From: Dickey, Michael F (michael_f_dickey@groton.pfizer.com)
Date: Thu Mar 06 2003 - 07:49:36 MST
-----Original Message-----
From: Adrian Tymes [mailto:wingcat@pacbell.net]
"Actually, I think I may have been the one to describe the device you
mention."
If so, I do think it an excellent idea.
> A cheap, simple implant anyone could get. Ideally,
> it would be even better
> if such a device could power external electronic
> devices.
"It'd produce miniscule amounts of power - but then, many devices only need
miniscule amounts of power.
So, no using yourself as a battery for an electric car, but you could maybe
use this to run (or at least
trickle-recharge, when it's not actively being used) a PDA."
It would be nice, at least with later versions, if you could alter the rate
at which it is processing carbs. But to start with, a very simple, small
egg like device is implanted that burns around 100 Calories per day.
"though what energy they do generate would have to be disposed of somehow
(possibly via an inductive loop, the second part of which is placed on or
near the skin near the implant every day, maybe week, to activate the
discharge so as to avoid needing wires or sockets permanently sticking out
of the skin)."
I am no electrical engineer, but I think the inductive loop method is the
best way to go as well for tapping any energy created by the device. For
starters though, 100 Cals per day isnt much, an average adult male has an
RDA of ~2200 Cal, and disapates all the heat readily from that. I don't
think an additional 100 Cals will make a big difference, in fact the body
will probably be able to dissapate that heat quicker than it is generated
from the device. Coupling that with the fact that the bodies normal
diffusion processes will remove all the by products of such a device, it
should end up being cheap, simple, and small.
"It's the biochemical parts that present the biggest challenge. But the
biggest challenge, at least to us, would seem to be the practical matters of
actually doing it."
Of course, but with the various backgrounds on the extropy list, and the
collected intelligence of it, there is no reason it shouldn't be doable.
Quite frankly I am surprised it has not generated more interest, here we
have a perfect example of an extropian piece of technology, that no one
appears to be working on, that will likely be readily accepted by the
average Joe, will clearly demonstrate that technology can be used to
direclty solve individual humans problems. Imagine the press this could
generate for extropian ideals if it brandished the logo of the EXI
institute. People would start to realize that the business of using
technology to better our lives has some potential. Here they have some real
technology that directly makes *my life* better, *right now*... (I know all
technology has a significant impact on our lives, but the average Joe
doesn't think about it or recognize the value of electricity or combustion
engines, etc.)
"How would we test it? (Yes, it's great to say, "in theory, one could do
animal testing". Does
any of us have the appropriate equipment or licenses for this? If not, how
could we obtain such?)"
Well thousands of companies do similar things all the time, so it should be
doable. Besides, those two egregiously overweight cats that spike posted
would probably volunteer if we could explain it to them, if not their owners
might be volunteer them.
"Granted, one could start up a business around this product alone, so that
presents one possible source of
funding (VCs)."
I think one could as well, and I think it could be quite profitable. I plan
to pursue it once I finish laying the foundation for my current venture, but
a collected extropy member effort could bring about such a device much
quicker.
Michael Dickey
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