# Key Ideas from #hplusroadmap IRC Discussions

• Participants discussed SKDB, a package management system for hardware designs, debating file structure conventions and metadata handling, alongside efforts to scrape design files from Thingiverse (approximately 4,000 designs).

• A significant collection of longevity research (~400 papers) was shared at diyhpl.us, with the suggestion that reading 5 papers daily for a year could make someone knowledgeable in the field, indicating the community's focus on systematic self-education.

• DIY biohacking was explored, including RFID implants for home automation and neodymium magnet implants, revealing the practical implementation of transhumanist ideas and the philosophical implications of becoming a "cyborg."

• Advanced manufacturing technologies were discussed, including RepRap 3D printing's ability to create printed circuit boards, Diamondoid Mechanosynthesis (DMS), and Focused Ion Beam technology that can manipulate silicon at the atomic level.

• The group shared information about IBM's Watson system (10 racks of servers with 15TB memory and 2,880 CPU cores), demonstrating interest in cutting-edge AI systems and their capabilities.

• Participants explored NASA's synthetic biology initiatives and fellowship opportunities, alongside discussions of de novo designed proteins and Robert Freitas' work on nanorobotic control of human morbidity and aging.

• The conversation touched on aging research factors including telomerase, the WnT regulatory network, immune system/stem cell issues, and mitochondrial buildup, showing the community's multifaceted approach to longevity science.