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Cortical Cybernetic Implants
Floody writes "Wired is running a story with amazing cyberpunk "wow factor." Implanted visual cortex stimulation, complete with "percutaneous pedestal"; a metal jack installed directly into the skull. Where can I get a night vision enhancement module for this with HUD and distance finder?" We've posted a couple of previous stories about Dobelle and his work on bionic eyes, but this one has more details: one frame per second, $100,000. Wow.
Yes, very cool technology. The description however drove me nuts.
"My arms are under his, trying to steady the weight. His head snaps toward mine, and I take it on the chin with the force of a solid right cross."
Do we care about this? Can't he just say "occasionally, he has convulsions", rather than ranting on for multiple paragraphs about this mysterious device like its a sci-fi book.
You simply misread the article :)
No he didn't. You just restated what he said. Perhaps you misread his comment. Michael is the one who misread the article.
I will NOT be volunteering for beta-testing of. No, no and no. I'll wait for other people to pioneer this field. I like my brain, and until they get the "regenerate and repair of brain damage" thing down pat I'll wait. For people who need this, I'm happy it's advancing, but I want to give the tech a bit to mature to the point it's a viable elective option.
Er, wouldn't it be easier to use wireless communications and transdermal power rather than poking holes in you're #1 infection prevention mechanism (your skin)?
Every year during my review, I just pray the words "slashdot.org" aren't mentioned.
Augmented abilities like this are a form of power, and can be used for good or evil. The Borg, like most Hollywood cyborgs (with the exception of a few good guys like LaForge), tended to use it for evil, unfortunately. I suspect this stereotype won't go away until there's lots of people in the real world who use it for good.
Where can I get a night vision enhancement module for this with HUD and distance finder?
How about you just be thankful for having working eyes at all? It's something too many of us take for granted
Sounds just like reading a Jon Katz article.
"Eve of Destruction", it's not just for old hippies anymore...
Chew: "I designed your eyes."
Roy: "Chew, if only you could see what I've seen with your eyes."
Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion.
I'm sure that would be a last resort. First, it would attempt to deduct the appropriate royalties from your bank account.
I bet in the EULA you have to sign to use such a device there is a clause like:
" * Digital Rights Management (Security). You agree that in order to protect the integrity of content and software protected by digital rights management ("Secure Content"), [insert big corp here] may provide security related updates that will be automatically downloaded into your brain. These security related updates may disable your ability to see/listen Secure Content and/or may disable portions of your brain. If we provide such a security update, we will use reasonable efforts to post notices on a web site explaining the update."
(I like the last sentence best. I just could not make the last sentence any better than the original. This last sentence assures me that everything is fine and nobody has to worry.)
Now just let's hope that they never implement Product Activation on this. (Use of insecure content detected, brain shutting down...)
Do we really want new law crafted before 90% of the issues with a new device are known?
Of course we don't. But we typically don't get to significantly affect the law; we just get to live under what is imposed on us. Those who make the laws, on the other hand, often want to look like they're "doing something" about the current crisis, even if the best course of action is actually no action.
Well based on the number of rods and cones in the human eye, our eye's "resolution" is only approximately 1000 "pixels" if you consider a single rod or cone responding to an individual part of the visual field. The brain fills in a LOT of information for us to have such a rich visual experience.
Like the blind spot for example. Try this out, its quite neat. Grab a pencil with your right hand and cover your left eye. Hold the pencil vertically with the eraser at approximately eye level directly in front of you. Move the pencil slowly to the right but continue to look straight ahead with your right eye. Try not to look directly at the pencil, but you'll notice that the eraser will disappear about 30 deg right of center if you use your peripheral vision.
This phenomenon occurs because your eye lacks photoreceptors in that region of your fovia, which is where the optic nerve connects to your eyeball. Our brains are VERY excellent at filling in this gap and you would have never noticed this unless you tried a test like above. Patient Alpha's brain is doing the exact same thing with the information that's being presented to it. Even though he's only receiving a 32x32 image, his brain is learning to fill in the gaps and that is why he thought they upped the resolution.
Alison
"It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education." - Albert Einstein