the duration of his lecture, time and time again, it seems as though he cannot stress enough the importance of education. Though, in the near future he admonished, conventional ways of transferring knowledge simply cannot continue to go on the way it has for ages. He declares, one size fits all education is severely limiting. If we can all learn from our mistakes as well as the mistakes of others, then like Burke has said, by using knowledge mapping we can solve problems much more quickly with the ability to access all the stores of information available. With the proliferation of knowledge and the increasing awareness of it, we can decrease the margin of error while at the same time expedite the process of innovation. As yet another great thinker with like-minded ideas has said, a mind is a terrible thing to lose

and it would be ashame to subject our brains to a stagnating educational system where only a few brains are able to adapt and develop in the way that they need to in order to make the grade while at the same time leaving the rest behind along with their untapped potential. In the words of the great Albert Einstein, The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different

results. And much like Burke said, we are all born with magnificent minds that education slowly decays. Perhaps maybe that is why he says a given majority of brains are becoming disinterested in the mathematical and scientific disciplines and dropping out of school. In this case it would seem as though the conventional way of teaching is insufficient and brains are not being taught in a way that best suits them in order to reach their full potential. Only until after a new educational system is developed, will there ever truly be no child left behind in any class all over the world. After years of observation and much deliberation James Burke has coined the term for Knowl-

edge mapping for existing studies currently underway. However, it is still a relatively new concept in computer science. In real time, before the invention of the internet, with a hypothesis in mind it would normally take a cumulative series of experiments to arrive at a conclusion. Similarly it would take an even longer amount of time and given set of certain favorable circumstantial events to give rise to innovation. Otherwise, barring the use of an structurally organized map of information, the occasional window of opportunity providing for an invention would very easily pass us by. Although in the past, these fleeting moments may in fact have been very few and far between, this new concept coupled with information technology today should increase the odds, thereby very nearly antiquating and almost eradicating the process of trial by error. It may virtually eliminate the painfully slow yet inexorable process of learning. It might also make it possible to maintain a more individualized education necessary to stimulate eager young minds. Ultimately, knowledge mapping the internet aids in the act of innovation by connecting us to one another.