Sound grounds for computing dendrites

Computing with active dendrites

This paper introduces a new model of a spiking neuron with active dendrites and dynamic synapses (ADDS). The neuron employs the dynamics of the synapses and the active properties of the dendrites as an adaptive mechanism for maximising its response to a specific spatio-temporal distribution of incoming action potentials. The paper also presents a new spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) alg...

Computing threshold functions using dendrites

Neurons, modeled as linear threshold unit (LTU), can in theory compute all threshold functions. In practice, however, some of these functions require synaptic weights of arbitrary large precision. We show here that dendrites can alleviate this requirement. We introduce here the non-Linear Threshold Unit (nLTU) that integrates synaptic input sub-linearly within distinct subunits to take into acc...

Context-Aware Computing with Sound

We propose audio networking : using ubiquitously available sound hardware (i.e. speakers, sound-cards and microphones) for lowbandwidth, wireless networking. A variety of locationand context-aware applications that use audio networking are presented including a location system, a pick-and-drop interface and a framework for embedding digital attachments in voice notes or telephone conversations....

Coffee: grounds for concern?

C aff eine is the most widely ingested nonregulated substance on earth. A major portion of this drug is consumed as coff ee, with an annual production of over 7.8 million metric tons. Over 2.5 billion cups of coff ee are consumed worldwide each day. Given its popularity, it is hard to conceive of how Western civilization might begin each workday without this critical liquid allotment. Despite t...

New Grounds for Drinking Coffee