Peter Alexander Merel (pete at extro.ucc.su.OZ.AU) wrote:
: Is it feasible to simulate a human neuron as a finite state automaton,
: or are there some sorts of analog/quantum processes at work in a neuron's
: metabolism that cannot be effectively implemented in a digital machine?
Analog, yes. And, of course, everything is ultimately a quantum process,
but neither of these need to be a problem.
: What we do know makes a neuron sound like a finite state machine,
The firing may be boolean, but the threshold sensing with its analog
accumulation bring it beyond "finite". Again, no problem.
But, you're actually talking about a _lot_ of hardware to do an accurate
simulation for uploading. _Really_ a lot. Not no $20/month for at least
75-100 years, even at current price/performance progress.
- Lenny -
