Will our brains soon have computer chip implants?
Have you ever sat at your computer and wished you could explore the wonders of the internet without touching a mouse or keyboard? You may have thought ‘It sure would be the coolest if I could just sit here and think about what site I wanted to visit.’ Well your dream may be coming true, with the only drawback being that you have to have a computer chip implanted in your brain.
Researchers at an Intel research facility in Pittsburgh are hard at work trying to understand brain waves with the hopes that a chip could be inserted into human brains. That processor would then be used in tandem with brain waves generated by thought that would give a user control of computers and other electronic equipment. Sounds scary right? The scientists involved believe that this a natural progression in control and will give users a new found freedom.
The scientists say the plan is not a scene from a sci-fi movie — Big Brother won’t be planting chips in your brain against your will. Researchers expect that consumers will want the freedom they will gain by using the implant.
“We’re trying to prove you can do interesting things with brain waves,” said [Intel researcher Dean] Pomerleau. “Eventually people may be willing to be more committed … to brain implants. Imagine being able to surf the Web with the power of your thoughts.”
At least Intel doesn’t want to force people to get brain implants, but the mere notion of having a computer chip in my brain is still terrifying. As with much of the research being done into robotics, science and other technology, this is just the beginning of trying to master an incredibly complex scientific concept. The consequences of using chip implants could be severe, especially after years of evolving research based on real world usage. Being able to write this post by just thinking the words sounds intriguing, but how can I be certain the the chip isn’t also transmitting my thoughts to a remote location? I know this sounds highly paranoid, and it is, but information is an incredibly powerful commodity. Your movement on the internet – such as sites you frequent and general surfing habits – are seemingly invaluable to advertisers. How much more would your thoughts be worth?
Of course there are worse options – like the government recording your every thought, but by the time that much data can be recorded and stored the robots will have already taken over. In order to keep the volume of data at a manageable level, using a computer or other electronic device could be a trigger that starts recording thoughts.
Stay away from my brain!
OK, let me take my tinfoil hat off a second. Besides ideas that involve the government and advertisers reading your thoughts, there is the issue of malfunctioning chips. Could a faulty chip short circuit someone’s brain? A defective processor inside of a brain would not have a positive outcome. This is just as scary as any kind of monitoring of thoughts, because it deals directly with the well being of a person.
Marshall Kirkpatrick of ReadWriteWeb wrote an article in 2007 giving numerous reasons why chip implants are a terrible idea and not really needed. His reasons include privacy, current lack of data control, the rise of mobile computing, information overload and more. It is a great rebuttal to Intel’s plans, even though it was written two years ago. As the technology becomes more plausible, brain implants will more than likely become a hot topic of debate. Intel thinks the technology will be viable in 2020, but I hope it isn’t something that ever gains widespread acceptance and use. The dangers of computer chips in our brain far outweighs the ability to control computers with our thoughts. Is abandoning a mouse and keyboard really worth become a cyborg?
::Computer World via ReadWriteWeb::
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Twitter Username: darms_88
says:
oh nope.. I still prefer my normal brain fully controlled by myself
Twitter Username: decembersun
says:
The only remote possibility of my approving of something like this would be if I could have my MP3 player embedded, so I could just listen to music and audio whenever I wanted to, without getting tangled with cords and what not. Then again, what if the system goes haywire and I’ve got a Dick Francis audio book endlessly looping in my head day and night? that could be bad…
Twitter Username: RobotArmageddon
says:
The possibilities of this technology do seem really awesome until you start to think about all the things that could go wrong.
This is why I hope they continue work on the devices that sit on your head instead of implants. There would be far less risk in this.
And, let’s admit, this probably wouldn’t be anything bad at first. It would take a while for the technology and infrastructure to be in place for these bad things to happen.
I do agree, however, that we should keep the technology outside of our bodies, unless it’s really needed (medical reasons, etc.).
This is truly amazing technology but I would not agree with it. I would be convinced if cells are to be fully understood and utilized enormous capabilites like we can choose to live for a thousand years, grow some wings or gills. But to have an inorganic material inside our organic brain could only destroy our brain and that is stupid.