Ethics of CyberneticsCybernetics:How is it being used?Kevin WarwickKevin Warwick:SuperhumansKevin’s research:Kevin’s Research:Experiment Example:Why is this significant?Ever worked before?What has been done?Slide 13It’s only a matter of timeEthical Issues?Ethical Issues:Slide 17Is It All Bad?The Future….Thank You.BibliographySlide 22Ethics of CyberneticsEthics of CyberneticsCybernetics:Cybernetics: What it is, and how it will impact our What it is, and how it will impact our lives.lives.Cybernetics:Cybernetics:•Defined as: “The study of the interaction Defined as: “The study of the interaction between man, machine, and animals”between man, machine, and animals”111: Norbert WienerHow is it being used?How is it being used?•Latest biomedical research is using Latest biomedical research is using Cybernetics to create “superhumans” Cybernetics to create “superhumans” which will transform the way we practice which will transform the way we practice medicine, transmit thoughts, and medicine, transmit thoughts, and communicate with one anothercommunicate with one anotherKevin WarwickKevin Warwick•Who is this guy?Who is this guy?–A cybernetic pioneer at the A cybernetic pioneer at the Reading University in the UK.Reading University in the UK.Kevin Warwick:Kevin Warwick:•What’s so important about him?What’s so important about him?–Research entails creating software to read Research entails creating software to read the signals from a nervous system and to the signals from a nervous system and to record and condition that data for record and condition that data for retransmissionretransmissionSuperhumansSuperhumans•If Kevin’s research is successful, we will begin If Kevin’s research is successful, we will begin to approach the reality of “superhumans” to approach the reality of “superhumans” •What are superhumans?What are superhumans?–Superhumans = men and women who have Superhumans = men and women who have machines implanted internally to help them machines implanted internally to help them surpass the physical boundaries of normal human surpass the physical boundaries of normal human function including thought process, emotional and function including thought process, emotional and physical capabilities.physical capabilities.Kevin’s research:Kevin’s research:•What it consists of:What it consists of:–Currently: reconstruct and study traditional Currently: reconstruct and study traditional electrical impulseselectrical impulses–Eventually: understand how to manipulate Eventually: understand how to manipulate sense impulsessense impulses–In the future: create new senses through In the future: create new senses through impulse manipulationimpulse manipulationKevin’s Research:Kevin’s Research:•What he’s doing in the UK:What he’s doing in the UK:–His next experiment involves him placing a His next experiment involves him placing a small glass case containing a power supply, small glass case containing a power supply, a mini-printed circuit board to receive and a mini-printed circuit board to receive and transmit signals in his left arm’s nerve fiberstransmit signals in his left arm’s nerve fibers–These chips will receive signals from the These chips will receive signals from the collar and send them to a computer collar and send them to a computer instantaneously instantaneouslyExperiment Example:Experiment Example:•When Kevin moves a finger:When Kevin moves a finger:–Electronic signals travel from his brain to Electronic signals travel from his brain to activate the muscles and tendons that operate activate the muscles and tendons that operate his hand. his hand. –The collar picks up the signal en routeThe collar picks up the signal en route–Nerve impulses will still reach the finger but he Nerve impulses will still reach the finger but he will tap into them as though he was listening on will tap into them as though he was listening on a phone linea phone lineWhy is this significant?Why is this significant?•More routes for more senses could be foundMore routes for more senses could be found•Alternative pathways for blind or deaf people Alternative pathways for blind or deaf people to “see” or “hear” with ultrasonic wavelengthsto “see” or “hear” with ultrasonic wavelengths–Example: A blind person could use this Example: A blind person could use this technology to navigate around objects with technology to navigate around objects with ultrasonic radar, much the way bats doultrasonic radar, much the way bats doEver worked before?Ever worked before?•NO.NO.•But then again, nobody’s ever tapped into But then again, nobody’s ever tapped into their nerve fibers before.their nerve fibers before.What has been done?What has been done?•Emory University:Emory University:–Implanted a transmitting device into the brain Implanted a transmitting device into the brain of a stroke patientof a stroke patient–Linked motor neurons to siliconLinked motor neurons to silicon–Afterwards, patient was able to move a Afterwards, patient was able to move a cursor on a computer screen just by thinking cursor on a computer screen just by thinking about it.about it.What has been done?What has been done?•Caltech’s Steve Potter:Caltech’s Steve Potter:–Has a living layer of rat neurons growing over a Has a living layer of rat neurons growing over a microelectrode array. Neural activity is sent to an microelectrode array. Neural activity is sent to an SGI workstation which renders the data. (Acts as SGI workstation which renders the data. (Acts as the body)the body)–Trying to organize data to make sense of it. Trying to organize data to make sense of it. –By end of year recognize speech.By end of year recognize speech.–Brain can command artificial limbsBrain can command artificial limbsIt’s only a matter of timeIt’s only a matter of time•The reality of “smart” machines to aid humans in The reality of “smart” machines to aid humans in various functions is imminent.various functions is imminent.•Implementation:Implementation:–Requisite programs must be set up. Like keyboards Requisite programs must be set up. Like keyboards are today.are today.–Basic programming shouldn’t be too hardBasic programming shouldn’t be too hard–Implant owner will have to learn how to operate his Implant owner will have to learn how to operate his new little friend.new