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There's an ongoing debate among neuroscientists, cognitive scientists, and even philosophers as to whether or not we could ever construct or reverse engineer the human brain. Some suggest it's not possible, others argue about the best way to do it, and still others have already begun working on it. Regardless, it's fair to say that ongoing breakthroughs in brain science are steadily paving the way to the day when an artificial brain can be constructed from scratch. And if we assume that cognitive functionalism holds true as a theory -- the idea that our brains are a kind of computer -- there are two very promising approaches worth pursuing. Interestingly, the two approaches come from two relatively different disciplines: cognitive science and neuroscience.

The fact that these are mere electrical components means that they can be adapted to more than brain-emulating computers. This technology can hold special significance for devices considered to be a part of the Internet of Things. According to co-author Dr Themis Prodromakis, "This new type of hardware could find a diverse range of applications in pervasive sensing technologies to fuel real-time monitoring in harsh or inaccessible environments; a highly desirable capability for enabling the Internet of Things vision."

We live in an era of accelerating change, when scientific and technological advancements are arriving rapidly. As a result, we are developing a new language to describe our civilization as it evolves. Here are 20 terms and concepts that you'll need to navigate our future. Back in 2007 I put together a list of terms every self-respecting futurist should be familiar with. I reached out to several futurists, asking them which terms or phrases have emerged or gained relevance since that time. These forward-looking thinkers provided me with some fascinating and provocative suggestions -- some familiar to me, others completely new, and some a refinement of earlier conceptions.

Computers that work like the human brain are seen as one of the most promising ways we can achieve actual artificial intelligence. To create that, scientists are currently tapping the power of memristors, electrical components with surprising qualities. Researchers have come another step closer to realizing the true potential of memristors. A team led by the University of Southampton has demonstrated that these electrical components can power an actual neural network. Memristors are components with the surprising ability to remember their previous resistance, even if the device has been turned off.