Mind transfer

In transhumanism and science fiction, mind transfer (also referred to as mind uploading or mind downloading, depending on one's point of reference), or whole body emulation refers to the hypothetical transfer of a human mind, body, and environment to an artificial substrate.

Mind transfer advocates

The Raelian cult believes that mind uploading is practiced by extra-terrestrial beings who will teach these skills to mankind.

Related Topics:
Raelian - Cult

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However, mind uploading is also advocated by a number of secular researchers in neuroscience and artificial intelligence, such as Marvin Minsky. In 1993, Joe Strout created a small web site called the Mind Uploading Home Page, and began advocating the idea in Cryonics circles and elsewhere on the net. That site has not been actively updated in recent years, but it has spawned other sites including MindUploading.org, run by Randal A. Koene, Ph.D., who also moderates a mailing list on the topic. These advocates see mind uploading as a medical procedure which could eventually save countless lives.

Related Topics:
Marvin Minsky - Cryonics

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Many Transhumanists look forward to the development and deployment of mind uploading technology before the end of the 21st century.

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The book "Beyond Humanity: CyberEvolution and Future Minds" by Gregory S. Paul & Earl D. Cox, is about the eventual (and, to the authors, almost inevitable) evolution of computers into sentient beings, but also deals with human mind transfer.

Related Topics:
Computer - Sentient

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