We're getting closer than you might realize. I heard a brief story on NPR
on my way to work a couple days ago about a significant step in this
direction. There have apparently been some successful work done w/ a system
that will directly stimulate the audio centers of the brain, allowing a
totally deaf person to hear. From what I got from the story it's being used
in real cases now (people). I'll see if I can find a news link about it.
Maybe in five years we'll be buying BrainWav brand audio cards (SB
compatible, of course) and experience 100% truly immersive sound you can
enjoy with no one suspecting.
My curiosity is in this question...how do they know it's really accurate?
If the patients are deaf (and have been for all or a significant portion of
their lives) then they probably cannot say "Yep, doc, that sounds like a
cat. And there's the phone ringing..." I REALLY would like to know more
about this aspect. It reminds me of the part of Matrix when they're having
dinner...discussing how an AI could possibly know what chicken tastes like.
Oh well....
Larry
-----Original Message-----
From: Brian Chabot [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2000 4:19 AM
To: GNHLUG
Subject: Brain-Computer Interface (was: Re: Suggestions (was:
Re: Name tags (was: Re: What ...)))
On Mon, 30 Oct 2000, Suzanne Hillman wrote:
> I need a computer-to-brain download mechanism. That would be cool.
Direct Neural Interface. It's a concept that's been used in
Cyberpunk
style fiction since the early 80's.
Too bad it would be so potentially dangerous... (Would *you* want
anything that could crash hooked directly to your brain?)
But... I'd live to have an indirect connection, much like the ones
in
Gibson's "Neuromancer"...
But we're a long way off from that... Closest we have is a mouse
control
using brainwaves (not easy, nor accurate, but it kinda worked...)
done
by some university in Florida.
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