Brain-machine interface

The world around us pushes forward. We advance every day. The technological wave which is pulsing through the human race is nothing short of awe inspiring. What was once considered impossible is now commonplace. Science fiction has become science reality.

Here’s a question for you. Can a human being move an object using thought alone? That’s right, I’m talking about telekinesis. It’s an intriguing idea and, up until recently, was considered only within the realms of science fiction. But not anymore. Scientist’s dedicated to understanding “brain storms”, which are electrical impulses produced by the brain when we think, have made major breakthroughs in creating reliable brain-machine interfaces. Essentially these brain-machine interfaces use electrodes inserted within the brain to record the brain’s electrical impulses, the electrical impulses are then interpreted, and a robotic arm is manipulated. Initially, the brain-machine interfaces were designed for monkeys, which in itself is remarkable, and if you haven’t seen a monkey controlling a robotic arm using thought alone then I suggest you look it up. But now the technology has improved and is routinely employed on human beings. In particular, it has been used to restore mobility to those who are severely disabled. Watching a quadriplegic woman control and manipulate a robotic arm using thought alone is astounding, and speaks to the rare and beautiful intersection of human curiosity and human generosity.  But the brain-machine interface doesn’t end there. Patients are able to control a cursor on a computer screen, enabling the user to open files, send emails, and even to operate a television. It’s remarkable how fast the world advances! So I ask, where will the brain-machine interface lead the human race? It’s hard to say, none of us are certain, but it sure is fun to think about.