I saw a Discovery channel special on the melding of human and machine in the present and future. It’s a frightening and innovative concept.
With the procedure mentioned in the show, electrodes are implanted directly in the brain and used for various purposes. It could be used to restore speech, incorporate artificial limbs, and move things on a computer screen with the mind. The most controversial subtopic is being “more than human” with computer-like upgrades in people.
One example of assisting a person with a disability was a man who was paralyzed from the neck down. He was a candidate to have these electrodes put into his brain so scientists could test their theories. Over time, this man learned to control a cursor on a computer screen using only his thoughts to direct it. After a while this activity became second-nature to him.
Another man was one who was intent on “human upgrades”. He had an electrode implanted into his arm (for some reason). He stated that he wanted to enhance himself. How was it fair that computers could excel while he couldn’t?
In the future, this technology may be used for direct brain-to-brain contact between people. Information could be instantly downloaded through an uplink to the internet. Memory and math capabilities could be improved.
Humans and computers are good at different things. Computers are math whizzes, while humans understand and recognize things computers cannot. Though I’m not entirely certain that upgrading people for selfish reasons is a good idea, I wholeheartedly agree tat this can help people who have physical disabilities.
If you’d like to learn more, look for the show Big Science: Robo Sapiens on Discovery. There may even be some more info on Discovery.com.
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I think it is pretty inevitable. We already wear our computers; why not have them implanted? My big worry would be that my computer parts would have to be upgraded so often. I have to buy a new computer every two years to keep up. Can the body survive that kind of surgery so often?
I also think this may force us to determine what is human. How much of the human organism can you replace before they aren't human anymore? We don't consider amputess sub human. Would the scariness of artifical limbs make us recoil, or would it be embraced?
Res ipsa loquitur.
memor mori, mahalo.