| Do you think a brain chip is a good idea? |
| Yes |
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52% |
[ 9 ] |
| No |
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41% |
[ 7 ] |
| "Resistance is Futile." |
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5% |
[ 1 ] |
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| Total Votes : 17 |
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| Author |
Message |
Link, the Hero of Time
Vice Admiral
Joined: 15 Sep 2001
Posts: 5581
Location: Kokori Forest, Hyrule
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 Thu Mar 31, 2005 7:07 pm Brain chip reads man's thoughts |
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| Quote: |
Brain chip reads man's thoughts
The 'chip' reads brain signals
A paralysed man in the US has become the first person to benefit from a brain chip that reads his mind.
Matthew Nagle, 25, was left paralysed from the neck down and confined to a wheelchair after a knife attack in 2001.
The pioneering surgery at New England Sinai Hospital, Massachusetts, last summer means he can now control everyday objects by thought alone.
The brain chip reads his mind and sends the thoughts to a computer to decipher.
Mind over matter
He can think his TV on and off, change channels and alter the volume thanks to the technology and software linked to devices in his home.
Scientists have been working for some time to devise a way to enable paralysed people to control devices with the brain.
Studies have shown that monkeys can control a computer with electrodes implanted into their brain.
It's quite remarkable
Dr Richard Apps, neurophysiologist from Bristol University
Recently four people, two of them partly paralysed wheelchair users, were able to move a computer cursor while wearing a cap with 64 electrodes that pick up brain waves.
Mr Nagle's device, called BrainGate, consists of nearly 100 hair-thin electrodes implanted a millimetre deep into part of the motor cortex of his brain that controls movement.
Wires feed the information from the electrodes into a computer which analyses the brain signals.
The signals are interpreted and translated into cursor movements, offering the user an alternative way to control devices such as a computer with thought.
Motor control
Professor John Donoghue, an expert on neuroscience at Brown University, Rhode Island, is the scientist behind the device produced by Cyberkinetics.
He said: "The computer screen is basically a TV remote control panel, and in order to indicate a selection he merely has to pass the cursor over an icon, and that's equivalent to a click when he goes over that icon."
Mr Nagle has also been able to use thought to move a prosthetic hand and robotic arm to grab sweets from one person's hand and place them into another.
Professor Donoghue hopes that ultimately implants such as this will allow people with paralysis to regain the use of their limbs.
The long term aim is to design a package the size of a mobile phone that will run on batteries, and to electrically stimulate the patient's own muscles.
This will be difficult.
The simple movements we take for granted in fact involve complex electrical signals which will be hard to replicate, Dr Richard Apps, a neurophysiologist from Bristol University, the UK, told the BBC News website.
He said there were millions of neurones in the brain involved with movement. The brain chip taps into only a very small number of these.
But he said the work was extremely exciting.
"It's quite remarkable. They have taken research to the next stage to have a clear benefit for a patient that otherwise would not be able to move.
"It seems that they have cracked the crucial step and arguably the most challenging step to get hand movements.
"Just to be able to grasp an object is a major step forward."
He said it might be possible to hone this further to achieve finer movements of the hand.
Matthew Nagel's story is featured in a Frontiers programme on BBC Radio Four on Wednesday 13 April, 2005, at 2100 BST
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4396387.stm |
This is a tremendous breakthrough in the field of science and medicine!
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Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Thu Mar 31, 2005 7:09 pm |
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This is not good. Great. Now they are going to try and start filling our bodies up with computer chips.
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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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| Thu Mar 31, 2005 7:12 pm |
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Perhaps a good medical advancement, however veeery sensitive, and needs to be held very safely. The government should probably impose strict restrictions on this. I am not completly sure how I feel about this yet.
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Jeff Miller
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 22 Nov 2001
Posts: 23947
Location: Mental Ward for the Mentaly Unstable 6th floor, Saint John's 1615 Delaware Longview Washington 98632
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| Thu Mar 31, 2005 7:29 pm |
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cool another step in technology. 
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Thu Mar 31, 2005 7:45 pm |
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I voted no. VERY no.
-------signature-------
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
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Hitchhiker
Rear Admiral
Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 3514
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Thu Mar 31, 2005 8:00 pm |
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Indeed. I can understand its medical applications, but beyond that I don't like the idea of getting hardware implanted in my body. Call me paranoid, but it does seem a little too close for comfort. 
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IntrepidIsMe
Pimp Handed
Joined: 14 Jun 2002
Posts: 13057
Location: New York
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| Thu Mar 31, 2005 8:02 pm |
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Great advancement for medical purposes.
-------signature-------
"Nelly, I am Heathcliff! He's always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself, but as my own being."
-Wuthering Heights
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lionhead
Rear Admiral
Joined: 26 May 2004
Posts: 4020
Location: The Delta Quadrant (or not...)
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| Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:47 pm |
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Oh yeah. we are all paranoid. "resistance is futile i would say.
-------signature-------
Never explain comedy or satire or the ironic comment. Those who get it, get it. Those who don't, never will. -Michael Moore
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LightningBoy
Commodore
Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Posts: 1446
Location: Minnesota, U.S.A.
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| Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:52 pm |
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The high preists are watching us.
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Zeke Zabertini
Captain
Joined: 13 Sep 2002
Posts: 4832
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| Fri Apr 01, 2005 12:29 am |
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Humanity will and must advance. I almost voted "resistance is futile," but then I realized that I agree with the premise anyway. Let us move forward, learn, and be all that we may as we do.
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Lord Borg
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 11214
Location: Vulcan Capital City, Vulcan
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| Fri Apr 01, 2005 1:06 am |
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hmmmm... whats to keep the man from reading our minds and using it agants us!!! or somthing!! i dont like this.
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Five - seveN
Rear Admiral
Joined: 13 Jun 2004
Posts: 3567
Location: Shadow Moon
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| Fri Apr 01, 2005 12:33 pm |
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Ehhh. I think this is just very good news! Isn't it great that he can finally do something again? It's just great that we're able to do such things nowadays!
And people, if you don't like the idea of a chip in your brain, then don't let them implant it. Simpleeee...
| Quote: | | The high preists are watching us. |
Care to explain?
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lionhead
Rear Admiral
Joined: 26 May 2004
Posts: 4020
Location: The Delta Quadrant (or not...)
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| Fri Apr 01, 2005 1:39 pm |
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Actually sounds like an April fools joke too me. You know, the BBC made a joke that so called "brain bands" would help students pass exams.
-------signature-------
Never explain comedy or satire or the ironic comment. Those who get it, get it. Those who don't, never will. -Michael Moore
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Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Fri Apr 01, 2005 1:42 pm |
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We're not upset about the fact the man has the chip in his head. Its nice that its helping his motor functions. I don't want that stuff in me. You might say "Don't get it then." Did the thought ever cross your mind it could be forced on us?
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Zeke Zabertini
Captain
Joined: 13 Sep 2002
Posts: 4832
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| Fri Apr 01, 2005 1:48 pm |
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Have a little faith. Of all the things that can already be forced on people, why does this concern you? We're going to need all the technology we can get to overcome the problems we've created in our world.
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Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Fri Apr 01, 2005 1:52 pm |
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Because I don't want computer chips in my body. No it has nothing to do with the Borg.  Its actually more of a Religious thing.
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LightningBoy
Commodore
Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Posts: 1446
Location: Minnesota, U.S.A.
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| Fri Apr 01, 2005 2:26 pm |
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| Quote: | | Quote: | | The high preists are watching us. |
Care to explain? |
See: Ayn Rand's anthem.
Basically the same as Big Brother.
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Captain Patrick
Commodore
Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 2421
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| Fri Apr 01, 2005 2:34 pm |
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I belive this is a good idea because it a step up in tech for the human race. 
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webtaz99
Commodore
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Posts: 1229
Location: The Other Side
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| Fri Apr 01, 2005 3:35 pm |
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There are NO "brain chips" yet. Only electrodes (nearly-microscopic wires) are actually implanted in the brain. The "chip" sits outside the head.
And how is the government going to kidnap you and do brain surgery when they can't keep Social Security going and have to shut down every 4 years because they don't have enough money?!
-------signature-------
"History is made at night! Character is who you are in the dark." (Lord John Whorfin)
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Sat Apr 02, 2005 8:36 pm |
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This is not a good idea. We should not invade privacy like this, and implant such things into the human body. However, perhaps in situations like Terri Shiavo, it's a good thing. But I have to vote no.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Sat Apr 02, 2005 8:36 pm |
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I accidentally voted yes. Count one more towards no and one less towards yes 
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Zeke Zabertini
Captain
Joined: 13 Sep 2002
Posts: 4832
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| Sat Apr 02, 2005 8:45 pm |
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This isn't an invasion of privacy. They're helping the disabled, for Universe's sake.
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Captain Leah Manzer
Vice Admiral
Joined: 21 Mar 2002
Posts: 5221
Location: State of Insanity
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| Sun Apr 03, 2005 2:29 am |
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I really don�t like the idea of machinery in or around the brain. It would be very beneficial to people who are paralyzed, but sooner or later this is going to break out into the general public, and we are going to become more and more lazy. Needless to say, that is not good.
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zero
Rear Admiral
Joined: 03 Apr 2005
Posts: 4566
Location: Texas
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| Sun Apr 03, 2005 4:44 am |
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| Captain Leah Manzer wrote: | | I really don�t like the idea of machinery in or around the brain. It would be very beneficial to people who are paralyzed, but sooner or later this is going to break out into the general public, and we are going to become more and more lazy. Needless to say, that is not good. |
I don't see how it can make us more lazy. People who are lazy choose to be that way. You see overweight people, and people in good shape! That is their choice.
I don't mind the idea of having an implant. It just depends on what it is for. If it will benifit our race, and make us more advanced, I would do it.
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Zeke Zabertini
Captain
Joined: 13 Sep 2002
Posts: 4832
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| Sun Apr 03, 2005 12:17 pm |
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Well, I can only imagine how expensive an in-home mental control system would be. I wouldn't worry about it becoming too generally available.
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