# Summary of #hplusroadmap IRC Log (Dec 17, 2010)

* Kanzure shared a link to Melanie Swan's blog (futurememes.blogspot.com) and her "Singularity Index" project (openthoughtspace.pbworks.com), which appears to track metrics related to technological advancement toward a potential technological singularity.

* A discussion about the Presidential Commission's recommendations on synthetic biology mentioned that the Department of Homeland Security would be monitoring the field, with concerns raised about potential mandatory education/training sessions for DIY biology practitioners.

* Kanzure shared Maria Konovalenko's blog post summarizing important themes in aging research as presented by Melanie Swan (mariakonovalenko.wordpress.com/2010/12/16/melanie-swan-a-summary-of-important-themes-in-aging-research/).

* The channel discussed monitoring statistics from the London Hackspace (hack.rs/cacti/graph_view.php) and a platform called GetItMade (getitmade.com) that appears to be related to manufacturing.

* Google's Ngram Viewer tool was explored to analyze historical trends in word usage, including terms related to intellectual property (copyright, patent, trademark) and societal values (liberty, justice, fairness).

* A RepRap blog post about 3D printing and intellectual property was shared (blog.reprap.org/2010/11/3d-printing-and-intellectual-property.html), along with a "Pirated CupCake" project that demonstrated lower-cost but more time-intensive 3D printing alternatives.