I'm doing research for a sci-fi project and came across this:
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Thursday, October 14, 2004
Brain implants
A 24-year-old quadriplegic is now able to control a computer with his thoughts. This summer, the man was implanted with the Cyberkinetics BrainGate chip. The tiny device, containing 100 electrodes, was installed in the patient's motor cortex. Apparently, the connection is good enough that he can even play videogames and check email. From a Nature.com article:
The BrainGate allowed the patient to control a computer or television using his mind, even when doing other things at the same time. Researchers report for example that he could control his television while talking and moving his head.
That is just amazing. Completely blew me away. I was aware of minor computer chip/human things, but not something so advanced.
Amazing.
Just thought I would share.
later,
-junc
Sounds cool, i guess we don't need hands anymore.Ã, :)
Shawn
Deus Ex is one step closer to being real, Huzzah!
Quote from: Dark of Night on Sat 04/12/2004 02:19:25
Sounds cool, i guess we don't need hands anymore. :)
Shawn
But then masturbating wouldn't be as fun..
i guess people will just have to start having sex then
Have what? ???
I remember seeing something like that five years ago or more on the TV news. Then I remember no one talked about it anymore. Was it a joke? Maybe this article will share that destiny...
On the other hand, it would be cool! :D
The video (http://www.cyberkineticsinc.com/PatientAnim1.mpg) and website (http://www.cyberkineticsinc.com/) are a little less ambitious in the description of the product. Perhaps the author of that article got carried away. I tried to find more info on Nature.com, the origin of the quote, but was unable to. I did however find some rather old articles about the technology.
Even if the technology has only evolved enough for a person to move a mouse cursor that's a pretty big step. Just think about it, even with just that a person could play point and click adventure games without a problem!
later,
-junc
EDIT:
From Popular Science:
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/bown/2004/personalhealth/article/0,22221,768020,00.html
BEST OF WHAT'S NEW 2004
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This year BrainGate became the first brain-machine implant government-approved for clinical testing in humans. The 16-square-millimeter silicon wafer is by far the most advanced device designed to help patients with total paralysis, enabling them to control a computer cursor using their thoughts alone. When implanted onto the brain's motor cortexâ€"the region that controls motionâ€"the chip intercepts electrical nerve signals intended for the spinal cord and reroutes them to a computer, which translates the data into specific cursor commands. The able-bodied stand to benefit too: Implanted chips may one day control common household electronics such as TVs, lights and robotic vacuum cleaners.
Oh Jesus. I seriously hope people don't go overboard with this kind of thing. Evenyually it gets to be too much.
Whoa! It's like.. an IRL Shadowrun!
Cyberpunk world, here you come.
but..but... is this real? What next? Telepathic radioing without conversation? converting thoughts to file format? converting thoughts to pictures? "Thought" art? I mean, our ideas are the ultimate form of art...I think Douglas Adams called it something like "no sensory filtering". Not saying that it is that advanced yet, but wouldn't it be great if it was?
No. It would be TRULY living for the machine. Instead of being A tool, the machine would be THE tool, the ONE AND ONLY tool. Whereas the ONE tool should be our body.
We would become machines slowly. And think of someone using this to monitor our thoughts.
omg. think microsoft...
EDIT: also, how much space do I have in my brain, I mean, I AM gonna download... it. and if you had anything illegal stored, would the brain be confiscated, or reformatted? and think computer viruses
Quote from: lelev on Sat 04/12/2004 11:35:37
We would become machines slowly. And think of someone using this to monitor our thoughts.
An even greater danger, in my opinion, would be the acidental typing of thoughts. That could be the end of social life as we know it.Ã, :P
Some more fun stuff. I read an article that scientists now view the measurement of human memory and "processing power" in computer terms to be acceptable. Perhaps I'm way out of the loop, but last I had heard was that scientists were saying we couldn't measure it that way. I'm sure it may still be up for debate in some circles. Anyway, here are some figures I got off the wonderful ol' interweb...
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also, how much space do I have in my brain, I mean, I AM gonna download... it.
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Human Brain learns at 2 bits per second
Lifetime Capacity is 125 MB (before you say that is a small amount, consider a pure text document at that size that you can access any one portion of...)
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It seems reasonable to conclude that the human brain has a raw computational power between 10^13 and 10^16 operations per second.
10,000 GHz to 10,000,000 GHz (or 10 PHz) (I think these figures are correct?)
happy thinking,
-junc
QuoteHuman Brain learns at 2 bits per second
What if it was broadband? I'd love that! Also, what about the guy the movie Rainman is based on. He remembers everything he sees, reads or hears and never forgets it. I saw it on Ripley's believe it or not, but I can't remember his name. He was answering peoples questions. Among others he was asked about the championship matches with Muhammed Ali and who he fought and lost and won against, and he told it. 2 bps... I wonder if you can raise that by changing ISP. School-time could be significantly shortened
QuoteLifetime Capacity is 125 MB (before you say that is a small amount, consider a pure text document at that size that you can access any one portion of...)
how about all the visual memories I have in my head? I wonder what codec my brain uses, it's got good compression, considering all the movies and games I remember. I also heard humans also use 7% of their brain capacity?
Hello, I have a control for playstation that use my thoughts to control the game. It's not a chip in my brain, it is a control that you put in your head and connect with a cable into the console. Then you thing what you want the character to do and he responds.
It is very good because you dont get your fingers hurt.
I hope you meant putting it on your head, because I can't imagine putting something in your head with no harm. None the less that's a huge step forward. But I fear that technology could be used in wrong way.
One step closer to "The Matrix".
.friggen.sweet.
I don't know if I like this ...
It seems to me that human kind gets more and more lazy the more technology we invent ...
* First we wandered the planet in search of food.Ã, Then we discovered farming and stayed in one place and had to work the fields toiling in back breaking labor. The we develop tools to make farming easier and less physical, then the industrial revolution, now-a-days farmers reap the harvest in air-conditioned plowers listening to satelite radio and surfing the web while GPS steers for them.
* We used to have to run great distances to deliver information/news/gossip, then we start using horses, then cars.Ã, Then we develop telegrams, telephones, and now video conferencing so we never have to leave home.
* We used to have to go to a theater to see a play/entertainment, then movies, then TV.Ã, We had to get up to change stations on the TV ... now we have remote controls for everything so our lazy asses don't have to get up from the couch.
* We used to have write everything down, then type writers come along, the printing press, the computer ... now-a-days an indivudual can send a file to a printer and they can actually make the book for him.
The one constant through-out all this increase in laziness was the use of our hands in some way ... now they're telling us we no longer have to use our hands either?Ã, In a few millinium you're going to see humans evolving into slug-like creatures who have stumpy little arms and legs that serve no purpose.Ã, These Sluggos just sit in one spot mind-controlling everything they want.
I'm starting the "Save Human Legs and Arms Group" or SHLAG for short, to stop this insanity from progessing!!
I am now accepting applications.Ã, Join now!Ã, Before it's too late!!!
i would apply but i'm too lazy, can't somebody else do it for me?
Okay, perhaps these are the negative points, but how long before they can use this tech to make bionic replacement parts that work off the motor cortex? Now even this could be put to evil use, but for para or quadraplegic, this could be promising technology, someday we might have working bionic parts.
Of course, we could also have Doc Oc running around on mechanical arms.
One day man will live on the moon. THE MOON I SAY! and you better believe it.
Sure, these things have some negative sides, but so? Animals evolve! Cigarettes aren't exactly healthy either but still some idiots smoke 'em
There's always two sides of the coin, whatever the coin is. I just hope that whatever happens from now on people will realize the dangers Darth has just pointed out. Me, I'm getting increasedly worried about how technology has been a part of how much our "social skills" have dropped, and hope that these new thingies are so specialised that only people that WANT or NEED it WILL have it.
Haddas - 1) Animals evolve, yes. But this isn't evolution, this is upgrading. And the organic part of us doesn't evolve, it atrophies. And 2) there's a world of difference between things that endanger our physical being and things that can potentially permanently hinder major psychological human traits.
I see your point, however you can communicate lots of other ways than by organized throat-sounds. I shall now withddraw from this debate in lack of answers. Although I will say this, I want that toy.
Yes you can communicate in many different ways. But I'm sorry if I was misleading, this was not the point I wanted to make. I was talking about social interaction, not specifically communication. Frankly, I think there are so many ways to communicate that we've adapted well to most (if not all) of them - that's one of the good sides of the coin indeed. But as the communication starts requiring less and less of our actual presence, our social sides decline easily and quickly. This is a known fact. How much more this will continue if these things go ahead like this is unforeseenable, but likely unpleasant.
Darth, is SHLAG's philosophy the same as Von Glower's? If so, I'm in!
Quote from: Darth Mandarb on Sat 04/12/2004 21:22:29
The one constant through-out all this increase in laziness was the use of our hands in some way ... now they're telling us we no longer have to use our hands either?Ã, In a few millinium you're going to see humans evolving into slug-like creatures who have stumpy little arms and legs that serve no purpose.Ã, These Sluggos just sit in one spot mind-controlling everything they want.
Look at the AGS map and look at all the flags in Europe. Then look at the complete LACK of flag in, let say, Africa. There are still people in the world who never seen a computer or a GPS powered tracktor or even a steel shovel. They still make fire by rubbing two stones together.
At the other side. I am a ball of stress. I have to learn things at school, read books, make programmes, solve problems, get them done in time by working when you want to go out or sleep, remember in what class and at what time a test starts, make that test under stress, try not to piss of teachers and other classmates and trying not to get hit by a bus while walking and talking on a mobile phone.
Then there are all the other laws and social laws like not to piss in public when the cops are watching (even if you really have to) or still going to your girlfriend house even if you know that she's going to break up with you.
I don't think a chip in your brain will solve all this.
I can't wait to become an amoeba and enjoy life.
I'm raising my hands and legs in application for SHLAG! Guys, I fear in about twenty tyears this technology will be so advanced people will start using it as commonly as cell phones today. There will be no restricted access because of the demand in society. And slowly we'll start to rely more on the chip in our brains than on the brains themselves.
bwahahaha....this is like a movie! Some idiot invents the incredible technology that he thinks will save humanity, but instead dooms it. One future thinking individual/group try warning everybody, but no one listens to them until it is too late. 10 years on you see the individual with his group hiding in some underground base, surfacing only to make sporadic attacks against the "machines". Go SHLAG! :P
I say just relax. Humanity is always changing and evolving/upgrading. The trend Darth mentioned is true, but the time saved is then used in other things. That is why we were able to develop so much. On the rare occasions of free time cave men would draw figures on their walls. Later on the art got more and more refined, until we got the beauties we hav today. None of it would be possible if the artist was using his time hunting in the jungle for food to eat. Along with art, science is also evolving, cures for diseases are being researched etc.
The idea that humanity should be something "pure" and unpolluted sounds like something Asimov would write about. So what if we have a chip here and there if it will help improve our lifestyle?
If you want to experience true humanity, you could always venture into the jungle with a lion cloth and a sharp stick :D
Yeah, I'm sorry if I sound like I'm overreacting, it's just that I personally draw a line at the point where our bodies are opened up and somehow changed, with the obvious exception of medical treatment. If this classifies as "medical", or something similar, I'm all for it.
I agree, but please someone give me a proof this will only go into medicine. Somehow it's hard for me to believe.
Hey, it's hard for me too. We can but hope. :=
Some would argue that our advances in science, technology, medicine, etc. are also a bad thing.
I can't remember where, but I read something once that I adapted a little, which basically says; the earth is like the human body.Ã, It's a gigantic system with a heart, blood, skin, etc.Ã, Human beings are like an infectious disease to mother earth.Ã, We started out small and have slowly, and now VERY rapidly multiplied.Ã, She (mother earth) started to defend herself by causing sickness designed to kill us off (the plague, etc.) but as we've advanced we've built immunity to her sicknesses (pennecilin, etc.) so she's come up with better sicknesses (AIDS, Ebola, etc.) which we can't stop.Ã, Earth is trying to rid herself of the human parasite but our advances in science, technology, medicine are making it difficult for her to do that.
So eventually the human parasite will reach a point where mother earth can no longer survive and the planet will die.Ã, OR ... she'll unleash something we've never seen before and the earth will have a major plague wipe out 1/2 the planet.Ã, Something like that.Ã, Something that a chip in the brain can't protect against :)
Now this is all just a doom's day thing of mine ...
I actually think the idea of brain implants is pretty cool and can think of countless ways it can improve life (thus making me lazier, but still).Ã, I remember a few years back (about 10) when I HATED cellphones ... I thought, "I don't want people to be able to reach me whenever they please!"Ã, Now, I can't imagine life without a cellphone.Ã, If I ever forget it when I go out I feel like I'm missing my arm or something.Ã, I hate this because there's still that part of me that feels the way I used to ...
We're all slaves to the machines ... in some way.Ã, I fear it'll only get worse.
This could either be really awesome or really bad news.
If we keep it awesome: We could walk around in war zones or in mars from the comfort of our own laboratory, we would never have to search through the sofa for the Tv remote again and there wouldn't be tht pesky problem when you have a great idea but then you forget it. You could just think it into your computer.
If it all goes unawesome: We could end up involving into gelatinous blobs who reply on machines for everything. Plus, if a computer can read activity in our brain, who's to say it can't go the othr way. What if the government makes all think we enjoy the music of Will Young! GAHH!!!
Quote from: Akira Toriyama on Sat 04/12/2004 17:15:27
Hello, I have a control for playstation that use my thoughts to control the game. It's not a chip in my brain, it is a control that you put in your head and connect with a cable into the console. Then you thing what you want the character to do and he responds.
It is very good because you dont get your fingers hurt.
hey!, i thought that wasn`t ready yet ... how much is it ? ... `cause i saw something like that in a magazine ... but they were still making it !.
Resistance is Futile...
I know some people will get the reference.
You will be asstimulated, or something. :)
Quote from: Darth Mandarb on Sun 05/12/2004 16:11:26
I can't remember where, but I read something once that I adapted a little, which basically says; the earth is like the human body.Ã, It's a gigantic system with a heart, blood, skin, etc.Ã, Human beings are like an infectious disease to mother earth.Ã, We started out small and have slowly, and now VERY rapidly multiplied.Ã, She (mother earth) started to defend herself by causing sickness designed to kill us off (the plague, etc.) but as we've advanced we've built immunity to her sicknesses (pennecilin, etc.) so she's come up with better sicknesses (AIDS, Ebola, etc.) which we can't stop.Ã, Earth is trying to rid herself of the human parasite but our advances in science, technology, medicine are making it difficult for her to do that.
Darth isn't that the speech that Smith gives in the matrix? Well not exactly because he was talking about machines but it's real similar.
The only thing I have to say about this technology is, people say bad things about anything new. Wether it be a new type of technology, a new type of music, or whatever. When lasers where first created they were going to be big death rays that could fry someone with deadly precision from miles away. Well technically speaking they can I guess but when is the last time you heard of that happening? Mostly they are used for the good of mankind. And I know I and all of my satanic brothers aren't happy until we listen to the beatles every morning.
I don't know maybe it will work into where we plug ourselves into everything to control it but it's gonna happen sooner or later. As Darth said we always work towards making things easier on ourselves. Hell none of us would even be on this site if not for one man making a game engine that is nearly plug and play. It is now possible for anyone to make a game (well almost) with little programming skills.
What the HECK!?!?!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4074869.stm
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Earlier this year, a team at the MIT Media Labs Europe demonstrated a wireless cap which read brain waves to control a computer game character.
Wow. Again.
later,
-junc
See? That's a different matter. It's just a cap you can put on or take off. As long as it doesn't damage you (the way cell phones do if you use them way too much - I can see THESE babies being used waaaaaay too much), that's fine in my book.
EDIT - On second though, scratch that. I mean, it's easy enough to move the mouse, and some of us look like zombies in front of the PC anyway. No telling what we'd be like with a cap like this.
Well, if it's not a chip in brain than it's not so much a potential harm. But yes, scrolling mouse cursor is not hard. But that cup would be a miracle for paralyzed.
Yes, that it would.