I think removing the brain from the body and interfacing it with a robot substitute is the next step towards immortality. I therefor want to found a company that researches this kind of technology. My problem is that I do not currently see a viable way to do so. The reasearch needed to create a viable business plan is too much for me to do without funding.
I have a background in business administration and engineering (industrial engineering) but not in neurology or medicin or even biology. I have no substantial funds of my own. I am 36 so I have about 40 − 50 more years to live.
My question is, how can I make this happen?
Edit:
Since the company needs to do basic research funding will be a problem. I am, however, pretty sure that there would be marketable intermediary results. The question is, how cornered is the market for prosthetics? If I were to do only the research and then give patent licenses to established prosthetics companies I fear that the original goal of my company would get lost. Also if the prosthetics market is already covered it will be difficult to convince venture capitalists to invest in a new company.
Given how many steps are involved, it might seem impossible to potential investors to claim you are going to research all the areas at once. Having the same group solve all the problems may not be the most efficient use of specialized resources (like equipment and personnel).
One solution might be to have several research groups going, one for each branch of technology necessary to implement the solution. You could also search for existing groups that are attacking similar problems and try to help with advocacy that would get them funded.
SENS has strategy where they have seven different research themes for different technological breakthroughs they think can work together to attack aging directly.
I’d say, artificial organs are not the top priority as there are different alternatives. One way would be to genetical engineer microbes to perform the tasks, another would be to have organs which need not necessarily be human do it. A failing organ could be replaced cheaply and the mechanism for preparing the blood need not be as small. That would be the part that I would outsource.
Likewise artificial limbs. My understanding is that there are humanoid robots already available. I’d say that one is covered.
The focus would be neurointerfacing. The first intermediary result would be a way to replace severed neurons. Next comes an artificial spine. And then full simulation of nerve IO. A good question is whether vegetative nerves need to be simulated for “feeling right” or not.
Hmm, it sounds like there are a few domains you need to learn some specific things about first.
1) What is the state of medical technology in this field? You can try to find people working in the field, either researchers or businesspeople who are probably clued into the state-of-the-art. This will help you avoid reinventing the wheel, or on the other hand, settintg a goal that’s far too ambitious (too many steps away from what’s been done) too soon.
In general, my guess is that everything will be easier if you have a partner already working in the field; lots of things will be totally unknown to you, but obvious to them.
2) What sort of things get what sort of funding? Again you should ask people in the field. There may be more than one way to get funding, I don’t know.
Then, if you still think your original goal is feasible, you need to figure out based on this info, what specific advance in technology you want to pursue, and what kind of team you can put together to sell your idea and possibly start working on it.
You could also think about other ways to contribute to the same end state. Do you really have to personally control the way in which this stuff gets used, the way you would if you founded the company? Or would some other way of furthering basic research in the relevant field also satisfy your goal?
I think removing the brain from the body and interfacing it with a robot substitute is the next step towards immortality. I therefor want to found a company that researches this kind of technology. My problem is that I do not currently see a viable way to do so. The reasearch needed to create a viable business plan is too much for me to do without funding.
I have a background in business administration and engineering (industrial engineering) but not in neurology or medicin or even biology. I have no substantial funds of my own. I am 36 so I have about 40 − 50 more years to live.
My question is, how can I make this happen?
Edit:
Since the company needs to do basic research funding will be a problem. I am, however, pretty sure that there would be marketable intermediary results. The question is, how cornered is the market for prosthetics? If I were to do only the research and then give patent licenses to established prosthetics companies I fear that the original goal of my company would get lost. Also if the prosthetics market is already covered it will be difficult to convince venture capitalists to invest in a new company.
There are multiple areas of research needed for brain-robot integration.
Ranking in order of importance from my point of view
Artificial organs etc. for life support.
At this point you have a brain in a jar.
Sensory input (even if you’re keeping the eyes you’ll want propioception, and some sensitivity to damage)
At this point you’ve got a brain in a jar that can see.
Output connections (allowing the brain to control, for example, speakers, or a word processor)
Now you have a brain in a jar that can talk; and probably browse the web.
Artificial limbs
After which you’ve got a full-on cyborg.
Given how many steps are involved, it might seem impossible to potential investors to claim you are going to research all the areas at once. Having the same group solve all the problems may not be the most efficient use of specialized resources (like equipment and personnel).
One solution might be to have several research groups going, one for each branch of technology necessary to implement the solution. You could also search for existing groups that are attacking similar problems and try to help with advocacy that would get them funded.
SENS has strategy where they have seven different research themes for different technological breakthroughs they think can work together to attack aging directly.
I’d say, artificial organs are not the top priority as there are different alternatives. One way would be to genetical engineer microbes to perform the tasks, another would be to have organs which need not necessarily be human do it. A failing organ could be replaced cheaply and the mechanism for preparing the blood need not be as small. That would be the part that I would outsource.
Likewise artificial limbs. My understanding is that there are humanoid robots already available. I’d say that one is covered.
The focus would be neurointerfacing. The first intermediary result would be a way to replace severed neurons. Next comes an artificial spine. And then full simulation of nerve IO. A good question is whether vegetative nerves need to be simulated for “feeling right” or not.
Hmm, it sounds like there are a few domains you need to learn some specific things about first.
1) What is the state of medical technology in this field? You can try to find people working in the field, either researchers or businesspeople who are probably clued into the state-of-the-art. This will help you avoid reinventing the wheel, or on the other hand, settintg a goal that’s far too ambitious (too many steps away from what’s been done) too soon.
In general, my guess is that everything will be easier if you have a partner already working in the field; lots of things will be totally unknown to you, but obvious to them.
2) What sort of things get what sort of funding? Again you should ask people in the field. There may be more than one way to get funding, I don’t know.
Then, if you still think your original goal is feasible, you need to figure out based on this info, what specific advance in technology you want to pursue, and what kind of team you can put together to sell your idea and possibly start working on it.
You could also think about other ways to contribute to the same end state. Do you really have to personally control the way in which this stuff gets used, the way you would if you founded the company? Or would some other way of furthering basic research in the relevant field also satisfy your goal?
I don’t think you know what kind of companies venture capitalists invest in.