Sunday, November 22, 2009

Science and Technology Marching Forward

Computer World is announcing that Intel is predicting that chips implanted into the human brain will soon be used to replace the keyboard and mouse as an interface at your computer. To me this sounds promising. Just think, a small implant, and I never misplace a tool again, or forget that last item on the grocery list.

With the addition of a small hole in the top center of the head, one of those camera memory cards can be dropped in to provide the recipient with spell check, XL and a dictionary, rendering high school grads employable for the first time in ages.

Some people worry that these chips might eventually extend to include processors, operating under government control, but given the slow reaction of government to the introduction of new technology, what would more likely happen is that enhanced cognitive abilities will render the Democratic party obsolete before they can mandate specific software.

1 comment:

Brad K. said...

Actually, I think the programming, downloading, and uploading, too (cache sensitive comments, conversations, and incidents for legal records), will borrow on the medical community, not USB ports or SD card readers.

I think a connection to an implanted system would need to be secure, and pretty robust against hostile or unwanted access, or be affected by random noise.

Current implanted medical devices have tried various communication protocols, including sound, ultrasound, magnetic flux variation, and radio signals.

Of course, the next issue would be - would the cop pulling you over for not using your seatbelt be authorized to dump your onboard data store? He might be looking for exposure to alcohol and other substances, recent use of cell phone, texting, heated discussions, or being sleepy - or any other actions, memories, or involvement with illegal acts or persons of interest to the law.

Should your employer be able to dump your records each night, to assure you haven't conspired to make off with company assets, haven't come in contact with anyone acting against the company, and haven't mentioned anything derogatory about your superiors, the company, or your underlings.

Should your priest have access to your onboard cache, to verify your confession is complete?

Should your fiance's family have access, to determine for themselves if you are good enough for their daughter?

Should Child Protective Services have access to your onboard records, just in case, you know, like you might abuse or neglect your kids? Surely, if you haven't done anything wrong, you won't mind letting the local union rep review your personal information . . and sell what looks interesting to marketers and organized crime contacts, as well as share with FBI, FSA (Food Safety Administration, coming soon via S.510), and the local cops?

Americans have created no data stream that the US Government hasn't been shown capable of abusing and compromising.