Scientists have built artificial neurons that fully mimic human brain cells

[Miles 2,512]

Because it would be yet another method of communication that the average person could use in their everyday life. No more cell phones, you could just send your message to a family member, literally just by thinking about it. Likewise with the disabled individuals, we could use the technology to make many devices completely hands free. Turning on a car just by getting in it, operating heavy machinery from a safe distance, something as simple as changing the channel with a blink. There's lots of good ways this could be used.

 

I'm all for telepathic technology, I would love that.  However, please, don't mess with how I start my vehicle please.  I hate keyless cars.  I want to turn the key in my ignition.  

 

 

 

~ Miles

[Steel Accord 6,660]

I'm all for telepathic technology, I would love that.  However, please, don't mess with how I start my vehicle please.  I hate keyless cars.  I want to turn the key in my ignition.  

 

 

 

~ Miles

 

Then you don't have to use that, but others would very much like that option. I was just using it as an example of the utilitarian purpose of that tech.

[Miles 2,512]

Then you don't have to use that, but others would very much like that option. I was just using it as an example of the utilitarian purpose of that tech.

 

It's more utilitarian to turn a key.  Telepathic tech would cost more than a key-turn ignition.

 

But I know what you mean.  I'm just being a stubborn gearhead.  

 

Now, telepathic door lock/unlock would be perfect.  Match the car's ECU to the owner's individual telepathic ID and then you wouldn't have to worry about it.

 

Hmmm... You could control the car by just thinking, with telepathy!  Okay, okay, so we probably won't see this in our lifetimes, or at least not til we're at retirement age.  But the future of automobiles looks promising.

 

~ Miles

[Hocus Pocus 636]

wait.... if it perfectly mimics human brain cells, then that means its mental capacity is far greater than that of an animal, right? So theoretically, would it be possible to put these fabricated brain cells in an animal to make it develop not just sentience, but sapience like us?

[Dsanders 5,747]

wait.... if it perfectly mimics human brain cells, then that means its mental capacity is far greater than that of an animal, right? So theoretically, would it be possible to put these fabricated brain cells in an animal to make it develop not just sentience, but sapience like us?

 

That is an equally fascinating and disconcerting thought.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

wait.... if it perfectly mimics human brain cells, then that means its mental capacity is far greater than that of an animal, right? So theoretically, would it be possible to put these fabricated brain cells in an animal to make it develop not just sentience, but sapience like us?

 

Again, this tech is still in it's infancy and I'm not sure that it can do that as even if we are smarter than animals, our brains don't work the same way. Just because this is compatible with our brains doesn't mean it is with even other mammal brains.

 

That being said . . . . I would totally support animal uplifting!

[Blake of Gilead 140]

I think this is so cool! Just imagine the possibilities.

[Dsanders 5,747]

 

 

I would totally support animal uplifting!

 

What if the animals don't like us?   Many of them probably don't and it's easy to see why. Imagine the revolutions that would take place if they had the sentience and intelligence. It would be like George Orwell's Animal Farm!

[Blake of Gilead 140]

What if the animals don't like us?   Many of them probably don't and it's easy to see why. Imagine the revolutions that would take place if they had the sentience and intelligence. It would be like George Orwell's Animal Farm!

...Someone else who's familiar with Orwell, I see. But IRL anthros would be cool.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

What if the animals don't like us?   Many of them probably don't and it's easy to see why. Imagine the revolutions that would take place if they had the sentience and intelligence. It would be like George Orwell's Animal Farm!

 

 

...Someone else who's familiar with Orwell, I see. But IRL anthros would be cool.

 

Brohoofing for the Orwell familiarity not for the sentiment. I seriously doubt that such a scenario would lead to violent revolution, rather peaceful integration.

[Blake of Gilead 140]

Brohoofing for the Orwell familiarity not for the sentiment. I seriously doubt that such a scenario would lead to violent revolution, rather peaceful integration.

I'm fine with peaceful integration, but that would only be realized after a period of violent xenophobia.

[Midnight Gaze 131]

That is an equally fascinating and disconcerting thought.

I find it to be more disconcerting, though.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

I'm fine with peaceful integration, but that would only be realized after a period of violent xenophobia.

 

Why? Why does the addition of a new kind of sapience have to be a prelude to war?

[Blake of Gilead 140]

Humans naturally hate things they do not understand.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Humans naturally hate things they do not understand.

 

Speak for yourself. People would welcome sapient dolphins or such. Humans are naturally curious about the things they don't understand, so we seek to understand.

Edited July 13, 2015 by Steel Accord

[Time Shield 402]

Speak for yourself. People would welcome sapient dolphins or such. Humans are naturally curious about the things they don't understand, so we seek to understand.

 

Before I address this, let me be on the record that I am intrigued by the thought of finding a way to uplift the intelligence of some animals to the point where we could fully understand each other.  (I'd particularly like to know what my cat is thinking.)  However, just to be clear about it: in doing so, we wouldn't be understanding the animals anymore; we would be understanding the new animals we created that are more intelligent than the original animals.  The mystery of how the original animals think would remain such.

 

Also, we probably wouldn't want to do that on too wide a scale.  Uplifting the intelligence of cows, for example, would pretty much guarantee the end of being able to eat beef, and I like beef.  Unfortunately, that also means some people would do this specifically to stop others from eating meat anymore.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Before I address this, let me be on the record that I am intrigued by the thought of finding a way to uplift the intelligence of some animals to the point where we could fully understand each other.  (I'd particularly like to know what my cat is thinking.)  However, just to be clear about it: in doing so, we wouldn't be understanding the animals anymore; we would be understanding the new animals we created that are more intelligent than the original animals.  The mystery of how the original animals think would remain such.

 

Also, we probably wouldn't want to do that on too wide a scale.  Uplifting the intelligence of cows, for example, would pretty much guarantee the end of being able to eat beef, and I like beef.  Unfortunately, that also means some people would do this specifically to stop others from eating meat anymore.

 

Right. Not saying we should handle this kind of tech recklessly. Simply that I don't think violent and bloody revolt would be an inevitability. Revolution isn't always a bloodbath and sometimes great changes to civilization can be relatively painless and overall beneficial.

[Time Shield 402]

Right. Not saying we should handle this kind of tech recklessly. Simply that I don't think violent and bloody revolt would be an inevitability. Revolution isn't always a bloodbath and sometimes great changes to civilization can be relatively painless and overall beneficial.

 

No, I agree.  Scientific change, even ones that carry a degree of danger, have plenty of positives to outweigh the negatives.  In the end, I rather like the prospect of being able to have conversations with my cat.  (Or at least have cats understand us... I guess they still wouldn't be able to vocalize unless we did something about their larynx...)

[Dsanders 5,747]

Seems like I just opened Pandora's box. A good kind of Pandora's box.

 

I love how this topic entails so many subtopics. 

 

But still, it would be crazy if cows, for example, were able to reason, talk, and become aware of their surroundings like we are. I would never eat meat again lol

 

But could this technology also help those with down syndrome? That would be amazing if it could!

Edited July 13, 2015 by Cassandra

[Blake of Gilead 140]

Or, what if we were to uplift apes? Perhaps we could integrate with them as well.

[Time Shield 402]

But still, it would be crazy if cows, for example, were able to reason, talk, and become aware of their surroundings like we are. I would never eat meat again lol

 

I think what would be crazier is if we made them aware that people eat them, and they were like, "Eh, I'm cool with it.  If at all possible, can I get the Kobe treatment?"

Or, what if we were to uplift apes? Perhaps we could integrate with them as well.

 

Just not to Planet of the Apes level I hope.

 

(Actually, the nice thing about stories like that is that it helps us explore what not to do.  i.e., don't enslave the intelligent apes because they're our creation, because that leads to rebellion; make them equals instead.)

[Steel Accord 6,660]

I think what would be crazier is if we made them aware that people eat them, and they were like, "Eh, I'm cool with it.  If at all possible, can I get the Kobe treatment?"

 

Yeah, I think it's kind of presumptuous to think whether they would OR would not have a problem with it. I mean, imagine it saying. 

 

"Do you think I'm like THAT thing?! I'm a citizen of Missouri, I have a job, my name is Anna! My biology is not who I am!"

 

(Although even if they were interested in the meat thing, they can't really chew nor digest it.)

 

 

But could this technology also help those with down syndrome? That would be amazing if it could!

 

Ideally, that is what it's supposed to do. 

Or, what if we were to uplift apes? Perhaps we could integrate with them as well.

 

Planet of the Apes: the version where nobody is an idiot!

[Dsanders 5,747]

 

 

Or, what if we were to uplift apes? Perhaps we could integrate with them as well.

 

Holy shit ...

 

If that's possible ...

 

 

>Planet of the Apes in the making

>nope.jpg

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Holy shit ...

 

If that's possible ...

 

 

>Planet of the Apes in the making

>nope.jpg

 

See above for my glass half full take. 

[Time Shield 402]

See above for my glass half full take. 

 

And my version above yours for the same.