Kim Peek, aka Rain Man Focus of NASA Study

Bob Vila's Hammer writes "Kim Peek - an autistic man who has been deemed a "mega-savant" for his astonishing knowledge of 15 grand subjects ranging from history and literature, geography and numbers, to sports, music and dates - is a part of a new NASA study to explore the changes in his brain since MRI images were originally taken in 1988. Not only was he the basis of the main character in the movie Rain Man, but he apparently is getting smarter in his specialty areas as he gets older. The study has scientists hoping that technology used to study the effects of space travel on the brain will help explain his mental capabilities."

The article missed something.

[grub]

But he also is severely limited in other ways, like not being able to find the silverware drawer at home or dressing himself.

What's his /. UID?

Re:The article missed something.

[Dr Caleb]

What's his /. UID?

11606, why? (You knew that was coming as soon as you posted, right ;)

Cliche

[mboverload]

Can we make a beowulf cluster of him?

Re:The article missed something.

[roman_mir]

98. Definitely 98.

conspiracy theory 26

[Tablizer]

Maybe NASA is too lazy to count stars in Hubble images for density studies, and hope this dude can do it in one shot.

Put this dude on Jeopardy!!!

[sssmashy]

Maybe he could give Ken a run for his money. Also, I'd love to see some "rain man" style banter with Alex as an alternative to the usual tepid small talk.

I welcome

[mboverload]

I welcome our new autistic all-knowing overlords.

Re:NASA? strange brain things?

[zenmojodaddy]

Dumper than average?

Dump chimp?

You fail English? That's unpossible!

Re:Goal

[Timesprout]

Dude, there is no spoon.

Hmmm

[o0O Dooby O0o]

So... where is this guy? I want to take him to the casinos. Two for good, one for bad. :)

Yeah,

[robpoe]

Definately a waste of money. Big waste. yeah.

Re:They're both Mormon

[Equuleus42]

As another interesting side note, Ken Jennings answered a question (or is that questioned an answer) about Rain Man just a few shows ago... After answering he said "definitely, definitely."

Re:Cliche

[kfg]

Can we make a beowulf cluster of him?

Would you believe that Clonaid already has?

Ok, then would you believe that we could get AP to pick up the 'story'?

Ok, then would believe we could get Cowboy Neal to believe it and post it the /. front page?

Well, Ok, then how about Hymie is a beowulf cluster, but he can't find the silverware drawer either?

KFG

Mr. President, we must not allow a savant gap!

[Anonymous Coward]

"I think it would be extremely naive of us, Mr. President, to imagine that these new developments are going to cause any change in Chinese savant-expansionist policy. I mean, we must be... increasingly on the alert to prevent them from taking over other savant technology, in order to create savants more prodigiously than we do, thus, knocking us out with superior savants!

Mr. President, we must not allow... a mega-savant gap!"

Free Flat Screens [freeflatscreens.com] | Free iPod Photo [freephotoipods.com] | It really works! [wired.com]

Clarification

[Snaller]

Kim Peek - an autistic man who has been deemed a "mega-savant" for his astonishing knowledge of 15 grand subjects ranging from history and literature, geography and numbers, to sports, music and dates

That's dates as in "When was Christopher Columbus born" not "Take me in your strong arms and make passionate love to me"?

Re:conspiracy theory 26

[pilgrim23]

He can recall about 8000 books so he should be well grounded for other uses. NASA's next project is to have him generate an unending supply of position papers, mission statements, focus group study documentation, and other totally meaningless paperwork to account for all the $800 toilet seats. Peak is flushed with anticipation at the prospect...

Put him at the helm of the next shutlle launch

[I'm Spartacus!]

After all he is an excellent driver!

Re:Pork

[Anonymous Coward]

NASA is doing it because they want to find out why all the chimps they sent into space came back super-intelligent.

Re:Well no wonder then

[GeckoX]

Maybe beat Ken Jennings?

Re:I welcome

[putzin]

Can someone with autism truly manage to be an overlord? So, wouldn't it be more like the following?

I welcome our new all-knowing autistic differently-abled buddies who may or may not take over after someone helps them get dressed and eat breakfast.

Jeapordy grudge match...

[acherrington]

Kim Peek Versus Ken Jennings on Jepordy.... Wow that would be an episode to remember. Put that on prime time.

Re:Kim Peek not "autistic"

[pmsr]

So, that explains Dr. Strangelove behaviour.

/Pedro

Re:I welcome

[Tablizer]

I welcome our new autistic all-knowing overlords.

Already done. Remember the TV debates?:

"Definitely justified in invading Iraq. Definitely! Right thing to do, definitely right thing. Fight terrorists there instead of here. Definitely over there. Definitely there!"

Re:Jeapordy grudge match...

[Civil_Disobedient]

Kim Peek Versus Ken Jennings on Jepordy

And here's your host for Jeopardy... Joseph Smith [mormon.org].

Re:Goal

[Keith Maniac]

I'll take "Famous Titties" for 100.

That's "Titles", not "Titties"...

Now that's a genius

[skamuel]

The 53-year-old Peek is called a "mega-savant" because he is a genius in about 15 different subjects, from history and literature and geography to numbers, sports, music and dates.

Wow! Slashdotters, this guy could probably help us out with the girls!

The Solution to the Voting Machine Problem!!

[orcrist]

I'm surprised nobody has said this yet. We just have this guy count all the votes!

-chris

RainMan

[puremisery]

"January 12, 1965. Very snowy that day. 12.2 inches of snow that day."

Re:Kim Peek not "autistic"

[owlstead]

After saying all that, can you actually still read the 'C' on your keyboard?

Rain-Man's little secret

[nusratt]

"But he also is severely limited in other ways, like not being able to find the silverware drawer at home or dressing himself."

So, apparently he has exceptional abilities ONLY in things which are interesting.
And everything else, someone else has to do it for him.
How conveeeeeeeenient...

Slickest scam I've ever seen.