Posthuman Blues

Pocket-sized computer 'soul' developed

"The virtual computer's 'soul' - as the researchers dub it - can then be uploaded to a new PC simply by plugging the portable device in. This host machine needs no special software or even a network connection to take on an entirely new personality." (Via KurzweilAI.net.)

"Soul" is a fun computational euphemism -- for now. But as we plunge deeper into the era of hi-rez brain-scanning and begin simulating individual brains and even societies with unprecedented detail, it may come closer to literal truth.

Eventually, we may be able to purchase back-up pods for our own minds -- something like the "cortical stacks" in Richard K. Morgan's "Altered Carbon" (except without the hassle of surgery).