Is fusing brain cells with a silicon chip a good idea?

Question

See how scientists have successfully fused rat brain cells with a silicon chip using neural glue.

http://macrocosm-magbook.blogspot.com/2007/06/brain-cells-fused-with-silicon-chip.html

Answer 1

While there will be discussion of how there will be "potential" for the chips, AI's, robots, etc. to take over the human race due to the overabundant themes from Sci-Fi books and movies, I think the advances this represents will be good.

Here's why: It might be possible for people who are epileptic, have brain disorders, muscle and nerve damage, and possibly parapalegics to one day control their damaged bodies via this chip or other neural interface devices.

I laud this as a step in the right direction.

Answer 2

What I see in the link is an experiment where a rat brain cell is attached to a silicon chip for the purpose testing the effects of drugs on the cell. This possibly could prove to be useful.

People are already receiving implants to restore sight and hearing. One could perhaps expect a progression of that sort of technology more directly to the brain.

I am thinking there are very significant barriers to the idea of sticking stuff in the heads of people that don't have some sort of impairment.

Answer 3

Well, I think it will be necessary somewhere in the future. As programming computers get more complex, we most probably end up with artificial intelligence (AI). To keep up with AI we would need some sort of brain-computer fusion. I'd sure hate to see the day AI takes over the human race because we couldn't keep up in thinking.

Sure it may have its own danger at first like getting some circuits shorted out accidentally and causing damage, but they'll get fix as time goes by. I think its much more crucial to preserve humanity, than to listen to some ethical issues.

I'm not being pessimistic or inhuman, just trying to be practical. Come on, which would you rather have, electronics-nerves brains or no humans at all?

Answer 4

Hey if you want to experience the untimate in identity theft, go for it. I see no benefit.

Answer 5

i think it is the slow process of man being taken over by machine. NOT GOOD