Two AIs Walk Into a Bar…

Written By Cori Lathan

Two AIs walk into a bar and start discussing my book, Inventing the Future - Stories from a Techno-Optimist. The following is a time-stamped summary of the audio podcast file above. The Notebook LM AI hosts do a great job! They sound natural and for the most part tell a great story. And they only got a few things wrong - The 3D Space (not “8D”) experiment was on the International Space Station not the MIR space station. And the interview I had at NASA was to become an astronaut, not an interview to get a grant. But I don’t think the AIs were hallucinating, I think they were honest mistakes interpreting a complex story.

I particularly love how they sum up my book at the end:

Podcast Host A: What is one big takeaway you want listeners to remember?

Podcast Host B: Corinna Lathan's story really is a powerful reminder that invention is not just about technology, gadgets, and gizmos. You know, it's about using our creativity and our ingenuity and our compassion to solve problems, to build connections, and to create a better future for everyone.

Podcast Host A: I love that. It's about making a difference in the world.

Podcast Host B: It is.

Podcast Host A: And Lathan's work shows us that invention is this deeply human endeavor.

It's something that we can all be a part of. Her story reminds us to stay curious, embrace lifelong learning and never underestimate the power of human ingenuity

Podcast Host B: and to find that sweet spot where work and passion collide.

…

Have a listen!

…

Inventing the Future: A Deep Dive into the Work of Corinna Lathan

I. Introduction

  • Brief overview of Corinna Lathan’s diverse work in robotics, virtual reality, and bioelectronic medicine. (0:00-1:30)

  • Emphasis on the creative and interdisciplinary nature of invention.

II. Robots for Learning: Cosmo and the Power of Simple Interactions

  • A. Joey and Cosmo: A Story of Connection (1:30-3:30)

  • Introduction to Joey, a child on the autism spectrum, and Cosmo, a robot designed to help him develop joint attention.

  • The profound impact of Cosmo on Joey's communication and learning abilities.

  • B. From Jesterbot to Cosmo: The Evolution of an Idea (3:30-5:30)

  • The origins of Cosmo in a prototype called Jesterbot.

  • Observations from a children's hospital that informed the development of Cosmo.

  • Collaboration with Mayo Clinic researchers and their findings on Cosmo's effectiveness.

  • C. Overcoming Challenges: Pivoting from Hardware to Software (5:30-7:30)

  • Addressing the challenge of cost and market accessibility.

  • The creation of Cosmo's Learning System, a software platform featuring a virtual Cosmo character.

  • Development of Mission Control, a user-friendly interface for children.

  • D. Manufacturing in China: A Cultural and Entrepreneurial Experience (7:30-9:00)

  • Lathan's experience overseeing production in China and the contrasting approaches to efficiency.

  • Insight into the less glamorous, often stressful realities of invention.

III. From Academia to Entrepreneurship: The Birth of AnthroTronix

  • A. Leaving Academia: A Desire for Real-World Impact (9:00-11:00)

  • Lathan's mixed feelings about academia, finding the emphasis on publishing restrictive.

  • Facing challenges as the only female engineering professor in her department.

  • The decision to leave tenure and pursue entrepreneurship to solve real-world problems.

  • B. A Leap of Faith: AnthroTronix and the Business Incubator (11:00-13:00)

  • Forming AnthroTronix with two students and their acceptance into a business incubator program.

  • The company's mission to develop human-centered technology.

  • C. Funding Struggles and the Impact of 9/11 (13:00-15:00)

  • Difficulties securing funding, particularly as a woman-led startup.

  • The devastating impact of 9/11 on the investment world and AnthroTronix’ near collapse.

  • D. Resourcefulness and Resilience: Securing Funding through SBIR (15:00-17:00)

  • Finding a lifeline through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.

  • Successfully pitching Cosmo to the government as an educational and therapeutic tool.

IV. Virtual Reality in Space: The 3D Space Experiment

  • A. From Star Trek to the Vomit Comet: A Lifelong Fascination with Space (17:00-19:00)

  • Lathan’s childhood passion for space exploration and her experience in the Vomit Comet.

  • Introduction to the 3D Space experiment, designed to study astronauts' perception in space.

  • B. VR as a Tool for Spaceflight Research (19:00-21:00)

  • The role of virtual reality in simulating altered sensory input experienced by astronauts.

  • Key findings of the 3D Space experiment, including astronauts' misjudgment of distances in space.

  • C. Collaboration and Chance Encounters: The Path to NASA (21:00-23:00)

  • Working with Gille Clement during a gap year in France, leading to long-term collaboration.

  • Co-authoring a paper on vision and balance in space, culminating in an experiment on the International space station.

  • D. Persistence and Passion: Securing Funding for 3D Space (23:00-25:00)

  • Navigating NASA's rigorous selection process, including an interview with astronauts.

  • Expressing her passion for the project by sharing a stanza from Robert Frost's poem.

  • The successful launch and implementation of the 3D Space experiment on the International Space Station.

V. Electroceuticals: Using Electricity as Medicine

  • A. Bioelectronic Medicine: The Power of the Nervous System (25:00-27:00)

  • Introduction to bioelectronic medicine and its potential to treat diseases through targeted electrical signals.

  • The role of the nervous system in regulating bodily functions, including inflammation.

  • B. Project Heartstring: The Development of String (27:00-29:00)

  • A pitch meeting for String, a non-invasive device using electrical stimulation to treat inflammation.

  • Explanation of how stimulating the vagus nerve can reduce inflammation throughout the body.

  • C. A Bold Plan: Crowdsourcing Data for String (29:00-31:00)

  • The unconventional approach of distributing String devices for free to gather data.

  • Justifying the decision to investors and the serendipitous appearance of heart-shaped balloons.

  • D. Connecting with Pioneers: Martine Rothblatt and Kevin Tracy (31:00-33:00)

  • Lathan's introduction to Martine Rothblatt, a biotech entrepreneur and advocate for bioelectronic medicine.

  • Meeting Dr. Kevin Tracy, a neurosurgeon and pioneer in vagus nerve stimulation research.

  • E. A Synergy of Expertise: From DNA to String (33:00-35:00)

  • Collaboration between Lathan and Tracy, combining their expertise in technology and neuroscience.

  • Securing funding from United Therapeutics and developing a prototype for String.

  • F. The Vision of Project Heartstring: A Holistic Approach to Health (35:00-37:00)

  • The goal of using machine learning to optimize electrical signals for various inflammatory conditions.

  • A vision of revolutionizing healthcare through a deeper understanding of the nervous system.

VI. The AcceleGlove: Open Source Innovation

  • A. From Robots to Gloves: The Evolution of Hand Tracking Technology (37:00-39:00)

  • Building upon the hand gesture control used in the early robots for children.

  • Developing the AcceleGlove, a data glove with sensors for precise hand movement tracking.

  • B. Empowering Others: The Decision to Open Source the AcceleGlove (39:00-41:00)

  • Making the AcceleGlove’s software development kit open source to accelerate innovation.

  • The belief in collaboration and the potential for diverse applications through open technology.

  • C. The Impact of Open Source: A Wave of Creativity (41:00-43:00)

  • The success of the AcceleGlove among researchers, developers, and tech enthusiasts.

  • Fueling a wave of creative projects and advancements through shared knowledge and collaboration.

VII. Key Takeaways: Invention, Collaboration, and Adaptability

  • A. The Human Element of Invention (43:00-45:00)

  • Invention is not solely about technology but also about creativity, compassion, and problem-solving.

  • Lathan’s work exemplifies the human-centered approach to building a better future.

  • B. The Power of Collaboration and Open Source Technology (45:00-47:00)

  • Emphasizing the importance of sharing knowledge, partnering with diverse individuals, and embracing open source technology.

  • Lathan’s success highlights the potential of collective effort to achieve breakthroughs.

  • C. Embracing Challenges and Staying Curious (47:00-49:00)

  • Lathan’s journey demonstrates the importance of adaptability, persistence, and lifelong learning in the face of challenges.

  • A call to stay curious, embrace new perspectives, and never underestimate human ingenuity.

Cori Lathan
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