What I read
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My response
In the past, human brain was studied and classify into different area according to its morphology since nineteenth century. Later studies show that different area also responsible for different purpose and function. When scientists learnt that electricity play important role in nerve fibers for communication between brain cells, it generated a lot of novel ideas to link our brain to electrical appliance. The first successful story resulted from extensive study stated in the article mainly aimed to help people with movement disabilities. After reading this article, I was surprised that there are many device successfully developed for helping disabled patients more than just moving their limbs. This world is moving so fast.
The concept might sounds easy, we knew which part responsible when we thinking of moving hands then we insert the electrode to it. This is not as easy as we think due to various limitation stated in the article such as the risk of infection from insertion of electrode, the capability of electrode to send or receive signal, the need of multidisciplinary approach and the basic science of the brain itself that was never completely understand. For my opinion, I think we need more neuroscience studies. It is fundamental of everything afterward. If we know better about our brain, we might have more chance to successfully manipulate it.
The idea of integrated brain-computer interface are shown in various forms. There are many science fictions wrote about these ideas for a long time including one titled Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? which later adapted into screen called Blade Runner in 1982. Recently, I watched the Netflix's TV series called Altered Carbon. In this series, technological advancement allowed human memory and consciousness can be stored in a device. After the old body dead, they simply upload memory into new body.
Being a big fan of both science and movies make me hope to see some of those astonishing technology in the real world.
The concept might sounds easy, we knew which part responsible when we thinking of moving hands then we insert the electrode to it. This is not as easy as we think due to various limitation stated in the article such as the risk of infection from insertion of electrode, the capability of electrode to send or receive signal, the need of multidisciplinary approach and the basic science of the brain itself that was never completely understand. For my opinion, I think we need more neuroscience studies. It is fundamental of everything afterward. If we know better about our brain, we might have more chance to successfully manipulate it.
The idea of integrated brain-computer interface are shown in various forms. There are many science fictions wrote about these ideas for a long time including one titled Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? which later adapted into screen called Blade Runner in 1982. Recently, I watched the Netflix's TV series called Altered Carbon. In this series, technological advancement allowed human memory and consciousness can be stored in a device. After the old body dead, they simply upload memory into new body.
Being a big fan of both science and movies make me hope to see some of those astonishing technology in the real world.
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My question
In your view, what could be the outcome if this novel technology is available? is it good or bad for humanity ?
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Reference
- Palmer, A. (2018, January 6). How brains and machines can be made to work together. The Economist. Retrieved from https://www.economist.com/news/technology-quarterly/21733196-brain-computer-interfaces-sound-stuff-science-fiction-andrew-palmer
Altered Carbon was already on my NetFlix list of things to watch, so I was pleased to see an endorsement from Pom. I haven't seen the latest Bladerunner, but the 1982 version was a sensation way back when I was at university. It prompted a lot of discussion not only about what technology might be able to one day to, but about the ethical issues it raises. With the accelerating rise of AI, this seems to me something that needs some urgent thought.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I think that people like Elon Musk and the great late Stephen Hawking might be right that AI could soon become an existential threat to our species, my first thought is not, "Oh, no, we must stop the machines before they terminate us!" Rather, it makes me think about what makes us humans so special that we should be privileged for survival over intelligent machines. In the face of rapidly evolving AI, this might not be the most practical thing to think about, but it's what interests me. From a very different perspective, Prim's recent blog post about our habit of carelessly polluting the planet we dominate gave rise to a similar response in my mind.
I suppose I should do a bit more writing here and elsewhere before I turn on NetFlix.