Flutterby™! : Think-It Do-It! 2004-10-14 01:04:26.05616+00

Think-It Do-It!

2004-10-14 01:04:26.05616+00 by meuon 5 comments

Yahoo Story about using a wired brain to control a computer. Just a few (11?) years ago, this thought (although via ESP) was a running joke on a Compuserve forum, and about 5 years ago, a favorite April Fools gag. Now it is working in the lab.. kinda. Impressive.

#Comment Re: made: 2004-10-14 14:35:33.014561+00 by: petronius [edit history]

People have been working on this for a long time, and using computers to sort out the signals is definitely a breakthrough. However, the need for a physical connection to brain tissue gives me the willies. The possibility of infection and other side effects must give one pause. The next step is obviously to implant electrodes and wire them to an induction coil under the scalp. Then the user could just wear a cap with a corresponding coil and do the job without actually jacking in. Cochlear implants already use this system for the profoundly deaf. However, the skull and the brain's protective membrane, the dura mater, are there for a reason. Even the best breach is not to be taken lightly.

The article mentions some non-invasive approaches, but I wonder how well they work. All that bone and skin provides a pretty good insulator. A sufficiently sensitive system might be prone to picking up Nextels and taxicab calls as well as brain messages. My answer?, well, it may be in the real of nanotech, with a direct nerve connection that bridges the biochemical gap between organic and inorganic structures, which would minimize the body's immune response. However, even this system would still need brain surgery. I've seen the skull opened, and its a very hairy proceedure. I'm glad we are making progress from the data management end, but the surgical infrastructure needs a lot of work.

Mike's TIDI-OS: Multi-tasking for the schizophrenic. Pop-ups for the hyperactive.

But.. we never did solve that problem of when a user is connected, and runs drive de-frag..