First post ever

[Brad]

This is the first post in here it appears so here is my question:

 

How long until we are truly able to interface electronics with our nervous systems. There are preliminary trials for electronic eyes hooked up to the optical nerve. Think what could be done...

[fafalone]

Right now the technology is very primitive. But we do have things that completely bypass the optic nerve and directly stimulate the brain, and that just lets people see outlines of things. But there have been notable advances, such as eels controlling machines and the latest remote controlled rat

 

I'd estimate the first "add-ons" for human brains won't be mainstream for at least 40-50 years.

[blike]

It might take awhile to get to humans, I'd say less than faf's estimate (just an opinion of course) though. Perhaps around 25-30 years before they become routine surgical operations.

 

Here is an interesting article from wired that is sort of relevant.

 

monkey see, monkey do

 

Three rhesus monkeys were given the implants, which were first used to record signals from their motor cortex -- an area of the brain that controls movement -- as they manipulated a joystick with their hands. Then those signals were used to develop a program that enabled one of the monkeys to continue moving the cursor with its brain.

 

Spiffy, when can I get my neuro-mouse implant??

[fafalone]

Don't forget about FDA approval, that makes up the difference between our estimates

[blike]

Oh yea, they take forever

[Brad]

I think the most interesting thing about the electronic eyes is that the brain and CNS "learns" to interpret the signal. Granted, the image is nothing more than maybe a few hundred pixels (so to speak) but hey, some vision is better than none, right?

[kenel]

I read about the remote controlled rats, and it seems that though they can control movements of the mice, they cannot recieve brain images from them. An unstable camera is placed on the back of the mouse instead...kinda pointless, is it not?

[blike]

No way, we could use remote controlled rats to sneak into enemy camps and spy

[kenel]

Spy with what though? The camera is very very nomadic, the technology must be improved before we start spying on Hitler J.r. .

[aman]

The interfaces we are developing will only have the abilities to enhance sensory reception or enhance motor abilities. I am all for this and God bless the scientists working for the good of mankind. As far as computing or memory or enhancing cognative thinking I think we are just too complicated for that. Just my opinion but I think our sentience is something that is larger then the sum of our brains parts. I don't think that electronics will ever do anything other than damage our cognative selves if we try to enhance our decision making abilities.

Concerning ideas about animals and bugs. I read in my last PS magazine that scientists developed a new molecular pump. When this long molecule is hit by a certain wavelength of light it crumples, pulling its attached ends closer and squeezing the pump. Turn the light off and the molecule relaxes, refilling the pump. Could be soon we might have artificial kidneys or livers or glands. My suggestion for use of this pump is to make artificial flying insects. They could use the nanoparts to make wings flap since the power source would be external. Let the animals just be animals.

Just aman

[aman]

Last month in Discover there was a neural cell attached to a transistor. It was able to receive signals with no damage to the cell. We are getting pretty close to making a direct brain interface. Fun stuff.

Just aman

[james123]

hm, isnt there a guy with implants under his skin that tell his lab when to turn on the computer when he needs to or open the doors when he wants to go out or turn off the light when he leaves? its not really interface with the brain but meh

[Sayonara]

james123 said in post #12 :

hm, isnt there a guy with implants under his skin that tell his lab when to turn on the computer when he needs to or open the doors when he wants to go out or turn off the light when he leaves? its not really interface with the brain but meh

Yes. He's a total attention whore who does things like staple a chip to his arm and claim he's a cyborg.

 

http://www.theregister.co.uk "LOVE" him - search on there for 'cyborg', I bet you'll find some funny stuff.

[Skye]

There's a bionic cochlear that interfaces with the auditory nerve in the ear and provides reasonable hearing. Several models have been implanted in over 20,000 people, according to this site:

 

http://www.medoto.unimelb.edu.au/bei/

[Sonar]

I did see a special on Discovery Science. They had a man who is using electric eyes. He can see the outlines of things and very little color. But he can make his way around. And actually see. There is a back pack that he wears, with the battery in it. And there is an attachment to his brain. We have come a long way.

[Glider]

True, but still, you have to wonder where we're going.

 

It reminds me of swap meets; rummaging around greasy boxes for parts for me ol' bonnie. I wonder how long it'll be till we have swap meets where people gather looking for second hand custom eyes, or a classic 2050 set of reconditioned kidneys (re-bored and gas flowed, of course).