Doggedly searching for the crux of the biscuit.
Right here in Durham, NC, researchers have "have built a brain implant that lets monkeys control a robotic arm with their thoughts, marking the first time that mental intentions have been harnessed to move a mechanical object." Their next step is to make the system wireless, which should be a relatively minor upgrade. The article is fascinating, the researchers were astounded, and this carries huge promise for paralysis victims. Nonetheless, part of me (mostly the insomniac part that watches bad movies on cable at 3 am) can't help but think that as a species, we will one day sorely regret having trained monkeys to telepathically control robots. So begins the Matrix...
On the other hand, the revolutionary nature of this is being overplayed by the researchers. Hell, I can make a 3-ton city bus move away at high speed just by approaching the bus stop.
TrackBack...or the Planet of the Apes. D'ya see how quickly the monkeys seemed to get the hang of having telepathic powers? A talented and energetic species. And for myself, I love the smell of bus exhaust in the morning.
Posted by: Bloggerhead at October 13, 2003 11:46 PMhmmm... maybe I should stop blogging... we keep writing the same things. It almost feels like Apostropher is a no-hands prosthetic, reading my mind...
Posted by: paul at October 14, 2003 09:51 AMThis is old news, isn't it? I'm pretty sure I saw where the Russians had a fighter jet that could at least partly be controlled by thought.
Posted by: Tripp at October 14, 2003 09:54 AM>we keep writing the same things
I'll be damned. Wouldja look at that. We do seem to share a worldview...
To the ramparts, mighty blogbrother! The Visigoths draw near!
Posted by: apostropher at October 14, 2003 09:58 AMI'm pretty sure I saw where the Russians had a fighter jet that could at least partly be controlled by thought.
Tripp, if monkeys learn to control fighter jets, we are totally f*cked.
Posted by: apostropher at October 14, 2003 09:59 AMI've heard of technology in helicopters that acquires targets based on where you look (ie it tracks the movement of your eyes) but I'm pretty sure this monkey experiment is a first.
apostropher,
No worry. I think it was Clint Eastwood. I'm pretty sure he is not a monkey.
Paul,
This was more than eye-movement. Clint stole the jet from the Russians, and he had to think Russian thoughts to control it.