Assuming your theories are correct and there is a common algorithm that allows the brain to essentially process different sensory inputs in a similar manner, how close are we to understanding that algorithm?
There are some things that I don't understand, but for the most part I think I've got the basics of it down. It's not like years away. I have a graduate student here who is building this stuff now. There are also a couple of computer science departments working on this. Computer scientists love this kind of stuff; biologists are very receptive to this; so I've had some really great feedback.
How long before this work moves out of academia and into commercial uses?
I would predict within a year there will be start-ups working on this. I am debating whether I want to do that myself.
What do you see as the challenges to making this into a commercially appealing product?
It's just time and effort. The idea is there; the technology is there; it's good enough. The only hesitation I would have about doing this is that I am still involved heavily in PalmOne. I also run this institute...Right at the moment I am in more of the mood of, "Let's see if I can get 1,000 other people working on this."
But it takes a long time.
Two years now, no problem: it will be happening. You know, there will be businesses started on this, and people will be working on it.
Is that project and your work at PalmOne at all complementary? Or are they really two different things at this point?
They are complementary, and I am interested in both projects because I think they represent the future of computers. In PalmOne, it's the future of personal computing where devices that fit in your pocket are going to have superfast wireless connections. The work here is like the future of computing in general.
Do you feel like you're still able to contribute in the ways that you want at PalmOne? In the early days, obviously, you were crafting a whole direction.
In the early days I came up with the direction and then I would craft the nuts and bolts. What I am doing now at PalmOne is I have a few really big ideas that I am pursuing and I can't be as involved in the details. But the conceptual things, what do you do after smart phones -- I can write a position paper, go and meet with the team, get a manager to explain what these products have to do. But I can't be there day to day when someone comes back and says, "You know, the button is sticking."
Do you think this book writing effort is a one-time thing? Or are you going to come out with another one?
Oh boy -- I hope so. This is hard work. I found I could only really write if I had huge blocks of time, and I only have those on weekends.
