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Going Cyberpunk

Posted by michael on from the need-a-brain-for-my-master dept.

goingincirclez writes "Cnet has an article about the development of a "Neuro-chip". This can be implanted in the brain and is currently being researched for medical uses. The article makes a brief mention the composition of pictures on a computer based on signlas receieved from the brain. Couple this development with the information in this Wired article from last October, and I can't help but wonder how far we are from literally being able to record dreams and thoughts?" On a similar note there are stories about a temperature-sensing implantable microchip and a scientist who claims he can tell whether you've committed a crime.

10 of 212 comments (clear)

  1. Imagine this idea by Rooked_One · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Right now, we are limited to a mouse and keyboard to compete in games like quake 3.

    Imagine that all you would have to do is hook a little matrix type needle in your head and you could compete based on pure reflexes and just how fast your brain can work, and not on a malfunctioning optical mouse.

    Geez, when I think of it like that, there could be all sorts of implications for something like this from being a lie detector to measureing IQ.

  2. No reading of minds yet by AntiFreeze · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Quoth the article:

    "For example, you could put slices from brain nerve cells on the chip, apply drugs and see how the nerve signals" and cells react to a particular drug, he said in an interview.

    So reading one's mind is still _far_ in the future. That said, it's still a very cool technology which will allow for more information on how the brain works, and hopefully some serious medical advances.

    --

    ---
    "Of course, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong." --Dennis Miller

    1. Re:No reading of minds yet by blindcoder · · Score: 5, Interesting

      And that's a shame.

      Is there anyone else out there who sometimes when coding has the feeling:

      Dammit... I have all that code in my brain, and now I have to type away hours on the keyboard to put it into my 'puter.

      I really hoped that this feeling would finally be able to subside...

      --
      See my blog for my free opinions.
  3. An upside... by The+G · · Score: 4, Interesting

    You know, I'm glad there are scientists out there who can tell whether I've committed a crime. Because with all these bizarre and incomprehensible laws out there, I sure as heck don't know when I have. Perhaps if I get one of these chip things it will tell me when my code touches a patented technology or happens to break some loser's copy-protection technology from the mid-80s.
    --G

    1. Re:An upside... by ch-chuck · · Score: 3, Interesting

      You pull an old tv out of the attic and check it out, thinking it might sell on eBay. Just as you turn the UHF knob toward the upper end of the dial a paralysing shock knocks your hand numb and a loud thought-voice says, in a friendly, evenly modulated female tone, "I'm sorry, you were about to tune into a frequency band used for private unencrypted voice conversations, prohibited by federal law. I cannot allow that to happen Dave."

      Next day during a break at work, you come across, in the dark fringe areas of the web, a very large prime number - suddenly your field of vision blacks out with a searing headache and the same thought-voice says, "I'm sorry, you were about to view a number which, when uncompressed, contains information that may be used to circumvent video copy protection, prohibited by federal law. I cannot allow that to happen Dave."

      --
      try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
    2. Re:An upside... by CommieLib · · Score: 4, Interesting

      'There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. When there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. ... Create a nation of law-breakers, and then you cash in on the guilt.'

      -Ayn Rand "Atlas Shrugged"

      --
      If your bitterest enemies are people who hack the heads off civilians, then I would say you're doing something right.
  4. In the beginning was the THOUGHT by solendril · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Now what REALLY matters is the interface. It's not much good to have a computer wired to your cortex is all you can do is type on your brain's command line.

    What will make this take off is a thought-processor. An interface device that allows the computer to read your mind. The real challange will be in signal filtering; I don't want to speak for anyone else, but I think about a lot of random crap during the day. How to distinguish legitimate commands from my daydreaming about travel or movies or p0rn?

    Whoever invents this will make Einstein look like a small time celebrity.

  5. Why a chip? by joel8x · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Who in their right mind would get a chip implanted in their body? With technology advancing as fast as it does, you would be outdated in a couple of years! A better Idea would be a port that can be easily accessed that can support future upgrades without surgery.

    --
    Sound waves should be free!
  6. Two questions... by Jack+William+Bell · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Suppose you could get a chip inplanted in your brain that would allow you to control a computer with thought. Two questions:
    1. Would you be willing to be a beta tester?
    2. Would the answer to question One depend on the operating system in ran?
    --
    - -
    Are you an SF Fan? Are you a Tru-Fan?
  7. Missing the point by Jabber3776 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Really let's think about it. If we can record our dreams and thoughts, especially for those of us that do our best writing in our head and can never seem to get it on paper, it could be a useful tool. What about those that are deaf and blind? A way that would have the ability to reconnect the broken links. The possiblities are endless. It's not about creating super human machines; or making big brother. It's taking science and and medicine a step further. A way to help build new and better interpersonal commuinications for those that have trouble with this.