Researchers at Caltech have found clusters of large neurons unique to the brains of humans and a few closely related primates. The spindle-shaped cells -- almost large enough to be seen with the naked eye -- may enhance problem solving, self-control, or self-awareness. The neurons are in the frontal lobe near the corpus callosum. They are most numerous in humans, somewhat less so in chimpanzees, still less in gorillas, and rare in orangutans, and are not present in 25 other primate species studied. See Proc. National Academy of Science, 27Apr00. . [, comp.ai.philosophy, 10May00.]

Hugo de Garis of ATR (Kyoto) has begun the 12-month evolution of "Robokitty" brain circuits using a Genobyte FPGA-based cellular automata machine (CAM) with 72M silicon neurons. 130B CAM cells can be updated per second, training a NN module in about 1 second. The next step at STARLAB's Artificial Brain Project is a human- level "artilect" with 10B neurons, to be finished about 2007. A third generation with 100B neurons may be finished by 2011. de Garis suggests that such massively powerful artificial brain could easily develop contempt for its human makers. (Women have 19B neurons, men 23B.) . [Garry Barker, . Austin Osman Spare , comp.ai.philosophy, 10May00.]

URochester's Center for Future Health is trying to build intelligence into devices for home health care. One project is a "rehab trainer" that watches exercise movements and compares them to the way the exercises should really be done. It's based on the "Tai Chi Trainer" recently developed by the MIT Media Lab. [Jean Wooldridge, SNS, 24May00.]

Chang Liu at UIllinois-Urbana has developed a sensor of tiny mechanical hairs, perhaps for robotic skin or for analysis of sound waves. [Adam Anston, BW, 22May00, p. 144.]

Brazil is testing an expert system program to help judges impose fines, jail sentences, or damage awards for traffic accidents. Three judges in Espirito Santo are testing the Electronic Judge program as part of a Justice-on-Wheels initiative that puts judges and court clerks on the street, in vans with special laptop computers. Most cases require only simple yes/no questions and no interpretation of the law. People are usually happy to have disputes settled so quickly. Judge Pedro Valls Feu Rosa of the state's Supreme Court of Appeals developed the program in Visual Basic. [Duncan Graham-Rowe, New Scientist, 29Apr00. Thomas Verghese , 25May00.] (Street judges, a la Judge Dred (but without summary execution). Feu Rosa says that US insurance companies have expressed interest.)

----- "The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time." -- Abraham Lincoln. -----