Hacking Our Five Senses

zdude255 writes "Wired is running an article exploring several studies of giving the human brain 'new input devices.' From seeing with your sense of touch to entirely new senses such as sensing direction intuitively, the human brain seems to be capable of interpreting and using new data on the fly. This offers many applications from pilots being able to sense the plane's orientation to the potential recovery of patients with blindness or ear damage. (which helps balance).'It turns out that the tricky bit isn't the sensing. The world is full of gadgets that detect things humans cannot. The hard part is processing the input. Neuroscientists don't know enough about how the brain interprets data. The science of plugging things directly into the brain -- artificial retinas or cochlear implants -- remains primitive. So here's the solution: Figure out how to change the sensory data you want -- the electromagnetic fields, the ultrasound, the infrared -- into something that the human brain is already wired to accept, like touch or sight.'"

Comments

I am not so sure I would want

[willie_nelsons_pigta]

I am not so sure I would want other parts of my body seeing. A finger in my nose may not be the most pleasant thing to look at.

Re:I am not so sure I would want

[goombah99]

You think that's bad, wait till they start messing with the output devices. But don't worry the finger in the nose. it's suppose to go there (thats why it fits) and thus your nose was rewired too be the download port for your finger camera. it's only 100MBs/sec though so if you have a lot of images you need to use the firewire port located in the rear.

Re:I am not so sure I would want

[Anonymous Coward]

Wrong. Firewire isn't in the rear. The rear is a grounded power outlet, as demonstrated by the one 'Bender'.

Down front? Yeah, that's the stylus. It improves productivity by enticing at least 50% of the workforce to use it often and requires no additional training. The developers thought of outfitting it with a laser, but were afraid of it blinding attendants during so-called money shots.

Re:I am not so sure I would want

[Captain Splendid]

Penises with frickin' lasers on their heads!

I've Got It

[ReidMaynard]

Reverse car sensors connected to an Ass-Kicking-Driver's-Seat

mmmmm

[spooje]

So what does blue taste like?

Re:mmmmm

[Gwala]

Chicken.

B0Rg Country

[Finger$lut]

With integrated GPS we would always know where we are and where to go. We could use an AI integrated with our accumulated knowledge to be that "voice in our head" with all of the right answers. We could use our own wifi to be an ad hoc network to communicate, plan and execute with unity. We can't stop here, this is B0rg country.

I need a modified one ...

[BlueTrin]

I need a modified one ... that is pointing away from my wife.

Eek

[goldaryn]

"Wired is running an article exploring several studies of giving the human brain 'new input devices.'

Get ready for plug-and-pray, mark 2..

Driver crash!

[NotQuiteReal]

Would you like the large dump or the small dump? Where do you want to save it?

Hardware discounts?

[NotQuiteReal]

I'll bet you will be able to get a sweet discount on those new hyper-range ears.

You just need to sign up for a two year contract. But it will be .45/min if you go over your listening plan, and you don't even want to think about the roaming charges for hearing stuff you shouldn't.

Can you hear me now?

It's Called A "Wife"

[rewinn]

When I got married, my sense of hearing adapted to enhance my sense of color ("You're going to wear that?"), smell ("The garbage needs taking out") and self-preservation ("Does this make me look fat?")

Why yes!

[Any Web Loco]

I believe they even mention this study in TFA!

I see the colors, maaaan

[athloi]

I think hippies have been hacking our five senses for years. No word yet on POSIX compliance.