NanoFutures: Living with a Brain Chip

The Center for Nanotechnology and Society has detailed a scenario in which brain chips using nanotechnologies, such as carbon nanotubes, can be implanted in a human’s anatomy to significantly increase their mental capacity and ability to absorb and process in formation.

According to the scenario, “The next generation of cranial chip implants enables data transmission directly to the brain during rest without interfering with sleep. This data feed feature dramatically decreases the amount of time needed to assimilate new data each day, in fact the chipped person will just wake up knowing what was streamed into their head the previous night,” (Center for Nanotechnology and Society at ASU).

There are, of course, associated side effects with this procedure. Namely, individuals with embedded brain chips have their sleep disrupted by the functioning of the chip. Accordingly, the chip’s activity needs to be disrupted with another mechanism, allowing for a higher quality of sleep.

To begin with, I am impressed with the Center’s presentation of the scenario, in that the mere functional nature of these possible technologies is presented to the audience; and not, as might otherwise be the case, the possible misuses of such technologies.

Although, possibly, a large percentage of the American public would not be opposed to receiving information in this manner, or increasing one’s mental capacity, the natural progression of this technology might lead in directions to which people have moral objections.

Essentially, this technology begins to break the plane between what is human and what is mechanical. Should we be gradually building ourselves into cyborgs? My inclination is that most people would object to the full integration of human machinery and technological machinery; however, it remains unclear at precisely what point altering human functions becomes morally unacceptable.

Additionally, there is the concern that those constructing and designing these chips could tailor-make them to implant specific thoughts or opinions into individual’s minds. This, of course, would be one of the first tepid steps toward mind control. And, it goes without saying that most individuals would oppose any such direct incursion into their sense of free will.

Let them know what you think: http://cns.asu.edu/nanofutures/barlessprison.html