Background to this slightly weird question: I found one of my old an English exams on science fiction and dystopian literature from the 11th grade in North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany (ca. 2004) and found a similar question. The idea back then was to discuss the pro- and cons of a BCI (and I objectively did not do to well back then) . I am interested about people’s opinions.
The way the world is moving towards the subscription model - no way. Imagine some company having the ability to remotely disable the chip.
If the BCI was implanted with no external communication, perhaps. Depends on how it will benefit me.
You’ve reminded me that I’ve been meaning to look more seriously at an Ultracortex.
useful brain-computer interface
It’s called a keyboard, and I already have one.
No, i don’t need that. It was a fun fantasy when I was younger, but unless I end up losing use of my limbs or something, cyborging it up seems like a bad move in our nonfictional world.
That depends on what it could do, and how granular it could be programmed.
I don’t want any active interface, it should just be passive.
If I had a small chip in my head that I could program to reward a healthy lifestyle but nothing else, then yes I would be interested.
I mean something that would give me a slight dopamine hit when making healthy choises would be fantastic.
Now, that would be impossible to make, but that is the only kind of BCI I would accept
There is no such thing as a secure brain-computer interface. That’s like asking if there is a safe tiger-butt interface.
Is it an open hardware and software interface?
No. Just no.
No, one need only look at the windows recall debacle to see how corporations would abuse the chip, not to mention the potential for advertising beamed directly to your brain and the possibility of malware. Hell even discounting all of that, not that you should by any means, how would upgrading work?
Any such interface needs to be non-invasive for me to use one.
Probably but I’ll wait a bit. Google glass was insanely popular for a hot minute.
Depends on the capabilities. If i can automatically open my garage door with my mind or draw a bath, or control a cursor on a screen, then no. If it enables entire new ways of experiencing sensations or memories, or ways to share them, or fully immerse you in a virtual world indistinguishable from reality, then maybe. If it’s not from a company Musk has any hand in.
Not from a Musk company or equivalent is a minimum requirement for secure and safe.
Assuming the implementation is done in such a way that I am not indirectly owned by the manufacturer of the BCI and am capable of maintaining its software and firmware myself…yes yes absolutely yes stick that shit in my head.
But if it is not open source and I’m expected to be tied to some corporate entity just to utililze it, no, absolutely not.
Similar feelings. I’m far less worried about the tech than the corpos behind the tech. There are other concerns, like immune system going haywire, constant EM radiation, etc. But the capitalist tech bros would be my chief concern.
I’d love to have access to the tech, but not if it meant corporate data-miners having access to my every thought and sensation.
No
