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Implant a Chip in Your Head

vic_1066 writes "Brain chips sound pretty Orwellian, but the tech has come a long way (Soul eating registration required) in the past few years. Not that I'll be signing up anytime soon to get my head sliced open just for kicks, but if I was massively paralyzed this would be welcome news. If you get a chance, check out Cyberkinetics Inc."

45 of 204 comments (clear)

  1. Mnemonic? by Orgazmus · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is it possible to do some mnemonic shit with this tech?
    I would really like to regain some of my toked away memory ;)

    --
    The system had the verbosity of HTML combined with all the readability of compiled assembly viewed as bitmap images
    1. Re:Mnemonic? by maxbang · · Score: 2, Funny

      Sure, why not? Just make sure you have your mnemonic kit. You know, your motion detector, data encryptor, memory doubler, mouthguard, tai-chi manual, and last, but not least, super hot ass-kickin epileptic bodyguard.

      --
      I also reply below your current threshold.
  2. What about using this for video game play? by Phoenix-kun · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I have a friend who was in a near fatal auto accident several months ago (not her fault, btw). She is now paralyzed from the chest down and has only limited control of her hands. Before the accident, she was one of the best competitive video game players that I've ever had the pleasure to know. Now, almost 6 months after the accident, she can play turn-based games OK, but does not have the fine control for the fast action FP type games. It would be so wonderful if something like this could give that ability back to her.

    --
    Phoenix
    1. Re:What about using this for video game play? by IceAgeComing · · Score: 2, Informative

      Follow the CyberKinetics link above: they've already implanted chips in monkeys and taught them to play video games with brainwaves alone.

    2. Re:What about using this for video game play? by SmackCrackandPot · · Score: 2, Funny

      Follow the CyberKinetics link above: they've already implanted chips in monkeys and taught them to play video games with brainwaves alone.

      But were they able to win Quake III levels at nightmare setting, and take out all the terrorists in Counterstrike?

    3. Re:What about using this for video game play? by Ygorl · · Score: 2, Informative

      At this point the level of control the monkeys have isn't wonderful; good enough for HoMM probably, but pretty useless for any FPS games.

  3. Already have one, we all do. by grub · · Score: 5, Funny


    Implant a Chip in Your Head

    Does it act as a co-processor to the one the government puts in our heads at birth?

    Don't laugh!: Using your index and middle finger feel your skull at the base where your spinal column meets your skull. Notice that little bump? Now with your middle finger pressed firmly on the bump rub it with your index finger across the bottom near your top vertebra.

    Feel that hard thing move? Of course not, but I'll bet there are hundreds of geeks like you pressing two fingers against their skull at this very moment. :)

    --
    Trolling is a art,
    1. Re:Already have one, we all do. by the_mad_poster · · Score: 2, Funny

      Tonight at 5!

      Thousands of lonely men wearing foil hats were found paralyzed in the basements of their parents homes today. All were found staring at the same article from the "Slashdot" website. An infamous cult leader named "grub" has been named as the primary suspect in this bizarre case.

      --
      Alito: A vote for Alito is a punch in the eye to put that bitch back in her place!
  4. Me neither by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 5, Funny

    but the tech has come a long way (Soul eating registration required) in the past few years. Not that I'll be signing up anytime soon

    That's right, it's just disgraceful. I'll never ever sign up to get NY Time account...

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  5. Sadly... by baudilus · · Score: 4, Insightful

    People that accept these will likely believe it will turn them into Jake 2.0. Sadly, it's more likely to turn them into human RFID tags.

  6. External memory would be nice. by Jin+Wicked · · Score: 4, Interesting

    So far I rely on pen and paper to remember everything... I mean seriously, I have a lot of trauma in my past and the way my brain dealt with it was to just become so forgetful that I can barely remember what I did the week before.

    I'd really like some safe, secure way to "back my brain up" as it were, besides filling albums with photos to job my memory.

    --
    My Webcomic: Asylum on 5th Street
    1. Re:External memory would be nice. by Alric · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I recently had a long discussion on this very topic. The eventual conclusion was that if we can backup the brain, then we should be able to restore it also. So, we will almost be able to treat life like a video game, with save-points, especially if our robot bodies come soon.

      Scenario>>
      ME: Hmm, I wonder what it feels like to jump off of a cliff.

      Paramedics arrive at the scene of the gruesome death.

      Medic1: Oy, that's one mangled robot carcass.
      Medic2: What's that clutched in his strong, metal robot hand? A suicide note?
      Medic1: It says, "Please revert to 4/12/04 Backup at IP:143.233.211.2.1.1.0.3".
      >>

      Oh what a wonderful world it will be.

    2. Re:External memory would be nice. by Noofus · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Only problem with this is that now you dont have the memory of the experience so you wouldnt know what it was like. However you probabl;y do that the "thought pattern" in your mind that would lead you to ask this question, and thus repeat your actions. :)

  7. Chips and trips by Hekatchu · · Score: 3, Insightful

    There's nothing new there, but, it's just so surprising that there's so little the world can offer to SciFi litterature, but so much SciFi can offer to reality.

  8. the implantable V-chip by emtboy9 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now you can implant your child with the new profanity sensing V-chip. Yes, you child can grow up happy, healty, and wholesome thanks to this new technology. The V-Chip is implanted directly into your childs brain and will emit a tiny negative reinforcement whenever your child attempts to utter an obscenity, disobey, or otherwise act like a child of his or her age.

    Also for adults, the Viagra-Chip, and for Politicians, the VAccountablility chip. Working with Pfiser, the Viagra-Chip, when implanted in the adult brain, will stimulate sexual desire and promote long term erections, overcoming such things as headaches, modesty, impotence and other debilitating male problems.

    The Politican version will emit a tiny negative reinforcement every time a politican attempts to lie to the public, or attempts to promote or approve of a policy in which he or she will do everything possible to avoid accountability.

    Coming soon, built in GPS, public registration numbers, ATM and bank account numbers, and even a full, updated copy of your credit history. Now all you need to do is wave a wand over your head to get instant loan approval!

    (The U.S. Governemt endorses the GPS/ID enabled V-Chip implant, but swears to God that they will not use it to track, monitor, or otherwise ride herd on any U.S. Citizen. They really mean it. The promise! Cross their hearts and hope to die.)

    --
    "Our funds have never taken part in toxic or death spiral convertible financings of any sort" -BayStar's managing partne
  9. Interface, Stephen Bury by denubis · · Score: 2, Informative

    Interface, by Stephen Bury (a pseudonym for Neal Stephenson) is a fun exploration of media manipulation coupled with this idea. It goes slightly over the top in assuming the resources mentioned, but in terms of showing what is possible, it's quite interesting.

    It's also a very fun read.

  10. Brain implants are very useful! by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 4, Funny

    I
    personally
    had my +
    HP
    8
    6
    *
    implanted
    EVAL
    "and I"
    feel
    just
    fine
    PRG
    STO A

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  11. Re:Brain chips huh?? by dr_dank · · Score: 2, Funny

    I hope my brain can finally play imported and backed up games.

    --
    Where does the school board find them and why do they keep sending them to ME?
  12. spam by WormholeFiend · · Score: 2, Funny

    Until we've solved the problem of spam, I'm not getting any kind of hardware/software combination implanted anywhere in my body. (This includes penile implants. Yes, I'm talking to you Mr Spammer.)

  13. Orwellian? by meringuoid · · Score: 5, Interesting
    ... Which of Orwell's works do we have in mind here? Down and Out in Paris and London, perhaps? Animal Farm? I can't remember brain chips anywhere in Orwell.

    Perhaps it was 1984? But as I remember it, the Party had never been able to develop a technique to discover what another human being was thinking. The inside of the human mind remained untouchable; it was the last sanctuary from their totalitarianism. Hence their reliance on propaganda and torture as cruder methods of mind control...

    --
    Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
  14. Add that to your resume by Nobody's+Hero · · Score: 5, Insightful

    My only real question in all of this is where is it headed?(mind the pun there) Are all of us tech geeks going to be required to be able to "jack" into the computer systems we administrate in the near future? Will programmers start designing software that allows us to see the layout of our network graphicly in our heads as we sit semi-concious in chairs? Maybe not, but it is a possibilty.

    My curiousity is when will this sort of thing become competitve enough that it will start to be asked for on job applications? When will it get to the point that it is no longer an option but a requirement in order to administer large networks?

    This sort of thing is straight out of movies, like Johny Mnemonic even from role playing games like Shadowrun.

    If this sort of thing comes to fruition would you have a chip installed in your head?

    I know I would.

    But I don't know many others that would comprimise their bodies for a career. Would you?

    --
    The Only Person Willing to be Me is ME!
    1. Re:Add that to your resume by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I would get a chip, in fact, I hope and pray I can get one before I die. I'm still quite young, so I might see the day.

      The killer application will, as always, be sex and games. Who wouldn't want to experience fully immersive games and "recreational" programs so real you'd have to build some sort of system into it distinguish it from "reality". And mimicing reality is only the beginning, it's the unreal possibilities I want to experience in full lucidity with all my senses.

      One problem is, would you dare be an early adaptor? What if when Version 2.0 of said brain interface comes around you can't upgrade because the damage is done to the wetware. As new, better, versions would be installed in young people, we'd label older persons with their now defunct chips obsolete. Perhaps it's just an extension of age discrimination and not much worse than what we have now, still, it makes one think.

  15. Now I'm interested in one thing... by francium+de+neobie · · Score: 5, Funny

    How many GBs of porn can it store? >:D

  16. You'll wind up acting like Keanu Reeves by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny
    In Johnny Mnemonic.

    And getting "miscast as someone with too much information in his head."

  17. Bluetooth in your brain - psycho spam! by Jason+Straight · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wait until people get bluetooth type radio chips in their head for the purpose of telepathy, then the spammers will be sending messages straight to your brain!

    The voices in my head told me to get a bigger penis!

  18. Re:I'd get one by Fortress · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'd say it gives a whole new reason for the tinfoil hat. Keeps them from reading what's stored on your brain chip. Or reprogramming it. Or installing Windows on it.

  19. Brings a new meaning by trailerparkcassanova · · Score: 2, Funny

    to the phrase "Having a chip on your shoulder".

  20. Implants. Hmm. by troon · · Score: 2, Funny

    I know this is going to start a huge discussion of religion in general, but if I can save one person's soul, it's worth it.

    Read Revelation 13 and 14. Take your time - this is one of the most obscure bits of the Bible that is very hard to relate to real life.

    Note what happens at 13:16 - financial transactions are now dependent on some sort of mark (implant?) on the right hand or forehead.

    Skip forward to 14:9, and see what the third angel says. Anyone who takes the mark is out of reach of the salvation through Jesus that all those pesky evangelicals keep trying to push on you. That is your only bridge to eternal life in paradise burned.

    Think about it when the time comes. I know that this particular article is about helping paralysis, and that's great. Just be aware of the danger. Imagine one of those annoying "Are you sure?" dialog boxes.

    Note to moderators: I'd suggest "Troll", "Off-Topic" or "Flamebait", but the Great Commission compels me to write this...

    --
    Ydco co ,df C erb-y go. a Ekrpat t.fxrapev
    1. Re:Implants. Hmm. by Moraelin · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Disclaimer: I'm not particularly religious, but I did make a point to read the bible. (And the Koran, and several others.)

      It seems to me like first of all, it clearly speaks of a mark, not of an implant deep inside your body. Second, what it speaks of there, is about accepting the rule of the antichrist and the social/economic structure that comes with it, not about merely getting a medical implant.

      As far as I know, so far noone's asking you to accept some particular government to get a simple medical implant. Noone asked that you change religions to get any other surgery, you know. And noone has been so far asked to get a peg-leg to be allowed to conduct business, so, you know, I doubt they'll be required to get an implant against paralysis either.

      I.e., relax. When someone starts asking you to sell your soul or give up some rights to get such an implant, _then_ you can start worrying. But until then, relax.

      That said, as the old saying goes, "Jesus is OK, but his fanboys piss me off". Ever considered that going crackpot and seeing antichrist conspiracies everywhere might actually do more harm than good towards "saving souls"?

      Even skipping over the "would I want to be associated to a group of conspiracy crackpots" question, it still just begs the question: "would I give a damn about being 'saved' by a god who's against getting a simple medical implant?"

      Sorry, but I have to question how would such a deity count as 'good'. Requiring people to basically just forego medical help and stay paralyzed, just to prove their faith? Doesn't sound like a benevolent deity to me. In fact, it sounds closer to "lawful evil" than anything else.

      --
      A polar bear is a cartesian bear after a coordinate transform.
  21. Slight downside (and opportunity) by borkus · · Score: 2, Interesting
    If you think keeping a fresh ear lobe piercing clean is tough, imagine keeping a skull piercing clean.

    ...the signals from the chip are carried out of the body by wires coming through the skull. When the system is to be used, a cable will be connected to the wires. ... The opening in the skin is permanent and poses a risk of infection...
    Infections were rare and treatable, Dr. Mukand said, and the incidence should be even lower in people, who understand the risk...One uncertainty is whether the implants will move around over time or cause scarring. Either could lead to loss of the neuron signal.
    Of course, I wonder if someone is working on a socket to which bone and skin will graft. If you can get tissue to seal around the housing for the wires, it would make it even easier for people with the implant to live normally.
  22. Trails in 2004! by virtigex · · Score: 2, Funny

    They hope to start trials in 2004 and you can sign up at sales@cyberkineticsinc.com. Unfortunately, the software runs only on Windows, so you would run the risk of your brain getting hacked.

  23. v-chip by bl8n8r · · Score: 2, Funny

    I know a dude named Cartman that they already did this to. it is completely safe, just don't cuss at fluffy kitty.

    --
    boycott slashdot February 10th - 17th check out: altSlashdot.org
  24. Re:Brain chips huh?? by maxwell+demon · · Score: 2, Funny

    Only if you also install that mod chip which disables DRM. It's a good idea anyway, since it also allows you to remember details of that song you heared yesterday, as well as if you really liked it. Now if I only could remember where you could get that chip ... and what it was for ... ah, yes, got it again, it's the new Trusted Thinking chip which protects your brain from spam and other evil information, and you can get it directly from ... what do you mean, you're not interested in that? Didn't you just ask ... mod chip? What's that?

    --
    The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
  25. Soul eating registration required by bgeer · · Score: 5, Insightful
    If you are concerned about the NYT's registration then why did you cite their version of the story? You people do realize that NYT and TWP just base their science stories on press releases right? I assure you that there is not a single person at NYT who has a degree in neuroscience, and I doubt there are many more than a half-dozen who even have BSes.

    Why therefore do people submit science stories with a link to NYT when they could just link to the source material? This is the frigging internet. You can do just as much research as the press-release-editing typewriter monkey at NYT can.

    For instance, the facts in this story were reported six months ago on ScienceDaily , three months ago on Wired and dozens of other places that could be found in 20-30 seconds on googlage.

    In summary, if you don't like NYT's registration, don't link to it. You are advertising for them.
    </rant>

  26. Carpal tunnel be gone! by herrlich_98 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    How many words per minute could I type if I didn't actually have to move my fingers?

    To say nothing of having an imbeded PDA in my head reminding me of appointments I'm missing.

    What I *really* want is image recognition tied into my vision so I can instantly remember the name anyone I've ever seen before.

  27. Welcome to the shadows, chummer by Unknown+Kadath · · Score: 3, Funny

    Forget datajacks; I want cybereyes, a smartlink, bone lacing, and wired reflexes. I'll be the baddest street sam in Seattle. No, really. CP 2020 and Shadowrun are starting to look less and less like games.

    If the US Department of Defense incorporates and starts handing out business cards, or kids start getting born with pointy ears, I'm moving to New Zealand.

    -Carolyn

    --
    Like Daddy always said: if you can't dazzle 'em with brilliance, baffle 'em with bullshit.
  28. Nobody remebers 'seeing' this in wired? by Louis+A.+J. · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Wired 10.09: Vision Quest

    "A half century of artificial-sight research has succeeded. And now this blind man can see."
    The patient lost his sight to accidents. By inserting brain implants and connecting them to cameras he can 'see' well enough to drive again. The dataflow direction is reversed but the implementation is the same.

  29. Time will tell by Amtiskaw · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This technology is interesting, but as long as it is reliant on sticking spiked electrodes into your brain to reach neurons, it's not going to be that useful. If/when nano-tech develops to the point where it can be used to effectively interface with large volumes of neurons, with minimal intrusion into the physical brain, then we might see some cool/frightening stuff happening.

  30. Holding out by RulesLawyer · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm still waiting for my Google implant.

    Then I'll kick some serious butt on Jeopardy.

  31. um... by Run4yourlives · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I want my brain to be powered by Dual G5's or may some old Dec Aplha cpu's. Yeah !!!

    So you want the brain power of a mouse, or maybe a grasshopper?

    Dare to dream dude.

  32. Hmm. by Run4yourlives · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Not to argue your entire post, but I would like to point out some things you said in the following paragraph, because I think that although you've read the Bible and are being (rightly) critical, you've missed the point of the verse.

    As far as I know, so far noone's asking you to accept some particular government to get a simple medical implant.

    Ah if life were that simple! You're right, nobody explicitly does such things, but implicitly, the consent is given. At the risk of ending this thread (!) nobody voted for hitler to kill 6 million jews either, yet the implicit consent was given by society. The verse warns that it's under this environment that the mark is given.

    Noone asked that you change religions to get any other surgery, you know.

    Again, not explicitly. But what if the path society is following starts to contradict your religion? It may mean nothing to you or me to participate in a capitalist "winner take all" society, but what does it mean to someone that feels that this isn't the right path? One could always move, but remember that the in Revalation the government is global.

    And noone has been so far asked to get a peg-leg to be allowed to conduct business, so, you know, I doubt they'll be required to get an implant against paralysis either.

    Of course not, but try living without a credit card... or how about a bank account... these are enormous amounts of control in the hands of the very few.

    The sky isn't falling, but until we get our act together, technology will give plenty to us, all the while taking plenty away.

  33. Call me a purist ... by CFTM · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Alright so I'm a recovering Geek so maybe my opinions don't count (I used to spend 8-10 hours a day on a computer in some manifestation, now I just use the thing to write essays and listen to music ... at work I read slashdot because I have nothing else to do). I think that the idea of chip implentation holds some ostounding possibilities but I feel it's a Pandora's Box. Where do we stop? What if people decide to stop living their life in reality and choose to just plug in and have fantasies fed straight in to the brain.

    The underlying core of being a human being is the ability to make connections with other human beings, thus the next logical question becomes are the connections that could be made "jacked-in" to an artificial reality be considered real. In my estimation it would be "possible" but quite a bit more difficult. As it is we all live behind masks (hence the term persona was adapted from Greek ... the original meaning comes from Greek theatre and it was actually mask) and it is often difficult to get beyond those masks, which is necessay for a real connection to be made between two individuals. Thus the "plugged-in" notion would create another layer of illusion that we would have to deal with in order to make connections.

    Another danger that I think exists with these sorts of interface are eluded to by Phillip K. Dick in some of his speeches and philosophical panderings; Dick asserts that at birth we are not "human beings" rather we exist as entities that have the potential to become so. He goes on to argue that due to the advances that are occuring within the computer world that our definition of who exactly can be a "human being" will need to be redifined. In essence Dick is attempting to assert the idea that we could have human-robots and robotic-humans. In other words, artificially created entities could attain personhood while homo sapiens could degenerate in to cold machines that are not human anymore.

    Those criticsm being said, I think the technology has some amazing potential. I just don't plan to be having anyone or anything jacked in to my cranium, I enjoy my insanity and would like to keep it to myself thank you very much!

  34. Not again... by DynaSoar · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "Brain chips sound pretty Orwellian"

    Such phrasing is apparently all it takes to get something like this into /. Is there some reason the science can't stand on its own and requires fearmongering to make it worthy?

    "First clinical trials planned for 2004."

    They don't even know if it'll work. And if it does, these things are no more Orwellian than a joystick. RTFA and then act like you did, and stop submitting/releasing ScienceFUD. If you need a fix of Brain Eating Monsters, go turn on SciFi Channel or something.

    --
    "I may be synthetic, but I'm not stupid." -- Bishop 341-B