Resistor networks have recently had a surge of interest as substrates for energy-efficient self-learning machines. This work studies the computational capabilities of these resistor networks. We show that electrical networks composed of voltage sources, linear resistors, diodes and voltage-controlled voltage sources (VCVS) can implement any continuous functions. To prove it, we assume that the circuit elements are ideal and that the conductances of variable resistors and the amplification factors of the VCVS's can take arbitrary values -- arbitrarily small or arbitrarily large. The constructive nature of our proof could also inform the design of such self-learning electrical networks.

We all remember the painful arithmetic exercises at school. It takes at least a minute to multiply numbers like 3,752 and 6,901 with pencil and paper. Of course, today, when we have phones at hand, we can quickly check that the result of our exercise should be 25 892 552. Processors of modern phones can perform more than 100 billion of such operations per second. Moreover, these chips consume only a few watts, which makes them much more efficient than our slower brains, which consume 20 watts and require much more time to achieve the same result. Of course, the brain has not evolved to do arithmetic.

A new robotic contact lens which is controlled by small eye movements, including double blinks to zoom in and out, has been created by scientists. The contact lens, which is made from just salt water, works by mimicking the natural electric signals in the human eyeball. There is a steady electrical potential between the eyeball's front and back, even when your eyes are closed or in total darkness. When you move your eyes to look around or blink, the motion of the electrical potential can be measured. Researchers from the University of California, San Diego, developed the lens using these signals, called electro-oculograms, to control a soft lens.

Blink twice to zoom in. A new soft lens can be controlled by your eye movements, pivoting left and right as you look around and zooming in and out when you blink. The human eyeball is electric – there is a steady electrical potential between its front and back, even when your eyes are closed or in total darkness. When you move your eyes to look around or blink, the motion of the electrical potential can be measured.

The idea of environmental determinism once made a lot of sense. Hostile climates and habitats prevented the expansion of human populations. The conceptual opposite of determinism is called possibilism. These days, human populations can found living in many inhospitable habitats. This isn't because humans have physically evolved. But rather, we normally occupy built-environments. We exist through our technologies and advanced forms of social interaction: a person might not be able to build a house, but he or she can arrange for financing to have a house constructed. "Social possibilism" has enabled our survival in inhospitable conditions. Because humans today almost always live within or in close proximity to built-environments, among the most important factors affecting human life today is data. The systems that support human society make use of data in all of its multifarious forms; this being the case, data science is important to our continuation and development as a species. This blog represents a discussion highlighting the need for a universal data model. I find that the idea of "need" is highly subjective; and perhaps the tendency is to focus on organizational needs specifically.