BBC Focus Magazine

[MikeG]

If you have the money to spend, a Russian scientist is offering to sell you immortality, as least for your consciousness.

Earlier this year, a Russian media mogul named Dmitry Itskov formally announced his intention to disembody our conscious minds and upload them to a hologram--an avatar--by 2045. In other words he outlined a plan to achieve immortality, removing the human mind from the physical constraints presented by the biological human body. He was serious. And now, in a letter to the members of the Forbes World’s Billionaire’s List, he’s offering up that immortality to the world’s 1,266 richest people.

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2 ... mmortality

[Jamie]

Is a computer simulation of 'you' you though? Surely you are the sum of all your parts, body and mind?

It also begs the question, is the human mind (whether real or simulated) designed to be around forever? For example, can it cope with endless losses of friends and relatives as they die and you live on? And if it can, what kind of person is left - a shallow being with no need for companionship?

Sounds like a way to part extremely rich people with a small percentage of their vast wealth for the sake of vanity.

[MikeG]

Is a computer simulation of 'you' you though? Surely you are the sum of all your parts, body and mind?

It also begs the question, is the human mind (whether real or simulated) designed to be around forever? For example, can it cope with endless losses of friends and relatives as they die and you live on? And if it can, what kind of person is left - a shallow being with no need for companionship?

Sounds like a way to part extremely rich people with a small percentage of their vast wealth for the sake of vanity.

I'm sure you're right about him lightening a few wallets.Transferring the human consciousness seems like a long shot to me. However, if this is achieved, I'm sure human cloning will have become routine by then. It reminds me of the movie "The Island, where rich people had clones waiting for them when their own bodies failed them.

But something like this is sure to produce usefull spin offs as well. If this research is successful, it may even open the possibilities of star travel.

[M Paul Lloyd]

I have this rather worrying vision of a starship roaming the galaxy controlled by just such an immortal 'brain' which after eons of time goes completley stark raving mad and in that state determines to rid the universe of the villianous race that created it. ??

[MikeG]

...after eons of time goes completley stark raving mad and in that state determines to rid the universe of the villianous race that created it. ??

The lessons we learned from the "Terminator" and "Matrix" is that we need to keep a remote control hidden with an "Off" button handy

[Shadowwolf]

An idea that may be realisable but one with an incredibly long time-frame, methinks even whilst he may be intending to research this notion there is more than a passing interest in money. Soliciting funds from the rich in such manner always looks suspect, like those Mars colonist folks.

Btw The Island clones were spare part repositories, not replacement bodies.

[M Paul Lloyd]

...after eons of time goes completley stark raving mad and in that state determines to rid the universe of the villianous race that created it. ??

The lessons we learned from the "Terminator" and "Matrix" is that we need to keep a remote control hidden with an "Off" button handy

Ah... but consider such a psychotic, cybernetic entity with an almost unimaginable time frame for plotting, scheming and planning... surely it would be possibly for out murderously, intelligent, adversary to find a way around such an "off" button???

[MikeG]

... surely it would be possibly for out murderously, intelligent, adversary to find a way around such an "off" button???

So I propose a 'hidden" part of its memory where it won't even be aware of this "OFF" switch.

The only problem will be if our "murderously intelligent adversary" comes back so many eons later,that we forget where we put the remote control for safekeeping. Or maybe the batteries have run flat and we no longer produce compatible chargers or batteries that fit.

[MikeG]

An idea that may be realisable but one with an incredibly long time-frame, methinks even whilst he may be intending to research this notion there is more than a passing interest in money...

Possibly, this guy wants the research for himself, but can't afford to fund such a huge undertaking alone. If thats the case, he will probably invest wisely and speed up to benefit before he kicks the bucket.

[M Paul Lloyd]

... surely it would be possibly for out murderously, intelligent, adversary to find a way around such an "off" button???

So I propose a 'hidden" part of its memory where it won't even be aware of this "OFF" switch.

The only problem will be if our "murderously intelligent adversary" comes back so many eons later,that we forget where we put the remote control for safekeeping. Or maybe the batteries have run flat and we no longer produce compatible chargers or batteries that fit.

Both equally worrying possibilities.

[Shadowwolf]

Off switches? Someone been readin Shatner?

[...]

it brings to mind "Legion" in red dwarf

[MikeG]

We may have our first immortal living amongst us. Brooke Greenberg is 20 years old, but looks and is identical to a 4 year old.

Scientists are now reading every letter of her DNA to determine what may have caused the condition.

If they find the difference, maybe we can all freeze our aging process and live as long as we like. Maybe star travel has just moved one step closer to reality.

http://myfox8.com/2013/01/11/meet-the-2 ... d-toddler/

[M Paul Lloyd]

I would be inclined to see just how long Brooke Greenberg actually manages to live MikeG, after all she may appear to be quite young but who knows what her actual medical age might be? She may yet turn out to have the health of a fifty year old?;)

[MikeG]

True MPL. The fact that she is not growing or maturing doesn't necessarily mean her cells aren't aging. But her complexion seems identical to that of a 4 year old. In other cases where children are born with progeria (premature aging), they look and in fact are aged far beyond their years. It's quite easy to determine the age of a cell by examining the length of the telomere. It would be interesting to find out if her telomeres are the same length as that of an actual 4 year old.

[Shadowwolf]

It also would appear to be blocking the brain from operating as it's supposed to given she's still four in mind as well as body. Is she pretty much living the same day over and over?

[MikeG]

It also would appear to be blocking the brain from operating as it's supposed to given she's still four in mind as well as body. Is she pretty much living the same day over and over?

Sounds like the script from The Tin Drum meets Groundhog Day. I wonder if they could restore normal functionality if they find the DNA segment that causes this? Staying eternally young is great, but it would be better if you stop aging at a point where you can be self sufficient.

[Shadowwolf]

And still have your memories build as normal otherwise it's a permanent groundhog day for you.

Of course we may then begin to learn the useful capacity of the brain.