In the near future, you'll be able to drive a car, send email or play video games using nothing but your thoughts. The number of doors which a well functioning brain-computer interface could open are nearly limitless. Here is but a small selection of areas where it is being applied right now.
EEG sensors measure electric pulses in the brain and a computer learns to associate five different neural patterns with left, right, accelerate, decelerate and stop. The car drives autonomously, but goes where you think.
Brain controlled video games and operative systems
Brain control will likely make its first public appearance in game consoles. We're already seeing EEG headsets for gaming. Remember when you played FIFA and the player didn’t shoot where you meant for him to aim? Problem solved. The EEG will recognize your proper intention, your fury with the referee, even your emotions when you score.
Non-verbal human communication (synthetic telepathy)
Envision a world in which you can write an email and send it to the proper email address using only your thoughts to dictate. Although at least 15 years away this particular technology has the potential to transform the entire realm of communication in ways so numerous and fundamental that I will not get into it here. But I urge you to read about it here.
Brain controlled artificial limbs
DARPA’s brain controlled mechanical arm has begun clinical trials with humans and the FDA has fast tracked the device for approval which means it could be on the market in four years. Neurosurgeons implant a small chip into the patient’s brain which then sends signals directly to the arm to make it move. The arm can rotate 22 degrees and each finger can move separately.
In which ways do you think a brain-computer interface will be applied to change our lives in the future? I’d really like to hear from you on this.
I think the brain controlled games will have a great psyhological implact, but the move will be the same as the move from a keyboard controlled game to a wii or natal where you control everytring trough your moves.
I think that mind controlled arms will be something major that a lot of people will see the real impact on it, and not only for people without arms, but think about it: in a lot of places in industry we have operators that press some buttons to get things working, it is needed in places where robotic automation don't help. How it would be to do everything only with mind power ? Pretty much like driving a car, but this is something that I would rather let an AI to deal with it.
Posted by: Lucian | 03/04/2011 at 03:59 AM
If it functions by way of "EEG sensors measuring naturally occurring electric pulses from your brain," then what about applications in psychiatry and the treatment of mental illness? I think it is enormous. What is more, ambient technology installed in our bathrooms/homes could monitor our physical/mental health by way of "EEG sensors measuring naturally occurring electric pulses from your brain" and record the results on our national health insurance records, determining the rates we must pay for our unhealthy life decisions. I am sure I am emanating difference electric brain pulses when I have a hangover and if Kaiser Permanente(HMO) knew about all the partying I am doing they'd raise my insurance cost, for sure.^^
Posted by: philip | 03/09/2011 at 10:03 AM
Med and playtime- yes
leave the driving to it? no way jose. Crashed programs mean crashed cars. And the hackability? priceless!
Posted by: waltinseattle | 03/11/2011 at 04:20 PM
Wow yet another thing to worry about in the future!
What is the minimum IQ allowed to drive?
Will ADDers be disqualified for a drivers licence?
Posted by: Mark MyWord | 05/08/2011 at 08:30 AM
"What is the minimum IQ allowed to drive?
Will ADDers be disqualified for a drivers licence?"
I don't know, what is it now?
Did we all ready disqualify them?
i think we'll be fine, it would be integrated naturally and people who would drive this way are people who would grow up with it. Besides, whose to say ADHD people wouldn't be better at using this technology, because their brain wave patterns must be more stark in contrast?
I personally can not what for a telepath society, i'd imagine its a pretty non-aggressive affair.
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