Our Project!
The MindModeling project is trying to understand
the underlying mechanisms of cognitive processes through models using the
current theories of mind. Future
applications gained from information provided by this grid include commercial systems
to appraise how humans would react in hypothetical situations. This would be achieved by applying data from
empirical experimentation of human cognition to artificial intelligence models
in order to mimic human thought. Academia applications include the model being
used as a teaching aid or study companion.
This project is ideal for focus group testing as multiple variables can
be easily interchanged to mimic the human mind. Market testing could also
benefit from the advantages of these realistic human-like sample groups. Further information about this grid can be
found at http://mindmodeling.org/beta/.
A Little More Background on Grid-Computing
Grid computing uses a hardware and software infrastructure to perform high-end computational capabilites. It uses several individual PCs to essentially make a super-computer that is capable of processing information in a fraction of the time it would take in a lab by using the computers individually. It is called a grid because you can compare making computer power as easy to access as an electric power grid. One can access computing power and research data pretty much on-demand. Grid systems capture your computer's spare power when it is on, but idle. Just think of all the times your computer is on and just sitting there. With grid-computing, you can volunteer and contribute to a cause that means something to you and make a difference in the world.
Processing speed, memory,
and data storage are all shared within a grid computing network. This allows
for a sharing of resources that cannot be matched by one supercomputer (How
Stuff Works). The closest analogy I can come up with for this process of grid
computing would be iCloud software network. With this software, each apple
device I own can be backed up to a software system based in North Carolina. If
I owned an iMac, a Macbook, an iPad, and an iPhone, then I could sync all of my
devices together to share all photos, music, documents, etc. Then, if I had to
write a thorough overview of everything I had written, learned, listened to,
and seen in college, I could look to my iCloud network for help. If I could
theoretically use each device to process certain programs and apps on my iCloud
network, I could easily synthesize some type of paper that illustrated my
college experience.
We chose this particular project (MindModeling) because cognitive neuroscience is an emerging and exciting field. It's interesting to learn how and why we do the things we do and how all our mental processes work and interact. The fact that they may be able to build an artifical intelligence robot/computer that has all of the same mental processes as a human being,and not just be able to contain lots of knowledge, seems far-fetched but that's not the case. It's a real possibility and with this project, we will hopefully be able to come that much closer to being able to make a cognitive model of the human mind so it can be used for a variety of applications as noted above!
