What Are Brain-Computer Interfaces, How Do They Work, and When Were They Discovered/Invented?
Every time our brain functions neurons send small electronic signals as fast as 250 mph across our brains. Brain-computer interfaces are systems that use electrodes connected to the brain to detect these electrical signals to complete a simple task. In the 1960s many experiments were conducted on monkeys which kick-started the idea of brain-computer interfaces. Many scientists believe it is unsafe and inhumane to connect machines to the brains of humans and animals. It is also seen as unsafe because cutting into the brain to insert the machine can be life-threatening.
How Can They Be Used?
Current technology allows for the minor movement of prosthetic limbs and movement of a cursor on a computer screen. The goal is to give humans the ability to sense, control, and communicate with the world around them. This includes giving hearing to the deaf and giving sight to the blind. Some scientists go as far as saying that brain-computer interfaces could someday help humans connect with the world like never before, like turning off lights with a thought.
Impacts on Society
Although the pros can seem undoubtedly substantial, in many cases the cons outweigh the pros.
Pros
- Can give people abilities they always dreamed of: walking, moving prosthetics, vision
- Can give people unimagine abilities like turning off lights with a thought
Cons
- Can damage the brain upon installation
- Can be reverse-engineered to alter the mind of a person
As the technology of brain-computer interfaces advances, so will its impacts society. Although the technology may seem to be in its beginning stages, it is rapidly advancing and is soon to hit the marketplace. Companies BrainGate and Neuralink are leading the way in the creation and improvement of brain-computer interfaces.
Related Engineering Fields
- Biological Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Biomolecular Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electronic Engineering
Works Cited
Grabianowski, Ed. “How Brain-Computer Interfaces Work.” HowStuffWorks, HowStuffWorks, 2 Nov. 2007, computer.howstuffworks.com/brain-computer-interface.htm.
Shih, Jerry J., et al. “Brain-Computer Interfaces in Medicine.” Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Mayo Foundation, Mar. 2012, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3497935/.
Wise, Jeff. “Brain-Computer Interfaces Are Already Here.” Bloomberg.com, Bloomberg, 7 Sept. 2017,www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-09-07/brain-computer-interfaces-are-already-here.
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