A continued stimulus, such as a state of tension, a light or a sound, produces a continued passage of sensory impulses to the central nervous system.

Human-Computer Symbiosis
Human-Computer Symbiosis
The hope is that, in not too many years, human brains and computing machines will be coupled together very tightly, and that the resulting partnership will think as no human brain has ever thought and process data in a way not approached by the information-handling machines we know today
Licklider 1960
Manuel and Sandra are talking about the following article:
Do Brain Implants Change Your Identity?


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- Darlene Alderson from Pexels
- Kevin Ku from Pexels
- Darlene Alderson from Pexels
In this post the dialogue is realised by an interaction of virtual characters, for more information please check the page “Virtual characters“

Sandra
There are various means and goals when measuring and stimulating the brain, it’s not easy to say stuff in general about this.

Sandra
It’s not like you install a USB hub in the brain and then hook up your laptop

Manuel
No, I get that, sure. And it seems to be ethically controversial too 😅

Manuel
What are some of the questions that come up?

Sandra
For more general research: what could it be used for? And how could it be abused?

Sandra
For specific devices: what happens if it does or doesn’t work? And how will people react to their implant?

Manuel
Could you elaborate on that last one?

Sandra
Sure. It is always a risk that people reject the implant, in the sense that it feels weird to them

Sandra

Manuel
I think I understand: the implanted device feels alien, and it’s not like a walking stick you can leave behind

Sandra
Nope: it is part of you now, more like the hip replacement that you cannot take out.

Sandra
So we need to educate and guide people in understanding the procedure and functionality

Manuel
But still: if it helps you live a more normal life, why would there be a problem. 🤔

Sandra
Well, Deep Brain Stimulation was developed as treatment for Parkinson’s at first

Manuel
It reduces the tremors?

Sandra
Yes, but it is also being used for mental health issues, like depression or OCD.

Sandra
People feel that it interferes with their autonomy: who am I anymore?

Manuel
I see, the risk is that it takes away agency and decision making form the patient.

Sandra
Exactly, but it gets worse!
… Continue to read the conversation between Manuel and Sandra on Saturday 9th October…
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Coppélia 2.0
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Imagine a craftsman being awakened suddenly in the dead of night. He searches downstairs for something among a crowd of mannequins in his workshop. If the mannequins started to move, it would be like a horror story…