Page 10 - AeM_June_2019

RESEARCH, ANALYSIS & TRENDS

Brain-Computer Interfaces, AI, and

Androids: are we keeping the upper hand?

The way the user will communicate with computers in Neuralink, which he co-founded in 2016, intends to
the future is in for a big change. After keyboards, mice, introduce a revolutionary product soon.
touchscreens, gesture and voice recognition, the avant-
garde computer research relies on so-called brain- Cyborg or Android - Which concept will
computer interfaces. The novel interfaces should allow win the future?
the user to control more complex applications directly
with the power of thought. Background of the A cyborg is a person who uses technological
development is the invention of ever more powerful enhancements to increase his capabilities. Already
artificial intelligence (AI). today there are prostheses or hearing and visual aids,
which prove the first steps in this direction. But it does
What is a brain-computer interface? not have to be about providing help to physically
handicapped people. Technological development will
A brain-computer interface (BCI) is an interface between also be used to improve an unimpaired person. An
brain and computer. The power of thought is translated exoskeleton enables a paraplegic to go walk again or
into digital output commands. There are two ways of gives a 'healthy' superhuman strength and endurance.
measuring brain waves: noninvasive and invasive. In the Using an implant that makes a brain communicate with
first method, brain activity on the scalp is measured by a computer also turns a person into a cyborg. By
electrodes. A disadvantage lies in the inaccuracy of the contrast, an android is a human-like machine, such as
measurement results. The second, the invasive method, the robot known from the movie Terminator and the
is measured with a small electrode directly in the brain. character Data from the Star Trek series. If you look at
This method allows far more accurate measurements of the Boston Dynamics robots, it's easy to see how close
our brain activity, and Elon Musk does not hesitate to science fiction and current reality are.
favor a minimally invasive procedure. The company

10 June 2019 - Cyber-security & Data Protection