On Slashdot today there was a link to an article about growing nerve cells on a microchip and transmitting data between the brain and that chip. This got me thinking about how far along we are now, relative to SR-level cybernetics. We already have what amounts to a cyberear, and within 5 years we should have a reasonably functional cybereye (Theres a similar project underway in Australia).

This is all rather fascinating to me. What other proto-cybernetic devices are currently available or in development? Will unnecessary cybernetic implants ever become popular, or are people just too afraid or unnerved by the idea of sticking foreign objects in their bodies?

I think it's more of a case for what we don't know scare's us to honest. A few people will try it, storys will get around, some blown out of proportion inrealtion to their failures and what not.

It will happen it will just take time

I tell you, when someone comes out with an implantable walkman with neural control, people will JUMP ON IT. I'll be first in line.

Yeah but i would of been at the prerelease.

they have computer controlled impants in paraplegics legs that can make them walk... not very well very jerky, but its a start

saw that on discovery channel, like 2-3 years ago.

-Mike R.

There was an article in the washington post about monkeys that were controlling robotic arms connected electronically to their brains. Rigging is already on its way.

Though Rigging has the rather significant problem that not only will it require expensive modification to the person, the vehicle will also have to be extensively and expensively modified.

~J

the problem with the monkey thing was there there was no return channel, they only read the neural patterns of the monkey brain and used that after the computer had learned that this pattern was equal to that joystick input. so basicly there was no way for the monkey to tell when it was applying pressure to the item he was handeling via the robot arm. that is what we are missing right now, when a person that have just gotten a cyberarm fitted can grab a uncooked egg and handle it without crushing it ill be interested.

this is important when we talk about rigging as the rigger can feel when the weight of the vehicle is shifting and balance it out just like he does with his own brain just that the neural signals that before made his body lean over and so on will now make say the cars suspension stiffen up to keep the car from flipping over and so on. we are talking about useing what the brain and body have had generations prefecting and turning it into the perfect control system.

say you want a plane to roll over into a turn, you just lean over into the turn. if your in combat you can at the same time be telling the planes computer to turn on weapons, lock the targeting system on enemy that you have visual focus on right now and so on, never hitting any physical button. and this can go realy damn fast. its hotas (hands on throttle and stick) taken to the extreme.

I seem to remember something from a few years ago about the developement of "electric muscles". Some sort of plastic or polymer that would stretch and contract when electricity was applied to it. Anyone have any idea what I am talking about? If you look online for "piezoelectric" you can find some information on solid state electrical motors but that's it. This stuff was on Good Morning America like 4 or 5 years ago.

Wouldn't mind Simsense!

i think i know what fibers your talking about Hecatonchires. but i dont recall what they where named.

and you hit the nail on the head simon, its simsense that we are waiting for. when we can overlay our sensory input with something generated by a computer we have a feedback loop going. the brain responds to the input and the computer responds to the output.

Courtesy of the kind folks at NASA
http://www.teccenter.org/electroactive_pol...c_polymers.html

Personally I don't mind my tax dollars being spent on this sort of stuff.

The horror...the horror...

...Personally, I'm waiting for something to come out of that recent story where S. Korea cloned a human embryo. Something both far more useful and far less invasive in my mind than cyberware. Something like...

...Near-immortality, perhaps?

Only genetically. Unless they find some way to transfer your mind, which I think is unlikely in the near future.

Man, that just makes me think of I Will Fear No Evil.. Brain transplants.

That was a wonderful book.

~J

You guys can have your Ipod implated in your brain if you want (I shudder to think of the cost) I am waiting for the Smart Gun link with the range finder options and biometric feedback.... *drool* It will be so cool.

Also with the rise of Cyberware will come..... Chop shops.
Sooooo. il make an attempt to install that i pod for you.....

Mike still owes me his spine.

You probably could, though you'd probably have a rather upset kitty or five (one human-shaped) on your hands.
You're right, sound probably wouldn't work well. The control wire could probably terminate at the spine, though.

~J

Whoever interfaces a nerve ending with an electronic signal first wins a cookie. Whoever makes the interface self-sustaining and matinence free first wins the real prize.