Thinking of Getting Closer To Your Computer
by Dr. David Currie

BRAIN COMPUTER INTERFACE...

It is impossible to say who first conceived of the idea of a human brain communicating directly with a computer (brain-computer interface or BCI), but the technical and social ramifications of such a link are enormous.

For the most part, research in the field of BCI has focused on developing increasingly sensitive EEG recording equipment to pick up weak electrical signals on the surface of the head... the types of signals routinely produced by the brain when one wants to perform a task.  Such research is increasingly successful and has allowed persons who are paralyzed, for example, to communicate with computers through methods other than more traditional "puffer" devices.  At this time, some colleges offer courses in BCI, and it is possible to buy educational BCI systems for college laboratory exercises.  In fact, one BCI/bioamplification supply company held a contest this year, challenging students to produce and record EEG patterns which resulted in the greatest control of the most computer functions possible.  These types of systems allow the human to communicate directly with the computer, but the user must read or listen to any feedback produced by the computer (ie. the computer does not communicate directly with the brain of the user).

In addition to the monitoring of EEG waves, others have contemplated implanting electrodes directly into the neocortex, and in a very few instances, this has actually been done.  During the mid-late 1990's when such work began with patients who were completely paralyzed, notable scientists began to hypothesize an eventual direct two-way link between the human brain and the computer.

In fact, it was often noted that the human brain works very much like a computer, and that the brain and computer share properties which would make them ideal to work more directly with one another.  Taking this to a greater extreme, scientists hypothesized that it would eventually be possible for people to use a direct internet interface to download information directly from the internet to the neocortex.  Despite any speed with which information might one day be downloaded into the mind, it would never be possible for any individual to know everything, as the collective knowledge of the world exceeds the physical capacity of a single human brain.  Presumably, then, even should such technology appear, everyone would still have to decide what career path(s) they wish to pursue.  Ideally, if humankind ever achieves such a technical goal, individuals will retain their identity, rather than joining a "technical collective" such as that presented by the Borg in StarTrek, The Next Generation.

The first time I discussed the possibility of a direct neocortical-computer link with a class of college students, several were immediately ready to "sign up" for implants!  They thought it would be a real advantage as they could learn faster and forego attending school!  Other students thought the idea was terrifying!  One student suggested that "real humans" would one day get together and hold "the real brain Olympics," for people without internet implants.  Another student said that would never happen, as the intellectual tasks that people without implants would be able to perform would be so simple for people with implants, that such an Olympics would be laughable.  Remember, now, we are the laughable ones without the implants!

Below are a few fun links to sites providing information on BCI technology.

• The Desire to Be Wired
• Beyond the Big Barrier
• Controlling computers by thought
• The Brain-Computer Interface- Techniques for Controlling Machines
• On designing a Brain-computer interface
• NIPS 2001 - Brain Computer Interface Workshop (page currently offline)
• Brain-Computer Interface and Virtual Reality
• Brain Computer Interface Research at UofR
• HUT-LCE Cognitive Technology- Brain Computer Interface
• The Brain-Computer Interface Project
• Neil Squire Foundation - Significant funding solidifies Brain- ...
• Motor Cortical Brain-Computer Interface for Persons suffering paralysis
• EEG-based Brain-Computer Interface(BCI)
• Brain-Computer Interface
• Neural Network Based Human Interface (Chopin)
• Oxford University Brain Computer Interface Project
• Toward a P300-based Computer Interface
• Harmony Central®- Brain-Computer Interface now MAX Compatible
• BCI2000

Dr. W. David Currie