Midday on Technology: Three Innovators at Hi-Tech's Frontier

Tom's guests today are three innovators who are working at the frontiers of high technology -- a technology that could be moving us closer to the historic milestone futurists call the “Singularity,” when human cognition merges with machines. Whether it’s intelligent robotic systems for the battlefield, or biomechanical limbs that really touch and feel, or those Internet-based oracles -- think Siri, Echo and Alexa -- that are starting to run our smart homes, it’s easy to believe that the ----future---- is very nearly upon us. But are we ready for it? Do we understand how these smart machines will change our lives? Do we know how to navigate safely through the complex -- and sometimes dangerous -- cyber landscape that suddenly surrounds us?Tom's three guests today will help us answer those questions.Joining us in the studio is Tina Williams-Koroma. She’s a lawyer, entrepreneur, educator and the founder and president of TCecure, a Silver Spring, Maryland, company that provides cyber-security and network intelligence to public sector and commercial clients.Also with us in the studio is Bob Armiger. He is a robotics expert who leads the Biological Sciences and Engineering Group at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, where his current projects include developing neuro-prosthetic limbs that can restore full sensory function to warfighter amputees.And joining the conversation by phone is Harris Edge. He’s the Acting Chief of the Autonomous Systems Division of the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Harford County, Maryland, and has been leading research on a variety of unmanned vehicles, drones and intelligent “limbed” machines designed to support military units, in and out of combat.All three of Tom's guests will be taking part in an expanded Great Talk panel, titled ----Star Trek Technology, Innovations and Ideas -- For Real---- next Tuesday, March 20 @ 7pm, in the Forbush Auditorium of The Friends School of Baltimore at 5114 N.Charles Street. Follow the Great Talk link above for ticket and schedule information for this event and others in this inaugural Season of Talk series.Email us at [email protected], tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.