# Key Points from #hplusroadmap IRC Conversation

• Participants discussed the opportunity to acquire lab equipment at low prices from a bankrupt biotech company (Manros Therapeutics), highlighting the informal equipment exchange networks that exist within the biohacking community.

• An electrical engineer provided technical insights on anti-taser technology, explaining that conductive clothing would be more effective than capacitors for shorting tasers due to electricity following the path of least resistance.

• The community discussed the need for better academic paper sharing tools, with someone proposing a "pyscholar" IRC bot that would function like Zotero but without requiring a browser interface.

• Tension in the RepRap community was highlighted regarding open-source practices, with some developers wanting to maintain private code for commercial advantage while others argued that source availability is essential for community advancement.

• A substantive discussion occurred about neural interfaces versus external augmentation devices, debating whether non-invasive technologies like HUD contact lenses might be preferable to neural implants for sensory enhancement.

• Robotics developments from Willow Garage were shared, including a "bug" robot with table navigation capabilities and a Japanese "Hightek" robot demonstrating advanced balance.

• The conversation briefly touched on transhumanist organizations, noting that "Humanity+" (formerly the World Transhumanist Association) represents an organized aspect of the movement at humanityplus.org.