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The Insect Brain of a New Analytical Computer

io9.com — Mike Libby uses the carapaces of real insects to create tiny, mechanical works of art. They look like they could be part of a new insect-driven A.I. Not only does Libby's work adorn a new anthology of speculative writing from Tachyon Press called The New Weird.

Who dugg this? Made popular Feb 12, 2008

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31 Comments

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  • masterofgrond, on 02/12/2008, -1/+7I, for one, welcome out new omniscient mechanical insect overlords.
  • PoopSalad, on 02/12/2008, -2/+7***** yeah man we should definitely start linking more stories about nascar and porno
  • archivist, on 02/12/2008, -0/+4beautiful steampunk insects
  • digidevil, on 02/12/2008, -0/+4so what was the Old Weird?
  • ogore, on 02/12/2008, -0/+3damn I thought they had connected insect brains to computers
  • rolf, on 02/12/2008, -0/+3Note to self: wear ear plugs at all times!
  • smurfsahoy, on 02/12/2008, -1/+4Style and design prowess and craftsmanship? What is the world coming to!!!?
  • droopypooper, on 02/12/2008, -0/+2you know, why not go green right here and just keep the little bastards alive so they can power the timepieces with their own kinetic movement? God knows those batteries are starting to pile up in our landfills.
  • hfactor, on 02/12/2008, -0/+2Uhm... Insects have a nervous system, so how are they similar to apples or rocks?
  • inactive, on 02/12/2008, -2/+4Awesome technology, just a bit frightening as far s big brother is concerned. I once had a stupid moth attack me and charge right into my ear, pretty sure that sucker wasn't an electronic device... right?
  • Xiney, on 02/12/2008, -0/+1those are photoshopped... it's not the same thing.
  • Xiney, on 02/12/2008, -0/+1Nobody would be digging it if he used kittens instead of bugs.
  • hfactor, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1Good answer. I dugg you up.
    But I feel scientist´s feelings in that respect have more to do with anthropomorphism than with insight into octopuses' or insects' inner states. The subjective side of which we may never know, just like with everybody except ourselves.
  • digidevil, on 02/12/2008, -0/+1"steampunk" is so much better than "new weird"!
  • Murdats, on 02/12/2008, -0/+1oh noes, you have a mind control chip in your brain now, you are one of them.
  • GoldMaster, on 02/12/2008, -0/+1Very cool, but would probably freak out guests
  • aoru, on 02/12/2008, -0/+1I clicked on this thinking it was about incest.
  • kooft, on 02/12/2008, -0/+1Nice try little boy. You might have your textbook knowledge and your real diploma but I have more skill in my little claw than you have in your whole carapace.
  • antdude, on 02/12/2008, -0/+1No ants?
  • dahlek, on 02/12/2008, -0/+1So you're saying that nervous systems are required to feel or experience anything, yes? I agree. This is a good foundation to build a debate upon. Now we must ask why insects are far less capable of learning than, say, a mouse. A mouse can learn and even be trained far more easily. But a mouse can't look at a trained mouse and pick up the behavior just by sight. Cats can, however. A cat can watch another cat hit a button to get food and imitate - learn without being trained first-hand. Baboons will attack mirrors but chimps can understand that they are seeing their own reflection. Cognitive abilities rise as brains and nervous systems get more complex. Why wouldn't emotional states and other feelings also gradually increase? Saying that something experiences pain just because it has a nervous system isn't nearly enough.

    Insects have an innate desire to survive, yes. They move away from danger when they detect it. But then again, so do plants (watch, "The Private Life of Plants", and yes, they do 'move'). We can also program robots to avoid certain disasters and respond to pressure and such. Scientists generally feel no guilt dissecting insects, but they do now feel guilt dissecting octopus. And, with good reason.
  • inactive, on 02/12/2008, -0/+1Ooooh, Pullman's gonna sue!
  • ElbertF, on 02/12/2008, -0/+1Nice valentine gifts.
  • WoToW, on 02/12/2008, -0/+0Lol
  • Meekus, on 02/12/2008, -1/+1He took watch parts and pinned them on top of insects. This is stupid.
  • dizzydigg, on 02/12/2008, -1/+1How would people react if he used mice instead? or cows...or cats....
  • nospinhere, on 02/12/2008, -1/+1STOP CRUELTY TO INSECTS!!!! HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT ART WHICH INFLICTS SO MUCH PAIN AND DEATH TO INSECTS!!!!
  • PoopSalad, on 02/12/2008, -1/+1no videos? or do they not move?
  • ifknot, on 02/12/2008, -2/+11/ stick old clock parts on dead insects
    2/ call it 'art'
    3/ ?????
    4/ profit
  • dahlek, on 02/12/2008, -1/+0Probably not, and for good reason. Kittens can feel and experience pain and discomfort far more closely to what we experience. And, that's all we can judge by - by how close to our way of feeling and experiencing something gets. After all, if insects can feel pain then so could apples or rocks.

    This is common practice and it makes scientific sense. Once octopus demonstrated their advanced cognitive abilities, they began to be treated with more respect by researchers, getting pain medicine when applicable and such, for example.
  • inactive, on 02/12/2008, -8/+2More boing boing ***** on digg I see.... Hey, lets go and knit crap and pine over steam punk *****. Lets not forget masturbating to screenshots of NES games and retro crap from the 60's and 70's.

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