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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Do not you understand? This is a whole new dimension, even according to the canons of the classical “art sacre”. This is a real revolution. Do you understand, ladies and gentlemen? This is the first hot plastic artwork! You! You! My boy … you are an artist!
Sketchy AI
“Young man, you don’t think I’m encountering constructive symbolism for the first time, do you? “Unplug”: free yourself from physicality, from the vulgar earthbound physicality, from the evils of civilization, from electricity, nerves, and so on. Isn’t that what this is? The association is crystal clear, I’d be tempted to say, perhaps even too obvious” (Kishon 1987)
AI see, AI do
You young badgers imagine that it would be enough to smear a pound of paint on the canvas and you’re already a modern painter. I would be willing to accept this abomination for a bad joke, if there was even the slightest humor behind it. But this here is an abracadabra! A nothing!
Anything is art if an AI says it is
Do not you understand? This is a whole new dimension, even according to the canons of the classical “art sacre”. This is a real revolution. Do you understand, ladies and gentlemen? This is the first hot plastic artwork! You! You! My boy … you are an artist!
Sketchy AI
“Young man, you don’t think I’m encountering constructive symbolism for the first time, do you? “Unplug”: free yourself from physicality, from the vulgar earthbound physicality, from the evils of civilization, from electricity, nerves, and so on. Isn’t that what this is? The association is crystal clear, I’d be tempted to say, perhaps even too obvious” (Kishon 1987)
AI see, AI do
You young badgers imagine that it would be enough to smear a pound of paint on the canvas and you’re already a modern painter. I would be willing to accept this abomination for a bad joke, if there was even the slightest humor behind it. But this here is an abracadabra! A nothing!
As far as AI can see
The case of the use of the abacus by Japanese school children and adults … tool’s use becomes incorporated into a culture-specific technology
To Humanity and Beyond
The case of the use of the abacus by Japanese school children and adults … tool’s use becomes incorporated into a culture-specific technology
Going Into a Limb
The distinction between a “tool” and a prosthesis that is implanted into the body is more apparent than real. …
The Sum of the Parts vs the Whole
The firm should have the right to take back what it produced — the collection of artificial organs illegally masquerading as Mr Jones …
Embodied Bodies
Once incorporated into a body, then, a prosthesis is no longer merely an object, in the sense that we can no longer straightforwardly deny that it has or plays a role in a person’s subjectivity
Where is my flying car?
Computing devices in our pocket, Live video chats, Voice commands … The future is already here … it’s just not very evenly distributed
Hips of Steel
Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to make the world’s first bionic man. Steve Austin will be that man. Better than he was before. Better…stronger…faster!