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The Internet Meets the Neural Net

orangesquid writes "OpenEEG is a system for getting data from your brain to your computer. Recently, work was resumed on scEEG, a soundcard-based system which may one day make home EEG systems very cheap (they currently cost a few hundred US$ to put together; there are, though, some potential cheaper alternatives). But, what research is being done into getting data from your computer to your brain? There have been some systems that inject optical signals into your eyes, but, what about direct neural interfacing? It seems EMF and light are one option; playing with neurotransmitters may be another. What do /.'ers foresee coming in this field? What research have you seen being done? Particularly, is any of this to the point where homemade, low-cost systems are feasible? Where can I find out how to inject signals into my head? Combining this with openEEG might lead to some exciting new levels of Internet addiction."

27 of 394 comments (clear)

  1. Excellent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The sooner I can get that Google extension for my brain, the better.

    1. Re:Excellent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      serluny: how long did it took u to learn c?
      ReDPriest:4.5 minutes
      serluny:how did u do that?
      ReDPriest:i downloaded it into my brain..i got a program to do that
      serluny:what program
      ReDPriest:download shit into your brain v3.1
      serluny:how do i download it?
      ReDPriest: go to www.downloadable-shit-for-your-brain.com

      bash.org/?993

  2. Risky? by usefool · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...homemade, low-cost systems are feasible? Where can I find out how to inject signals into my head?

    Homemade, low-cost, inject signals into my head... For some reasons I don't think this is one place for DIY :)

    --
    Uselessful technology (Air-Charged
  3. I know... by wyldeone · · Score: 2, Funny

    Kungfu!

    --
    In the beginning the universe was created. This made a lot of people very angry and is widely considered as a bad move.
  4. Please don't tell MSFT about this by KevinKnSC · · Score: 3, Funny

    Considering how many times my Windows computers have crashed, I'd hate to think what Microsoft Brain Server 2008 will do to me.

  5. hmm by uprightcitizen · · Score: 5, Funny
    What do /.'ers foresee coming in this field?

    Porn. I foresee lots and lots of porn in the field.

  6. Isn't it obvious by fireman+sam · · Score: 4, Funny

    "But, what research is being done into getting data from your computer to your brain?..."

    Duh, a monitor!

    "getting data from your brain to your computer."

    Damn, that is a tough one? How about a keyboard.

    btw, I'm *trying* to be funny.

    --
    it is only after a long journey that you know the strength of the horse.
    1. Re:Isn't it obvious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Of course, you must realize that is technology for transfering data to computers acutally predates computers. The use of fingers applied to keys to transmit data has been well understood since at least the invention of the typewriter. Some scholars even suppose the earliest incarnation of this kind of technology involved the dragging of sticks across dead plants; an art called "writing;" and one that I'm sure is lost to the /. crowd. Guess it went the way of punctuation, spelling, and grammar.

      I'm trying to be funny too.

  7. You'll need a good firewall by SteamyMobile · · Score: 4, Funny

    MindGuard provides pyschotronic mind-control protection and runs on Linux. Try it, you'll see how well it works.

  8. Ouch by barista · · Score: 2, Funny

    Time for a tin-foil hat...

  9. DIY neural interface by Mr.+Roadkill · · Score: 5, Funny
    what about direct neural interfacing?
    Parts/Tools Required:

    Dremel with bone drill bit

    Heat shrink tubing

    13 Acupuncture Needles

    Hookup wire

    soldering iron

    DB25 cable,

    DB25 breakout box

    9V battery

    an observer.

    Difficulty: Intermediate/Suicidal

    Procedure:

    Drill holes at various spots on your head. Solder hookup wire to non-pointy ends of sufficient acupuncture needles, and use heatshrink tubing to cover almost all of the needles, leaving only 1mm uncovered at the pointy end. Using the 9V battery, and a return path via somehwere convenient and moist (I suggest your anus, what's a little more humiliation if you've gotten this far?) test your response to electic stimulation at various holes and depths. This is where the observer comes in handy, as you might be in no fit state to write down your observation, or even disconnect the current. Once you've found a useful set of needle positions, wire them up to your breakout box and plug it in to your printer port. Write software to apply a signal to each needle under various conditions.

    You could interface it with remote monitoring software, and a complete loss of bowel and bladder control could be used to indicate that a Windows machine on your network has crashed. Aphasia could be used to signify a loss of internet connectivity. And a throbbing erection could be used to signify yet another V1@gr@ spam in your inbox. Remember, you're limited only by your imagination and the rate at which infection sets in!

  10. Cluster by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I want a beowulf cluster of brains

    1. Re:Cluster by xp · · Score: 4, Funny

      Great. Now I'll need an anti-virus patch for my brain.
      ----
      Pair Programming with a Teddy Bear

  11. Pop-ups... by LaTechTech · · Score: 2, Funny

    OMG this could be completely awful...Imagine trying to think of something and then all of a sudden A huge pop-up comes out of nowhere ruining your entire train of thought...Or worse...you get drunk and forgot to turn off your instant messaging client...You start to instant message your buddies what you really think about them...I think being disconnected is very benificial...The porn thing has its downside to...ever click on the wrong link?

    --
    I want my! I want my! I want my Eee PC!
  12. it really could happen! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    serluny: how long did it took u to learn c?
    ReDPriest:4.5 minutes
    serluny:how did u do that?
    ReDPriest:i downloaded it into my brain..i got a program to do that
    serluny:what program
    ReDPriest:download shit into your brain v3.1
    serluny:how do i download it?
    ReDPriest: go to www.downloadable-shit-for-your-brain.com
    serluny:i cant download it something is wrong

    http://bash.org/

  13. Re:chips on baby's brains by randyest · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sounds cool. Why don't you test it on your kid? Let us know how it works out.

    --
    everything in moderation
  14. Well.. by wviperw · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Where can I find out how to inject signals into my head?"

    1) Unplug coaxial cable from cable tv/cable modem (depending on personal preference).
    2) Jam into back of head.
    3) ???
    4) Profit!

    --
    Nothing disturbs me more than blind loyalism towards some unrealistic and over-idealistic notion of one's nationality.
  15. Re:Playing with neurotransmitters by slickwillie · · Score: 3, Funny

    I used to do that in the 1960's and 70's, but now I just stick with wine and beer.

  16. The dangers of technology? by MachDelta · · Score: 5, Funny
    ...post your thoughts automatically...

    Man, who is this tool and what the hell is he talking about? Slashdot always seems to attract such weirdos.

    Oh, shit! Boss looked at me. I hope he doesn't know i'm on slashdot right now... eye contact... polite smile... nod at the projector image... and.... quickly write something on your paper:

    "Joe. Is. A. Wanker."

    Hah, that ought to fool him. Stupid bastard. "Oh i'm sorry, but we just don't have the budget to increase staff salaries right now." Dick. Here he drives around in a fucking Lexus, and i've got a 20 year old car thats about to rust itself out of existance. What a load of crap.

    I should reala... ahh.... ahhh... oh no! I think i'm gonna sneeze! Hold it in, hold it in! Ahhh...!

    {CONNECTION INTERRUPTED}
    ...
    {CONNECTION REESTABLISHED}

    Shit! Now *everyone* is looking at me, even that cute girl from region...

    Ok, they all looked away. Good.

    Man she has a nice rack. I'd like to get my hands on -- CRAP! She saw me! Oh fuck, I hope she doesn't know I was looking at her chest...

    Waitasec, did she just smile at me? Hot damn, I think she did!

    I hope that was a "Hi there" kind of smile and not a "You have snot all over your face" kind of smile though. I don't feel anything, but maybe i'd better check... got to be discreet here... rub my chin... aaannnd... clean! Whew, close one.

    SHIT! She looked at me again! Look away, look away! Act uninterested you fool! You... OH YOU IDIOT YOU LOOKED AGAIN!! Goddamnit, now she probably thinks i'm a weirdo stalker or something...

    *Sigh* Back to browsing on slashdot.

    Waitasec, whats all this text? Is this thing on?!?

    {CONNECTION CLOSED}
  17. Re:chips on baby's brains by bigsteve@dstc · · Score: 4, Funny
    Viola, a computer finger.

    Bzzzt. A viola is a musical instrument. Thanks for playing.

  18. Spyware by ZeroExistenZ · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Hey, what are you up to?"
    "Neuro-surfing."
    "Oh cool.. anything good?"
    "Hold on.. *closes eyes* Appearantly Duke Nukem is about to come out."
    "Oh cool, where did you read that?"
    "*closes eyes* let me paste it into your head."
    "Thanks... *closes eyes* I wonder though.."
    "What?"
    "Do you have.. these... images and voices.. inside your head.."
    "That's what this is all about."
    "No.. these.. voices.. at night.. they haunt me.."
    "What do they say?"
    "3nlarg3 y0ur p3n1s now! |3uy \/|4gr4 N0w!"

    --
    I think we can keep recursing like this until someone returns 1
  19. Re:Not to be argumentitive... by mattkime · · Score: 2, Funny

    I like having a physical separation between me and my net connection.



    You're not welcome here!

    --
    Know what I like about atheists? I've yet to meet one that believes God is on their side.
  20. Re:chips on baby's brains by pjpII · · Score: 3, Funny

    You've obviously never had to write a proposal for human subjects research...

  21. I can see it now by geekoid · · Score: 2, Funny

    Enter: Keys
    bGoogle found 10,453,456,921

    Enter: Keys Car
    bGoogle found 10,038,594

    Enter: Keys Car House today
    bGoogle found 7,546

    Enter: Keys Car House Today -sex
    bGoogle Found 1

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  22. Re:chips on baby's brains by Nefarious+Wheel · · Score: 2, Funny
    A viola is a musical instrument

    Some might question that...

    --
    Do not mock my vision of impractical footwear
  23. What? by essreenim · · Score: 2, Funny

    Am I the only person here who finds this nuts?

    I can see it now**News**

    Man found dead after brain assist software went into killall processes mode.

    Killer says faulty software drove him to kill his wife....

  24. download shit into your brain v3.1 by ntr0py · · Score: 2, Funny

    I can't help but be reminded of this gem on bash.org:

    serluny: how long did it took u to learn c?
    ReDPriest:4.5 minutes
    serluny:how did u do that?
    ReDPriest:i downloaded it into my brain..i got a program to do that
    serluny:what program
    ReDPriest:download shit into your brain v3.1
    serluny:how do i download it?
    ReDPriest: go to www.downloadable-shit-for-your-brain.com
    serluny: i cant download it something is wrong