TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to review proposals for earthquake prediction and study using accelerometers incorporated in laptop computers. Also reviewed is a lecture by Stephen Wolfram, creator of the Mathematica software package, introducing a new venture called Wolfram Alpha that combines computation with access to real‐world data. Developments in neural imaging techniques and some findings are discussed, including a remarkable manifestation of neural plasticity.Design/methodology/approach– The aim is to review developments on the internet, especially those of general cybernetic interest.Findings– Use of accelerometers, incorporated in laptop computers for a different purpose, appears to offer valuable opportunities for earthquake prediction and study. Exactly what will emerge from the Wolfram‐Alpha initiative remains to be seen but it holds great promise. New neuroimaging techniques have shown their worth in producing new findings, including one that reveals interesting neural plasticity.Practical implications– Earthquake prediction and study, especially by a means that can be implemented quickly and cheaply, is of obvious value in quake‐prone areas such as California. Wolfram Alpha may come to be as familiar a tool as search engines are today. A primary aim of cybernetics is unravelling the working of the central nervous system, and both ethical and practical considerations favour non‐invasive means of investigation such as new neuroimaging techniques that have already proved their worth.Originality/value– It is hoped this is a valuable periodic review.
VL  - 40
IS  - 3/4
SN  - 0368-492X
DO  - 10.1108/03684921111156642
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/03684921111156642
AU  - Andrew Alex M.
ED  - Raul Espejo
PY  - 2011
Y1  - 2011/01/01
TI  - Earthquake prediction, Wolfram Alpha, neuroimaging
T2  - Kybernetes
PB  - Emerald Group Publishing Limited
SP  - 585
EP  - 588
Y2  - 2024/04/19
ER  -