Are brain implants the future of computing?
Summary
TLDRThe video explores the fascinating world of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), which could revolutionize control of technology through thought. It delves into non-invasive BCIs like the Vario headset, which uses eye-tracking for realistic VR experiences, and invasive BCIs that involve brain implants, as demonstrated by Elon Musk's Neuralink. The script discusses the potential of BCIs in healthcare, space exploration, and the ethical considerations of merging human biology with technology, hinting at a future where the line between virtual and real worlds blurs.
Takeaways
- 🧠 The script discusses the potential of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) to revolutionize control over technology with just thoughts, with applications ranging from aiding astronauts to caring for the severely paralyzed.
- 🌌 It mentions the shrinking gap between virtual and real worlds, hinting at a future where the distinction might vanish, much like in the fictional 'Matrix'.
- 🇫🇮 The Finnish startup Vario has developed a headset with advanced eye tracking technology that enhances virtual reality experiences by processing only the part of the image the eye is looking at, reducing lag and increasing realism.
- 👀 The Vario headset's optics and displays aim to replicate the same resolution as the human eye, pushing towards photorealism in virtual simulations.
- 🤖 The script introduces the concept of non-invasive BCIs, which use portable devices to read brain activity and translate it into control signals for computers or machines.
- 🔬 Scientists are working on understanding the brain better to improve BCI technology, recognizing that brain regions do not have clear signals for specific thoughts like 'fried chicken' or 'salad'.
- 🎥 The film 'Ready Player One' is cited as an example of a future where immersive BCIs might allow humanity to escape into a virtual reality called 'Oasis'.
- 👓 MIT technologist Dr. Natalia Cosmina is developing 'Attentive View' glasses, a non-invasive BCI that can pick up brain activity and eye movements, aiming to optimize astronaut performance.
- 🧠 The script highlights the potential of BCIs to not only replace lost functions but also to rehabilitate or restore brain networks, acting as a brain training tool.
- 🐒 Invasive BCIs, which involve surgical implants, are shown in the context of Elon Musk's company Neuralink, where animals have been used to demonstrate the technology's capabilities.
- 🛡️ The script acknowledges the ethical and health risks of invasive BCIs, including the need for surgical implantation and the potential for controversy, as seen with Neuralink's animal testing.
- 🧩 The potential of BCIs to integrate human biology with technology is underscored, with the story of scientist Peter Scott Morgan who underwent pioneering surgeries to extend his life.
Q & A
What is the potential impact of brain-computer interface (BCI) technology on various fields?
-BCI technology could revolutionize fields such as space exploration for astronauts and healthcare for the severely paralyzed, providing new ways to interact with virtual and computer-generated worlds and potentially merging the virtual and real worlds.
How does the Vario headset differ from typical VR experiences?
-The Vario headset uses advanced eye tracking technology, which means only the part of the image the eye is looking at needs to be processed, resulting in no perceivable lag and a more realistic experience.
What is the significance of photorealism in BCI technology?
-Photorealism is one of the first steps towards convincing our brains that computer-generated simulations are real, which is crucial for the development of more immersive and realistic virtual experiences.
What are the two types of BCIs mentioned in the script?
-The two types of BCIs are non-invasive BCIs, which can take the form of portable devices using non-invasive ways of reading brain activity, and invasive BCIs, which require surgical implants into the brain.
How do non-invasive BCIs work in controlling computers or machines?
-Non-invasive BCIs translate brain signals directly into commands to control computers, video games, robotic arms, or other machines without the need for physical interaction.
What is the role of understanding the brain in improving BCI technology?
-Improving the understanding of the brain helps scientists to better interpret brain signals for controlling BCIs, which is essential for the development of more accurate and responsive brain-computer interfaces.
How are BCIs being used in the context of NASA and astronaut performance?
-BCIs are being used in a project with NASA to read the brain activity of astronauts on missions to monitor their health and performance, using wireless sensing devices that can be integrated into a pair of glasses.
What is the potential application of BCIs for people suffering from neurogenerative disorders like ALS?
-BCIs can provide a means of communication for people with ALS who have lost the ability to communicate, allowing them to answer yes or no questions through brain activity, thus improving their quality of life.
How can using a BCI potentially change the brain's structure and function?
-With extensive training and practice, using a BCI can lead to observable changes in both brain activity patterns and brain structures, essentially serving as a brain training tool that can rehabilitate or restore brain networks and pathways.
What are the ethical and health risks associated with invasive BCIs?
-Invasive BCIs pose risks such as the need for surgical implantation into the brain, which can lead to ethical concerns and potential health complications, although they offer the most direct and accurate way to read from neural populations.
What is the ultimate goal of companies like Neuralink in the development of BCI technology?
-Neuralink aims to improve the lives of humans with impaired abilities through the development of BCI technology, with the long-term vision of merging brains and computers to eliminate the gap between the virtual and real worlds.
Outlines
🧠 The Emergence of Mind-Reading Technology
The script introduces the concept of mind-reading technology and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), which could revolutionize control over computers and machines just by thought. It discusses the potential applications of this technology in various fields, such as space exploration and healthcare for the paralyzed. The narrative then shifts to the headquarters of Vario, a Finnish startup that has developed a groundbreaking headset using advanced eye-tracking technology to create highly realistic virtual experiences. The headset is designed to process only the parts of the image the eye is looking at, thereby reducing lag and enhancing realism. The technology aims to blur the line between virtual reality and the real world, hinting at a future where the distinction may disappear.
🚀 Advancing BCIs for Health and Space Exploration
This paragraph delves deeper into the development and application of brain-computer interfaces, highlighting the work of Open BCI and the evolution of BCIs since the 1970s. It explains the two types of BCIs: non-invasive, which can be portable and control various machines, and invasive, which involves surgical implants for a more direct neural interface. The script discusses the importance of understanding brain activity for improving BCIs and the potential for these devices to help patients with neurodegenerative disorders communicate. It also touches on the ethical and health risks associated with invasive BCIs, as well as the potential for brain training and rehabilitation through their use. The narrative includes examples of current research and projects, such as the attentive view glasses developed at MIT in collaboration with NASA, and the controversial animal testing conducted by Elon Musk's company, Neuralink.
🛠️ The Ethical and Technological Frontiers of BCIs
The final paragraph addresses the ethical considerations and the future potential of brain-computer interfaces, particularly the invasive type that could merge human biology with technology in unprecedented ways. It discusses the risks and the need for careful development, referencing the case of Peter Scott Morgan, who underwent pioneering surgeries to extend his life. The script also mentions the potential for BCIs to change brain activity patterns and structures, serving as a form of brain training. It concludes with a reflection on the brain's complexity and the dual nature of hope and concern as technology progresses, leaving the audience with a sense of the immense possibilities and challenges ahead in the field of BCIs.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Brain-Computer Interface (BCI)
💡Cyborg
💡Photorealism
💡Eye Tracking Technology
💡Neuroscience
💡Non-Invasive BCI
💡Invasive BCI
💡Neuroplasticity
💡Ethical Concerns
💡The Matrix
💡Neurolink
Highlights
The concept of mind-reading computers and brain implants that control computers by thought is a fascinating technological advancement with potential applications in various fields.
Vario, a Finnish startup, has developed a groundbreaking headset that enhances virtual reality experiences by using advanced eye-tracking technology.
The Vario headset processes only the part of the image the eye is looking at, providing a realistic experience with no perceivable lag.
The headset's optics and displays are designed to replicate photorealism, making virtual objects appear as they would in the real world.
Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are devices that allow direct communication between the brain and computers by reading brain signals.
Open BCI provides hardware and software for the Vario headset, enabling the use of brain signals to control virtual interactions.
Non-invasive BCIs can take the form of portable devices that read brain activity and translate it into control signals for various machines.
Improving the understanding of the brain is crucial for enhancing BCI technology and its applications in controlling external objects.
The film 'Ready Player One' depicts a future where humanity escapes the real world through fully immersive virtual reality simulations.
Dr. Natalia Cosmina at MIT is working on new BCI designs, including glasses that can pick up brain activity and eye movements.
Attentive View glasses allow users to answer questions by thinking of the answer, with the computer recording brain waves to understand the response.
BCI technology has the potential to help people with neurogenerative disorders like ALS to communicate despite the loss of physical abilities.
BCIs can also serve as a brain training tool, helping to rehabilitate or restore brain networks and pathways.
Invasive BCIs, such as those being developed by Elon Musk's company Neuralink, involve surgical implants to merge brains and computers more directly.
Invasive BCIs pose ethical and health risks, with the need for surgical implantation and potential long-term consequences.
Despite controversies, invasive BCIs are seen as a promising path to closing the gap between the virtual and real worlds.
The brain remains an enigma, and BCI technology opens new possibilities while also raising concerns about the direct interfacing of the brain.
The Economist's Deputy Editor, Tom Standish, discusses the trajectory of BCI technology and its implications for the future.
Transcripts
imagine computers that can read your
mind
and brain implants that control
computers by thought alone everybody is
fascinated about the idea of potentially
being able to control things just using
their mind this technology could
revolutionize everything from astronauts
in space
to care for the severely paralyzed he'll
save his life by turning himself into
the world's first cyborg the gap between
the virtual and Real Worlds is closing
but how long till headsets and screens
disappear
is not the real world
and the Matrix is no longer fiction
[Music]
this is the headquarters of vario a
startup company based in Finland
it might look like they've created a
typical VR experience but it's not
vario has created a headset which is
changing how people interact with
virtual and computer-generated Worlds by
changing how their brains engage with
them here in this example we have a
Volvo car based on a cad model that was
just transformed into fully
photorealistic accurate replica of the
actual design model
various groundbreaking headset is built
using Advanced Eye tracking technology
this means only the part of the image
the eye is looking at needs to be
processed and with no perceivable lag it
feels realistic
we design Optics and displays that make
it possible to see in the same
resolution as your own IC
this means that whatever we replicate
looks exactly the same as it would look
like in the real world
photorealism is one of the first steps
towards convincing our brains that
compute generated simulations are real
but achieving this will also require
improvements to devices called brain
computer interfaces or bcis
the vario headset uses hardware and
software from a company called open BCI
a BCA is a brain computer interface so
it's essentially a way for the brain to
directly interface with computers by
reading out signals from the brain
[Music]
the term brain computer interface was
coined in the 1970s in California the
aim was to control external objects
using signals from the brain but it's
only within the last 20 years that
researchers have started to pull this
off turn right
and Fire
today there are two kinds of bcis the
first type are called non-invasive and
can take the form of portable devices
using non-invasive ways of reading out
brain activity those signals are
directly translated into ways of
controlling computers whether it's a
video game or it's a robotic arm or any
sort of machine
[Music]
to make computers better at reading
brain signals scientists need to get
better at understanding the brain
you can't put a BCA on think to yourself
do I want to eat you know fried chicken
or a sandwich or a salad for lunch and
then think of it and then order it
online you don't have clear brain
regions for fried chicken versus salad
in the brain
if we know what the brain activity is
that we're looking for in the brain
region then we can use that signal to
control a BCI
[Music]
improving the understanding of the brain
could lead to the type of BCI featured
in the film Ready Player One
set in 2045 it shows much of humanity
Escaping The Real World by using
headsets which fully immerse their
brains in the Oasis a near perfect
virtual reality simulation
getting the design of non-invasive bci's
right is vital to fulfilling their
potential
some find devices like headsets
impractical and bulky
[Music]
but scientists are bringing designs down
to size on top you can see one of the
early prototypes of attention view
glasses which have a sensors on the back
of the ears Dr Natalia cosmina is a
technologist at MIT who is working on a
series of new designs in conjunction
with NASA we have a project with NASA
about optimizing performance of
astronauts
the project is using this technology to
read the brain activity of astronauts on
missions to the International Space
Station in order to monitor their health
and performance so it's a suite of
different variable Wireless
sense in devices that can pick up brain
activity eye movements and those can be
put in the form factor of a pair of
glasses
we're gonna try on a pair of attentive
view glasses so we can pick up the brain
activity using these electrodes the
attentive view glasses allow someone to
answer questions by simply thinking of
the answer
the computer is able to understand their
answer by recording their brain waves so
what Kareem will need to do using only
his brain activity to give an answer to
this question so do you like it here
yes
okay did we get it right I assume yes
it's a technology that offers great
promise on Earth as well as in space for
example for people suffering from
neurogenerative disorders like ALS which
causes a loss in the ability to
communicate what we actually are doing
we are providing them with this basic
education the caregiver can ask a
question to the patient and the patient
can respond yes no
[Music]
these devices also have the potential to
physically alter the brain and change
how it works
try not to think
to think of and just rest your head for
10 seconds okay okay Professor suck Lee
Liu is a neuroscientist who has been
working in this field for over 10 years
over time if you train or practice with
a BCI a lot you can actually see changes
in both the brain activity patterns that
people have and in the brain structures
using a BCA can not only replace or
serve as a compensatory role for
replacing function but it can actually
also help to rehabilitate or restore
brain networks and Pathways and it's
essentially like a like a brain training
sort of tool
one day the world may wake up to the
reality of another kind of brain
computer interface
evasive kind when the Matrix will no
longer be just a Hollywood dream
invasive bcis promise the future merger
of brains and computers through surgical
implants
it's early days for this technology and
so far testing has mostly been done on
animals rather than humans
[Music]
like this monkey pager pager simply
thinks about moving his hand up or down
with electrodes surgically inserted into
his brain he is able to play the game
pong simply by thinking about moving his
hand up or down and sending brain
signals to the computer
the experiment was conducted by Elon
musk's company neurolink
neurolink says its ultimate aim is to
improve the lives of humans with
impaired abilities
however its experiments have proved
controversial protesters lining up
calling for neural links animal testing
labs to be shut down
the company says it has euthanized eight
monkeys but insists it has followed the
law at all times
invasive bcis can also pose ethical and
health risks for humans so they actually
have to cut your skull open and then
implant an electrode and then put the
skull back on
despite this many consider these
implants to be the most promising path
to removing the gap between the virtual
and Real Worlds
the most accurate tend to be the ones
that are implanted in the brain the
upside is that you're reading directly
from neural populations so the cells in
the brain that are actually firing
invasive bcis have the potential to
integrate human biology with technology
in unprecedented ways
and scientists are slowly moving in this
direction
in 2018 scientist Peter Scott Morgan
offered his own body to his profession
he suffered from motor neurone disease
and allowed surgeons to implant various
chips into his body in the hope of
extending his life whatever happens we
will learn from it
and we will do it better the next time
the pioneering operations helped him
live for another four years until his
death in 2022.
the brain remains one of Humanity's
greatest enigmas
technology that melds the brain with
computers opens up new possibilities
highlighting both how powerful the brain
is and how little it is understood while
scientists are a long way from
understanding its Secrets there are
grounds for both hope and concern
it's a very scary thought when you start
looking into into what you could do when
you're directly interfacing the brain
yet at the same time you you can
completely understand that this is a
trajectory we are on
I'm Tom Standish Deputy editor at The
Economist if you'd like to learn more
about this topic click on the link
opposite and if you'd like to watch more
of our now and next series click on the
other link thanks for watching and don't
forget to subscribe
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