Brain-machine interfaces
October 7th, 2009
Here’s yet another Frankenstein–contemporary science ethics question: if we can control machines through brain-implants, is there a possibility that we give up some of our human freedom or sense of self? Read this short piece and share what you think:
Brain-machine
8 Responses to “Brain-machine interfaces”
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I go as far as treating illnesses and helping people out, but that’s it. Great! This chip can stop blindness and hearing loss. It’s what it shouldn’t do that is the problem.
“But as they become more refined, brain-machine interfaces will almost certainly be used for non-therapeutic purposes — and with that expansion comes profound ethical questions.”
That’s what it is, our craving to answer more questions. Scientists in Europe are trying to split an atom to create a black hole. If successful, this black hole could slowly devour the earth. So why don’t they cease experimenting? It’s because we want to see it for ourselves.
Just for fun, let’s throw in a “for the sake of science.” Though it’s true that science has gotten us a long way, it has also put us on some wrong paths. I have two words that can lay out the future of these scientific experiments… “Atom Bomb.”
Look where we are with nuclear weapons: nobody wants anyone to have them. They’ll never disappear, however, because we’ve already invented them (on purpose, too).
Think of the brain-machine chip as the atom bomb. We’ve already invented it to cure eyesight and some hearing loss, so now everyone wants one. Soon enough, more sophisticated chips will evolve:
“Scientists predict that future implants will be made from engineered tissue and organic nanomaterials rather than metal, and allow for a literally seamless union of man and machine.”
And now our government doesn’t want anyone else to have them, even though WE do. Why? Because you can insert these chips into any human of your liking and control their actions. Great military weapon, indeed.
Like I said: we’ve already made these chips, they just need to evolve. Laws could prevent people from having them, but the government would still use them. I’m terrified of the next world war just thinking about it.
I think as science changes so will laws and mores to keep things in line. I know that many of these new advances, especially ones that allow a person to get ahead of the competition, will be abused, but I believe their benefits are too important to dismiss. Using computers or our brains to advance technology could save or improve so many countless lives. We already allow the use of drugs and other means that alter people for the better or worse so where is it even possible to draw the line?
Technology is a part of our existance and it always will be. I think this article shows another way that we are improving as a society. Regulation will always be important with important breakthroughs and this one is no different. It will be important to make sure there are rules set with something like this so it doesn’t get out of control. But overall I think we need technology like this to improve our lives even if the ethics are in question.
I hope that science will have a limit with this kind of technology. I think that it should only be used to help people who need it and that a legal limit should be put on what people “who need it” would be considered.People need limits or they will keep on going. I think that if one country starts using the more extreme brain-machine interfaces, then all the rest will follow. This article reminded me of Terminator, because how much power do you want a computer to have over you??
I also agree that this technology appears useful and great for those in need of it. I would be filled with joy to see someone that does not have the ability to communicate on their own have a new opportunity to revive their life. I do feel that the precautions over too strong to overlook though. My feeling is that if our society accepts this, where will we stop with its use? When is it okay to become “super human”? I like focusing on the benefits, but have a hard time accepting them because of the probably negative outcome. It is a difficult decision as I weigh out the pros and cons, but unless there is a way to keep this technology for the sole use of those who truly need it, then I feel it would be best to keep this technology out of use.
I find it odd that every single one of these blog entries makes me think “Didn’t I see that in some cheesy sci-fi movie?”
Anyways, the idea of hooking up a piece of technology directly into an extremely important internal organ sounds very sketchy to me. There’s an inherent problem with relying on anything electronic to keep you alive, and that’s the fact that electronics are prone to possible failure. Look at the concept of a pacemaker, yes it keeps the person alive and healthy, but if something was to interfere with the pacemaker itself it has the potential to damage the user. Now imagine this on an even larger scale, its the year 2000-something-or-other and the majority of Americans (mostly upper and middle class citizens) have some sort of technology hooked up to their brain that allows them to surf the net, turn on and off lights and even open electronic doors with the mere wave of the hand. In fact this technology is so popular that it replaces the cell phone as an “essential” device everyone must have. Then out of nowhere some hacker/revolutionist/anarchist/terrorist/etc comes up with a virus and spreads it throughout everyone in the united states either killing them or taking control of them. You can see why I would be skeptical about having anything technological inserted into my body without any way of immediately removing it.
Once again heres another article that just deals with morality. It is up to the individual to decide what they want to do to their bodies. If I put something like this in my brain why would you be against this when I am having no effect on your life. I think that this new technology is good and it should be legal as long as no one is using it to harm others.
Technology is increasing and enhancing our society everyday. Science is being used to help humans that have disadvantages and that can be nothing but a good thing no matter what way you look at it. Many people see tinkering with organs and connecting them with machines is obserd, until it helps them or a loved one. Until people can actually understand what science can do for them they will always question it being the morally right thing to do. In my mind anything saving and promoting humanity is something that should be invested in.
Well what Kyle said about the two atoms smashing together is false. They aren’t smashing two atoms together to create a black hole or see if it does, its to experiment what comes out of the two atoms when smashed together at a high velocity. For some reason when things like that are smashed together, it gains more mass and they wanted to test exactly what happens, a black hole was just a ridiculous theory. I do believe that no matter what we do with technology things will always be the same. There will always be war and someone trying to become more powerful or better than everyone else. Technology is only a tool that keeps getting better or more advanced. It is only the people that abuse that technology and use it for bad things. I do not believe that we should tamper with the brain to try and connect it with a computer. We are human, we do not need to alter our bodies just to make us more powerful. There is no war with aliens or a more superior species for us to even consider altering our human bodies to make us better and stonger. We only face and compete against ourselves. Small things such as vision and hearing is something exceptional, only because those unfortunate people are born with those disabilities and inequalities. To help them live up to the standard of a normal human being is ethical, but to alter our brains, and attach technology to our bodies is unethical because that is not human.