Brain-Implanted Chips Allow Control of Technology

Nilchii writes "The Guardian has an article about implanting electrodes in the brain, allowing paralyzed people to control various software-integrated devices, such as the cursor on a computer and the channel and volume of his television. From the article: 'The experiment took place a few months ago as part of a broader trial into what are known in the business as brain-computer interfaces. Although it is early days, aficionados of the technology see a world where brain implants return ability to those with disability, allowing them to control all manner of devices by thought alone.'" The BBC has coverage of this as well, and we've mentioned this research before.

Comments

hmm

[Sv-Manowar]

It's all well and good until the Blue Screen and you can't move your arms

DRM out of control

[gordlea]

When I first read the headline I thought to myself "Man, this DRM crap is really getting out of hand..."

Seizures

[TimeTraveler1884]

Controlling the brain is actually pretty difficult. From experiment they have done, they found the human brain does not take well to control. Frequently, tests subjects would have seizures under such conditions. Even just recording a subject's brain waves and playing them back would induce serious seizures.

Sorry I don't have any links on this, I saw it on Discovery channel a few years ago.

That's just great

[ntshma]

Now you'll be able to get hacked and become part of some script kiddies zombie network yelling spam at everyone you walk past.

Re:Transhumanism

[Metapsyborg]

It's the next step in human evolution. Physically we do not need to evolve anymore, as it's more efficient to evolve our intellectual abilities.

Cyborgs and, ultimetly, robots are the future of humanity.

Sure, these "features" (brain controlled computing) will initially be for the disabled, but how long before it becomes acceptable in the general populace to get these modifactions? People will begin seeing them as everyday occurances, and then we will know we've reached the next level.

Questions???

[mbrewthx]

Could YOU run Linux?? Or would Linux be running you???
Imagine a Beowolf cluster of people???

It's okay, they're handicapped

[Gigaplex]

Step 1) Put chips in handicapped people
"It's okay, they're handicapped. It's all we can do for them."

Step 2) Put chips in normal people to monitor health hazards
"It's important that we know if granny is in trouble."

Step 3) Diseases and illnesses like SARS can be stopped in their tracks with these chips
"We have to use these chips to protect ourselves. Everyone else is doing it and they are fine."

Step 4) We can now use these to detect terrorists by watching for dangerous thought formations.
"It's the only way we can stop them. It must be done."

Step 5) The line between terrorist and criminal is blurred and it's used to stop criminals.
"We might as well do it with criminals since we are already doing it with terrorists."

Step 6) These thought-forms can be prevented entirely.
"If terrorist and criminal thoughts are stopped from the git-go, it will be a utopia. The end of crime forever!"

Step 7) All unwanted thoughts are filtered out
"You have to pay a price for freedom. I am okay with slavery. We need it to be safe. What would you like me to do today?"

See a problem here?!?

Think Shortcuts

[mathmatt]

Can I think "control-c" instead of "copy?"

How about auto-completing my thoughts?

Me: Computer, stop comp...
Computer: ...completing my sentences!
Me: You're driving...
Computer: ...me crazy!
Me: control-alt-delete!
Computer: atl-F4
Me: control-alt-delete!
Computer: atl-F4
Me: Why you little...
Computer: Yes, Dave?