Brain chip reads man's thoughts

[Spearthrower]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4396387.stm


Who needs a mouse?


Really interesting that this kind of technology is moving forwards.... and nice to see it is being funded for the right reason rather than for military ones.

 

[nivi]

I remember seeing this a while back when it was in testing, they asked a man to draw a circle, it came out quite horible, but it was a circle. Pretty cool.

 

[El_Machinae]

Since there's initial progress ("proof of concepts"), the further progress will merely be a function of popularity. Booyah.

 

[Smidlee]

I thought it was the other way around with the test run on apes. The test was at first design to read the apes brain but in the end the brain learned how to read the computer.

 

[Chandrasekhar]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4396387.stm


Who needs a mouse?


Really interesting that this kind of technology is moving forwards.... and nice to see it is being funded for the right reason rather than for military ones.

Oh, do you want to talk about the military applications now?

 

[ohcrapitsnico]

Oh, do you want to talk about the military applications now?

I can see it now....mass genocide now without lifting a finger!

 

[Godwynn]

This makes me very, very nervous.

 

[Spearthrower]

I can see it now....mass genocide now without lifting a finger!

Hey but come on, if they can achieve mass genocide with an application/weapon/technology - the lifting of the finger is the least of the issue.

 

[Bill3000]

I had to read a scientific paper on this stuff in my Bioelectricity class. Pretty neat stuff, though it's still incredibly primitive. Currently it's in a state where it is merely finding which places of the brain do what and arbitrarily sticking electrodes on those places, rather than something more thorough.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

There are many technologies we should push for, but this isn't one of them.

 

[frob2900]

This makes me very, very nervous.

Why on earth?

There are many technologies we should push for, but this isn't one of them.

Are you serious?

 

[Spearthrower]

There are many technologies we should push for, but this isn't one of them.

Any reason why not?

If it gives people with severe disability a chance at controlling their surroundings, surely that's a very humane approach to technology.

Having had a disabled parent all my life (well, since I was 2) anything that could make the world easier for my mum is valuable to me.

 

[nivi]

They're scared of a 1984 type situation.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Are you serious?

Yes.

Any reason why not?

If it gives people with severe disability a chance at controlling their surroundings, surely that's a very humane approach to technology.

Having lived with a disabled parent all my life (well, since I was 2) anything that could make the world easier for my mum is valuable to me.

I never said there weren't honorable applications for this technology, but I do think the potential dangers of such things far outweigh the benefits.

 

[hossam]

it will start with medecine but soon we will all be thought criminal. i told eveybody george orwell had it right on in the 1984 thread but every body was like"nooo brave new world is better"(imagine it being said in a stupid manner).

 

[frob2900]

Yes.
...
I never said there weren't honorable applications for this technology, but I do think the potential dangers of such things far outweigh the benefits.

What are the potential dangers?

They're scared of a 1984 type situation.

Yawn.

 

[Spearthrower]

I'm still at a loss why pushing a red button with your finger and pushing it with technology from your mind is any different?

Giving people this technology wont turn them into murderers.

I haven't actually seen a reason why yet..... is it some inexplicable fear?

 

[frob2900]

I'm still at a loss why pushing a red button with your finger and pushing it with technology from your mind is any different?

Giving people this technology wont turn them into murderers.

I haven't actually seen a reason why yet..... is it some inexplicable fear?

It's called Luddism. I'm pretty sure it's some primal human fear of progress that makes people scared of things like this.

 

[El_Machinae]

I've known for quite some time that we're soon going to be in an age where a machine will easily be able to read your mind.

We'll need a legal framework to protect against abuse, I guess. I also try to live my life such that I won't be too embarrassed if my brain becomes known to others (it just seems to make sense)

 

[Spearthrower]

at the luddist comment!

I'm sure that's not the reason, but it was funny!