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GSP-09: Student’s Perspective, By Rod Furlan
(SU’s 2009 Graduate Studies Program)
Follow Rod on twitter at rfurlan
7:18:51 AM
Today I will be covering a day in the life of a Singularity University student #singularityu
7:20:34 AM
Just got up, getting ready for class. We were asked to show up earlier today to discuss our Phase #1 assigment. #singularityu
8:07:02 AM
Walking to breakfast, I AM’ running late!
8:09:55 AM
Cafeteria with Hangar One in the background http://twitpic.com/b3zl2
8:14:38 AM
Breakfast not at the usual place today. That is what I get for not checking the online calendar for updates lol
8:38:12 AM
This is were we are having our classes this week. http://twitpic.com/b429g
8:48:39 AM
Current state of breakfast is undefined. I hope they will bring caffeine and a lot of it.
8:46:55 AM
Starvation is over, food is here!
9:02:56 AM
We are running a little late with our schedule today. @PeterDiamandis is here for an announcement. We should get started soon.
9:06:28 AM
We didn’t have any protein for breakfast today. I can almost feel muscle catabolism taking place inside my body…
9:12:16 AM
Oh there are egg sandwiches around, must investigate…
9:19:09 AM
Our first lecture just started, we will be discussing intellectual property for the next hour #singularityu
9:21:43 AM
At SU we use Etherpad for note-taking, sometimes with hilarious outcomes. #singularityu
9:26:19 AM
Software patents are absurd. Seriously. #singularityu
9:40:31 AM
I wonder if it would be possible to write a random patent generator… (and get a patent for it) #singularityu
9:48:45 AM
Dan Barry just brought up a great point against “wide” patents: e.g. “robot that navigates a household” – way to kill innovation :/
9:52:34 AM
Now we are talking trademarks #singularityu
10:01:21 AM
@ira_a I agree (trademarks are good) 
10:11:50 AM
Now on to copyright #singularityu
10:20:30 AM
Law & Ethics lecture just ended, we have a quick 10 minute break now – time to procure caffeine. #singularityu
10:21:06 AM
Scientists reveal secret of girl with ‘all seeing eye’ http://ff.im/-5wgQZ
10:21:38 AM
Brain Surgery Using Sound Waves http://ff.im/-5wgRi
10:28:52 AM
We have just reorganized all the tables in the room to maximize engagement. #singularityu
10:30:22 AM
Now on to “Applications of Synthetic Biology”. I love this place! #singularityu
10:31:44 AM
“We need more designers in biology” #singularityu
10:32:49 AM
I find the “DNA is software” analogy somewhat dangerous. Software does not mutate as you copy it… #singularityu
10:34:15 AM
Even though we might be able to add post-copy integrity checks to DNA code, what if the check itself is damaged during copy? #singularityu
10:38:50 AM
Good to know: you can use designer-biology to get around drug patents #singularityu
10:46:25 AM
Globalization will drive synthetic biology development forward. If we don’t do it, someone else will. #singularityu
10:48:20 AM
Check out this Microsoft Research syn-bio project: http://bit.ly/11e9e4
10:56:49 AM
Reading about the Science Commons: http://twitzap.com/u/DVQ #singularityu
11:05:37 AM
We are now discussing applications of synthetic biology – one idea: microbes that will eat anything we don’t want around #singularityu
11:07:52 AM
Another application: revert desertification with designer plants #singularityu
11:10:30 AM
Yet another application of syn-bio: oral-microbiological agents to get rid of plaque #singularityu
11:18:44 AM
Now talking about syn-bio ethics…
11:20:54 AM
Future (possible) syn-bio issues: unpractical genetic “fads”, genetic malpractice, the “playing god” blanket objection #singularityu
11:24:48 AM
Future (possible) syn-bio issues: Genetic “prisoner’s dilemma” designer’s babies vs natural babies #singularityu
11:32:31 AM
Now discussing how can syn-bio help the world in the short term. Ideas: microbes to make medicine and microbes to deal with pollution
11:37:08 AM
Time for a break and then some… ROBOT TALK #singularityu
11:45:06 AM
Now on to a AnyBots Presentation by Trevor Blackwell #singularityu
11:46:14 AM
Anybots tele-presence robots: http://anybots.com/
11:47:01 AM
@ira_a Not likely I would be able to, our schedule is very aggressive 
11:58:20 AM
Oh I want one of those robots so bad #singularityu
11:56:03 AM
Looking at something that looks like a dishwasher loading/emptying robot. This changes everything. #singularityu
11:56:29 AM
@ira_a Will do
12:01:17 PM
Whoa, this guy have a HMD and data-gloves and he is using it to drive the robot. #singularityu
12:01:54 PM
Now the robot is preparing coffee…
12:05:06 PM
Plan: start with an able yet dumb robot (teleoperated). Add automation little by little (starting with repetitive bits) until 99% autonomous
12:08:21 PM
When a robot kills, who pulled the trigger? #singularityu
12:09:46 PM
Likewise, when a robot surgeon saves someone, who is the hero? #singularityu
12:34:06 PM
We are about to step into the bus, we are visiting Autodesk this afternoon. #singularityu
1:07:28 PM
All on board the singularity bus! #singularityu http://twitpic.com/b4ymj
1:53:13 PM
Arriving at Autodesk #singularityu
2:01:49 PM
And here we are @ Autodesk, I hope there will be swag! #singularityu http://twitpic.com/b55vp
2:03:12 PM
2:05:21 PM
2:22:12 PM
“Design for Mankind’s Greatest Challenges” http://twitpic.com/b58fl
2:32:08 PM
Love the idea of a prototyping culture, it lets you make decisions based on real data, not opinions.
2:36:07 PM
SU students are coming to SF! 1st stop CitizenSpace -5pm, then Tres Agaves-6pm. Come meet us! #singularityu #su_happyhour
2:38:34 PM
Making stuff isn’t the problem anymore – differentiation is #singularityu
2:50:51 PM
“If god didn’t create it, one of our clients did” heard @ Autodesk #singularityu
2:57:30 PM
“Design is the application of technology to serve human needs” #singularityu
3:14:48 PM
#singularityu @ Autodesk http://twitpic.com/b5f3r
3:30:15 PM
Auto-stereoscopic monitor – I need one SO BAD #singularityu http://twitpic.com/b5h58
4:19:06 PM
The image on the screen represents the viewport of the little guy on the table #singularityu http://twitpic.com/b5nle
4:30:48 PM
#singularityu was here @ Autodesk http://twitpic.com/b5p0t
4:34:27 PM
Back to the singularity bus #singularityu
4:40:20 PM
I love technology way too much. It is unnatural. #singularityu
4:49:03 PM
Just arrived at the Citizen’s Space #singularityu
4:51:24 PM
5:02:21 PM
@PeterDiamandis is always thinking of always to help one billion people #singularityu http://twitpic.com/b5t5e
5:56:36 PM
Twittering from…. Twitter! #singularityu http://twitpic.com/b60d2
6:13:51 PM
At Twitter HQ, hanging out #singularityu http://twitpic.com/b62my
6:19:04 PM
TwitterBox 360 #singularityu http://twitpic.com/b63c9
6:30:17 PM
Just ran into @ev and @biz with some #singularityu students. Cool moment. Now off to tres agaves (via @salimismail)
6:43:52 PM
Having dinner now #singularityu http://twitpic.com/b6c3n
8:13:12 PM
Back to the singularity bus, heading back to NASA AM’es, Twitting from a borrowed phone (thanks Nitesh!) #singularityu
9:26:19 PM
Back to NASA AM’es, time to read about this midnight deadline I keep hearing about… #singularityu
10:28:30 PM
We’re here to figure out a way to help 1 billion people in 10 years. It is a tall order, tonight will probably be a long night #singularityu
10:29:15 PM
So, how would you help 10^9 people in a decade? Suggestions welcome! #singularityu
11:48:36 PM
Talking about the 10^9 team project at the SU studend lodge #singularityu
http://twitpic.com/b7298
11:49:44 PM
Ideas, everywhere I look. #singularityu http://twitpic.com/b72c1
11:55:35 PM
This is the end of a day in the life of a Singularity University student – time to call my wife and then go to bed #singularityu
One Response to “Rod Furlan 07/21 – Rod’s Timeline”
“I find the “DNA is software” analogy somewhat dangerous. Software does not mutate as you copy it… #singularityu” keep in mind that to avoid problems with this issue, our DNA is redundant and our cell metabolism has repair processes… It’s the old question of error-free vs fault tolerant. Like Google’s index being replicated in “shards” over thousands of low cost servers instead of very expensive servers….
We’re built the same way, we just have to keep that in mind when we design things from scratch in DNA.