In my opinion, the only difference between using this technology and standard input devices is that keyboards exist outside our skin and the electrodes are beneath it. I suppose that there is potentially a problem of choice - we can choose to type something but we do not have the same sort of conscious choice when it comes to patterns of neural activity. Problems would arise if the implanted electrodes were used to change activity in the brain. This could be quite an effective method for brainwashing someone - mua ha ha ha... oh? did I type that or just think it???
I have similar concerns about a Enviromission's proposal to build a giant chimney in New South Wales, Australia. What effects will a constant steam of hot air rising into the atmosphere have on local weather patterns?? Articles on the proposal can be found here, here, and here.
I've also heared of high volume smoke and fog machines being used as a part of built-in alarms. I imagine it would be kinda freaky if you broke into a place and it started quickly filling with smoke! I'd want to get out of there quickly - especially if it was accompanied by a computerised voice saying something freaky like toxic gas had been deployed...
The sort of stuff that is likeley to emerge from this sort of technology will not be computers that can tell what number between one and a million you are thinking of. It will be much more general than that. Non-invasive neurofeedback equipment (like the stuff in the Open EEG project) can at best provide an overall picture of the level of activity in general regions of the brain. Using this sort of information in an attempt to 'think to your computer' would be like trying to type with boxing gloves on! Rather than replacing the keyboard, EEG and other biofeedback techniques should be viewed as productivity tools. An analysis of EEG patterns can not tell you what you are thinking, but it can tell you that you are.
Slashdot Mirror
You know what they say about the hand that rocks the cradle...
Multiple PCIe slots! Bo! Who is making them???
In my opinion, the only difference between using this technology and standard input devices is that keyboards exist outside our skin and the electrodes are beneath it. I suppose that there is potentially a problem of choice - we can choose to type something but we do not have the same sort of conscious choice when it comes to patterns of neural activity. Problems would arise if the implanted electrodes were used to change activity in the brain. This could be quite an effective method for brainwashing someone - mua ha ha ha... oh? did I type that or just think it???
Wouldn't we go back in time like superman did??
I have similar concerns about a Enviromission's proposal to build a giant chimney in New South Wales, Australia. What effects will a constant steam of hot air rising into the atmosphere have on local weather patterns?? Articles on the proposal can be found here, here, and here.
Methinks that they just want to get their beer cooler faster!
But can you run Linux on it?
Well, as for:
/
"Not looking for anything that would get someone injured, but more in the area of detection and repulsion"
How about this robotic security guard.
http://robots.engadget.com/entry/8143838848436927
I've also heared of high volume smoke and fog machines being used as a part of built-in alarms. I imagine it would be kinda freaky if you broke into a place and it started quickly filling with smoke! I'd want to get out of there quickly - especially if it was accompanied by a computerised voice saying something freaky like toxic gas had been deployed...
The sort of stuff that is likeley to emerge from this sort of technology will not be computers that can tell what number between one and a million you are thinking of. It will be much more general than that. Non-invasive neurofeedback equipment (like the stuff in the Open EEG project) can at best provide an overall picture of the level of activity in general regions of the brain. Using this sort of information in an attempt to 'think to your computer' would be like trying to type with boxing gloves on! Rather than replacing the keyboard, EEG and other biofeedback techniques should be viewed as productivity tools. An analysis of EEG patterns can not tell you what you are thinking, but it can tell you that you are.