The coming neurotechnological revolution

[bascule]

Well, here I am being lame and reposting another blog entry of mine, but it's something I consider to be of monumental importance. The human mind has been a black box since the dawn of our existence, and once we open up that box and begin to tinker inside we will dramatically increase the rate at which the rate of change is increasing. Are you prepared?

 

Historian James Burke was fascinated with how a revolutionary idea could instigate broad, sweeping change across society, something he called the "trigger effect." Namely, our ordinary everyday lives remain largely unaffected by the constant change around us until a triggering idea sweeps through all of society and transforms it in remarkable ways. He used the example of the plow transforming the Egyptians from nomadic tribesmen into the first highly organized, modern society: the plow meant you could grow food anywhere around the Nile, you knew how much food you were going to grow, and for the first time that amount was a surplus which meant you could begin planning for the future.

 

We are on the verge of experiencing a trigger of change which will literally be the last, because its effect upon society will be so transformational that it will unmake society as we know it. What's more, the groundwork for this technology has already been laid. In 2003 scientists created a mathematical model of the operation of the center of short term memory in the human brain, the hippocampus, and in 2003 began testing a prosthetic replacement for this portion of the brain. The intended use was to help people who had damaged their hippocampus in an accident and lost their short term memory, such as the main character in the movie Memento.

 

With an isolated mathematical model of the operation of the hippocampus, which serves not only as the center of short term memory but also a sort of "relay station" in the brain where long term memories are dumped after they are recalled and short term memories deemed significant are written out to long term memory, we can begin figuring out how to augment this structure's behavior to provide truly revolutionary functionality: an interface between human memory and information in electronic networks.

 

Can you imagine what would happen if all the information on the Internet were always accessible to you, 24/7, and all you had to do to find a particular piece of information is simply to try to remember it? What's more, can you imagine what would happen when computer machinery can be used to aid your own thinking? Suddenly math, all kinds from the simplest arithmetic to the most complex physics equations, would become as second nature to you as remembering what you had to eat for breakfast this morning.

 

James Burke noted a major problem of the modern age with the following quote: Never before in history have so many known so little about so much of the world around them. In this problem stems a growing feeling of isolation and disconnectedness growing in the population. The sum of human knowledge has grown so immense that comprehending an infintessimal fraction of it requires a lifetime of devotion. No longer can the average Joe comprehend the complex political issues necessary to vote intelligently about a candidate, and consequently elections have become more about appealing to the masses on an emotional level than who is actually the fittest candidate. Some of the greatest problems mankind has grappled with, such as ignorance, intolerance, isolation and lonliness, and the incomprehensibility of everything around us will be blown away as our species becomes interconnected like never before.

 

Right now there exists an enormous and almost insurmountable barrier that anyone with a good idea must overcome to place it into the public eye. As communication becomes easier, this barrier is dissolving. Thus the rate of change of society increases as the difficulty of communication decreases, because more good ideas are able to emerge into the public eye through grass roots spreading of information. Neuroprosthetics will bring this concept to a whole new level, when everyone becomes interconnected and good ideas will be able to spread like wildfire as the total sum of information we exchange with each other continues to increase with the ease of communication.

 

No longer will the world be a confusing and frustrating place. You'll always know what time it is. You'll always know exactly where you are and know the most efficient possible route to get from where you are to where you are going. No machine, no electronic gizmo, no system of technology will ever confuse you again, because you'll know everything about it. No longer will you be bored in any discussion about the most esoteric topic you can imagine. You will know as much about 2nd century theologians like Tertullean as you do now about your favorite TV show. Are you beginning to see what a fascinating and wonderful world this technology is about to unleash?

 

Well hold on, because the transformations we are about to undergo are more far reaching and profound than I have even begun to illustrate here. Tune in again next time to my crazy blog and prepare to have your mind blown even more.

[Dapthar]

A small note, the New Scientist link that you reference is dead. You might want to replace it with Google's cached page.

 

Link: http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:YxzXUxtnee8J:www.newscientist.com/article.ns%3Fid%3Ddn3488+&hl=en

[Kygron]

You will know as much about 2nd century theologians like Tertullean as you do now about your favorite TV show.

 

The way you've described it this would not be true. Instead you would "have access to" as much information. You wouldn't have the links to the info, such as when someone says something that reminds you of the episode when...

 

You won't become a god, you'll just have an encyclopedia "at your fingertips".

 

Of course, as far as major revolutions go, yes I fully agree that it would be one!

[Royston]

Isn't the point of this technology is that it's akin to neuro networks ?

 

There would be no learning process you would just 'know'. Current communication is the downfall of proper understanding, so in order to get past this obstacle the information will be directly mapped as a memory. You can choose the information that you wish to have access to, and use it to your own ends.

 

Eventually we would become Gods because there would be no limit to your understanding, which is why it's so important that there is very strict boundaries on what can be accessed, and how it's used. It's a far more advanced learning tool than say the internet.

[CanadaAotS]

Ok this sounds like a stupid idea... but if our memory's connect to the internet, wouldnt that open a scary new horizon for hackers?

Imagine having spam messages pop up in front of your eyes!!!

 

Scary eh? lol

[kriminal99]

We are not yet ready for that... We need to finish philosophy in our current state first before we progress to that type of thing.

[CanadaAotS]

finish philosophy?

I was thinking having your brain connected to the internet...

and having the internet's problems come with it.

 

I just thought it'd be funny to get spam messages to your brain, or having pop-up ads appear before your eyes, or even worse (and this is kinda creepy), having virus's / trojan's in your head. Imagine someone could know what your thinking

[Kygron]

We are not yet ready for that... We need to finish philosophy in our current state first before we progress to that type of thing.

 

In my view controversial technology and procedures are the best motivation for improving the philosophical state.

[Kygron]

Isn't the point of this technology is that it's akin to neuro networks ?

 

There would be no learning process you would just 'know'. Current communication is the downfall of proper understanding' date=' so in order to get past this obstacle the information will be directly mapped as a memory. You can choose the information that you wish to have access to, and use it to your own ends.

 

Eventually we would become Gods because there would be no limit to your understanding, which is why it's so important that there is very strict boundaries on what can be accessed, and how it's used. It's a far more advanced learning tool than say the internet.[/quote']

 

You've used "learning", "memory", and "understanding" in a different way than I would. The brain MUST "learn" in order to "understand". You can get around this by incorporating the internet(in whatever form it may be) into the neural pathways of every person, but then you get into individuality problems and major philosophical debates.

 

The way you talked about memory is similar to the way I did. "Recalling" would be the computer command to acces the memory. But you would not "know" it until you get the information and you would forget it soon after. If you don't forget it you end up like people with one of those mental disabilities (I forget their names).

 

If you think that this technology enhances the brain's abilities other than accessing memory than you may have it all right, but that's not what I heard when I read the article.

[Royston]

Although the Hippocampus has not yet been fully understood, this is how some neurologists interpret it's functionality...

 

"Some researchers prefer to think of the hippocampus as part of a larger medial temporal lobe memory system responsible for general declarative memory (memories which can be explicitly verbalized—these would include, for example, memory for facts in addition to episodic memory)." from wordspider

 

If input is coming from an external source in the same format, I presume the effect would be instantaneous. You would 'know' just as though you read and understood a book on quantum physics, because all the facts explaining and rationalising the facts would also be stored in your memory, therefore you would 'understand' your new found knowledge. I guess the sytem would be so finely tuned that anyone could understand the input.

 

If you were fed a bunch of equations without any explanation as to their content and meaning, then the memory would be useless.

[Royston]

Human rights are sufficiently infringed by national databases, telephone monitoring and regular checks on the internet, and the controversial (but not yet in place) i.d cards.

 

You cannot stop the progress of technology, or who has control over said technology, and it's really up to the individual how they wish to use such a device.

 

A book can shape the way you 'think' which is just as intrusive as any other type of input. So called 'self help' books are highly manipulative, and unfortunately if you do not have the intelligence to question such material that's your own problem.

 

Can you really imagine the majority of the population being inserted with chips and the government controlling our very thoughts...I think someone would realise something's a miss. There would have to be a level of ignorance for that to work, and as this only works on the memory, you can still forget the information, or question it's validity...you're aware that you're being fed the information using this method.

 

Whoever supports such advancements there is always the contrast of institutions that are against, and so the public will be aware and can make their own choice in the matter.

[Royston]

Ok that makes no sense, as the previous post has been deleted.

[reverse]

ok so you have made a parallel between the plough and the internet.

 

a technology that enables you to utilize land more efficiently compared with a technology that enables you to utilize information (accurate or inaccurate) more efficiently.

 

So what type of information do statistics say that the internet is being used for at the moment?

[bascule]

So what type of information do statistics say that the internet is being used for at the moment?

 

I would say the general trend of all human thinking is a movement to solve all of human knowledge as a singular, unified system. As the persistency and communicability of knowledge increases, the rate at which we approach a singular, unified system increases.

[reverse]

oh....

 

not porn and music?

[bascule]

oh....

 

not porn and music?

 

Well, perhaps your focus should be more upon legitimate scientific use of Internet2...

[Royston]

I would say the general trend of all human thinking is a movement to solve all of human knowledge as a singular, unified system. As the persistency and communicability of knowledge increases, the rate at which we approach a singular, unified system increases.

 

Only a few specialists would understand the mechanics behind unified theories, and as such, theories are dumbed down to be understood by the masses. It's obvious that people take or leave such theories. Whatever form this information is fed to the public, our brains are individual, so they will digest and reject any information that doesn't agree with their ideals and you will still have scepticism, so I'm not convinced a universal link between our minds is that close.

[reverse]

no...I mean ..

what do the stats say the internet is becoming?

[nameta9]

You got it all wrong! The example of all minds becoming one is only one of the possible trillion examples of what could happen when we start manipulating minds/neural networks, implanting chips etc.

 

FIRST: Each person with any amount of knowledge, even as we are today, therefore child or adult etc. is a complete single combination of a mind.

Each combination is completely vaild and is not HIGHER than (in a sense DOES NOT HAVE MORE KNOWLEDGE) than a mind with any amount greater knowledge.

A complete mind/history is one distinct way to know the world. Now any combination of neural circuits can bring about any number of new completely vaild distinct ways to know the world. Just increasing our knowledge doesn't really mean anything. What is important is how many very different distinct world views/experiences are possible. Therefore what we will end up with is the exact opposite, an infinite array of different minds, organized differently, maybe even different civilizations.

 

SECOND: Even more interesting is the idea of creating new minds with completely new informational organizational principles. Thousands of new sense organs, new logics, new emotions and any other combination, new simulated worlds to these new minds. Even in this case you get the exact opposite. You get trillions of completely different minds, universes, realities etc.

 

As is today, we already are going towards a world with multiple civilizations, each having a different technological level, each equally valid. The whole world as one mind seems like a very bad way to use technology and resembles a dictatorship.

 

To put it simpler. I today have a certain amount of knowledge, experiences etc. compared to how I was 10 years ago. Am I better today ? Do I "know" more today ? NO . I am different , a different combination, my combination of 10 years ago is equally valid. Under some points of view I ACTUALLY KNEW MORE then than now. I may have even felt better then than now. So the idea of having more knowledge is a false belief. You simply may know more technical details...

[Psion]

I've already thought about these things before.

 

See: Thread

See: A wiki discussion before you started this thread..

 

I thought about these things long ago as a pathway into immortality as immoral and unethical as it may be.

 

My thought process went like this.

 

1. The human body and mind can last only so long.

2. Finding immortality within such a regular life period is practically impossible.

3. Then that life period must find a way to increase.

3a. Or you could possibly find a way to be more efficient and faster.

 

which then leads to..

 

How?

 

4. Develop a neurotechnolical addition to the brain to enhance thinking capabilities.

5. Develop and research things faster than the average human intellect can.

This thus enables you to research things multiple times faster than the average person can.

6. Research faster, figure out how to manipulate the human body while enhancing either/or/and cybernetic materials or biological alterations.

 

thus i researched the mind and the idea of the hippocampus came up.

I actually had this idea a few years back but never got into it until recently. I came to this forum seeking ideas and people who think alike.

 

The only real thing that becomes a problem with an artificial implant that would replace parts of the organic brain is the philosophical and spirtual argument of the soul and self-conscience/awareness.

[pljames]

Nametag,

Well said but I also read Bascues thread but can we get to much knowledge? I feel being responsibile for it is our genie in the bottle. I forsee drugs in this future instead of machines (nanobytes) We are of course are biological. Are we really ready to be more knowledgable? We cannot handle our own problems now? pljames

[Rayne]

I would assume the most important bit of knowledge that is missing is the fundamental understanding of the nature of existence which is probably beyond the ability of the un-augmented mind to comprehend. If this is ever understood one would think this knowledge would make worldly issues seem insignificant.

[pljames]

I love science and my new interest is neuroscience. Who stated we use only ten percent of our brain and how did they get that conclusion? As I understand it our brain uses different areas to get and send info. Can we use more than ten percent? How do I get more than ten percent? How can I upgrade my I.Q. to gather more knowledge or is it futile?

pljames

[Bettina]

I love science and my new interest is neuroscience. Who stated we use only ten percent of our brain and how did they get that conclusion? As I understand it our brain uses different areas to get and send info. Can we use more than ten percent? How do I get more than ten percent? How can I upgrade my I.Q. to gather more knowledge or is it futile?

pljames

 

Why are you not using closing tags like [/b' date='] and [/i,'] ?

 

Bettina

[zeropoint]

Ok this sounds like a stupid idea... but if our memory's connect to the internet' date=' wouldnt that open a scary new horizon for hackers?

Imagine having spam messages pop up in front of your eyes!!!

 

Scary eh? lol[/quote']

 

LOL!!!!!! Now THAT'S funny!

 

Are we getting into remote viewing now?

 

Linda