One of the classic tropes of 80s cyberpunk is "jacking in"—connecting one’s neural interface from a hardware-augmented brain to the computer networks at large. The neural interface was one of those science fiction technologies that made for good stories, but as a real-world development, it raised all sorts of questions. Who’d want to go through the surgery for that? What about upgrading when better technology came out? And who’s going to beta test the thing?!?
Well, get ready, because
we're about to
get some answers.
Cyberkinetics, a Massachusetts company, has
launched the first human trials of their new
BrainGate neural interface. This won't be for console
cowboys trying to make their big cyberspace break, but for
the physically disabled needing communication and activity.
The System could potentially be used
to help increase the independence of people with
disabilities by allowing them to control various devices
with their thoughts. Through their control of a personal
computer, users of the BrainGate System may be able to
control a variety of devices to complete everyday tasks
such as composing an email, answering the telephone and
controlling a television...
The principle of operation of the
BrainGate Neural Interface System is that with intact
brain function, neural signals are generated even though
they are not sent to the arms, hands and legs. These
signals are interpreted by the System and a cursor is
shown to the user on a computer screen that provides an
alternate "BrainGate pathway". The user can use that
cursor to control the computer, just as a mouse is used.
Not surprisingly, the other probable candidate for early
adoption of this technology is the military.
All the usual caveats apply regarding experimental
technology, but the chances are good that the BrainGate (or
something very much like it) will eventually be a mechanism
for the severely physically disabled to continue to be
productive and engaged with the world. And while it's
undoubtedly enormously expensive now, there's no reason why
such systems wouldn't be just as subject to Moore's Law as
any other digital device. Within a decade of its initial
release, the costliest part of a neural interface would
likely be the surgery.
While
assistive technology for the disabled quite often picks up
mainstream uses, I don't see too many people choosing to
go under the knife for an implant. The reason is the
combination of the risks of surgery and the continued
improvement of the technology. Who'd want to choose between
being stuck using (effectively) the first computer they ever
get and having brain surgery every couple of years? I
suspect that the next step in the technology -- driven both
by mainstream users and the desire to bring down
implementation costs -- will be a non-invasive version, able
to pick up on changes in brain electrical activity without
opening the skull. And then make it wireless...
Jamais Cascio is a fellow of the IEET, and a professional futurist. He writes the popular blog
Open the Future.
IEET Blog