Avatar becoming a reality?

[Flash Fire 386]

www.nbcnews.com/#/science/science-news/almost-avatar-brain-implant-lets-one-monkey-control-another-n32881

 

I personally find this terrifying. What do you guys think?

[Scootalove 10,689]

It does sound terrifying, but maybe it will achieve something new in science. Let's see how this goes.

[AppleGearRising 526]

Well crap. For now it's monkeys but who's to say it won't end up being used to control people someday? o_O

[Fluttershyfan94 5,742]

Zombies are coming.. Really though, one day we might even be controlled this way. But this was inevitable, as time goes on who knows what will happen.

[Shift 4,272]

Well... damn. This is interesting.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Well personally I hate that movie with a fervor. However, as a transhumanist, this is right up my alley. This study will not only lead us to curing those paralyzed, but it may also very well lead to functional immortality.

 

The total mapping of the brain is one of the epochs we need to reach. Once that happens, we can replicate a human brain and thought process anywhere and to almost any scale. Imagine if you could grow a sort of "blank brain" and when you are ready, just upload your consciousness, memories, personality, and everything else in your noggin to the blank. Nanomachines, or perhaps more invasive measures would then rewrite the brain to the upload's parameters.

 

Vioalla! Body swap! And that body could theoretically be many things. You could spend a year as a dolphin if you wanted to.

 

That "blank brain" doesn't necessarily need to be grey matter either. A digital render is just as much "you" as your current neurological-electrical matrices. You could upload into an unmanned solar powered drone and fly around the world! Or even a satellite. All the fun of being an astronaut with none of the safety risks and an eigth of the costs!

 

Or! . . . Assuming Ray Kurzweil's prophecy rings true and computational power continues to double and accelerate, we could upload into a simulated reality of Equestria.

Edited February 19, 2014 by Steel Accord

[Flash Fire 386]

Well personally I hate that movie with a fervor. However, as a transhumanist, this is right up my alley. This study will not only lead us to curing those paralyzed, but it may also very well lead to functional immortality.

 

The total mapping of the brain is one of the epochs we need to reach. Once that happens, we can replicate a human brain and thought process anywhere and to almost any scale. Imagine if you could grow a sort of "blank brain" and when you are ready, just upload your consciousness, memories, personality, and everything else in your noggin to the blank. Nanomachines, or perhaps more invasive measures would then rewrite the brain to the upload's parameters.

 

Vioalla! Body swap! And that body could theoretically be many things. You could spend a year as a dolphin if you wanted to.

 

That "blank brain" doesn't necessarily need to be grey matter either. A digital render is just as much "you" as your current neurological-electrical matrices. You could upload into an unmanned solar powered drone and fly around the world! Or even a satellite. All the fun of being an astronaut with none of the safety risks and an eigth of the costs!

 

Or! . . . Assuming Ray Kurzweil's prophecy rings true and computational power continues to double and accelerate, we could upload into a simulated reality of Equestria.

No. I don't like any of that. It just seems......wrong to me.

[deadprofile 1,122]

It'll be many many MANY years before this really becomes something big....I'm more worried about Bioshock becoming reality within the next 20 years or so more than Avatar...

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@@Flash Fire,

 

Meh, different strokes for different folks. You're free to choose whatever you wish. It's not like this technology would become mandatory to use. I just I would buy it if it were available.

 

I'm curious though. What about it doesn't appeal to you? 

@@Treble Bolt,

 

At the rate that our understanding of genetic engineering is progressing? Doubtful.

 

Unfortunately too, because genetics and cybernetics are the fields of augmentation I'm heavily invested in. More than likely we are probably going to achieve a technological Singularity through the creation of true Artificial General Intelligence. That itself will lead to new advancements though, so you never know.

 

Let it be said though, that genetics can't give you the ability to blow things up by snapping your fingers.

[Malinter 3,064]

Oh yeah, Robot Pony body. XD

 

[Flash Fire 386]

@@Flash Fire,

 

Meh, different strokes for different folks. You're free to choose whatever you wish. It's not like this technology would become mandatory to use. I just I would buy it if it were available.

 

I'm curious though. What about it doesn't appeal to you?

 

It just makes me uncomfortable, it's not natural. I can't really pinpoint any one thing. I can get behind growing individual organs for transplants from a host stem cells stored away in their fat reserves. But cloning a new you or transfer to a non-human species and/or for the purpose of extending a life span is not cool. Not that this particular tech could do that. This is solely one body controlling another, not uploading.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Oh yeah, Robot Pony body. XD

 

 

Oh that would be kickass! Show up to Bronycon as a robotic version of your OC.

 

"Sup' y'all? You jelly?"

 

Of course there would probably be about a dozen more or so people doing the same thing, and you probably would be suspended from the costume contest.

 

Oh and anypony appearing as Sweetie Bot would have those weapons taken off her. I was walking around with a wooden sword and security stopped me! Oh I see, I can't carry this thing but everyone else can walk around with those Buster Swords with the Mane Six on them! XD

[SilverStarApple 849]

If this results in mind control, I want it.

 

If this results in Immortality, I want it MORE!

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@@Flash Fire,

 

It's the precursor to that. "Controlling" a body remotely from a brain that's currently sitting in another body, is not too far divorced from simply "controlling" the new body that brain is now in.

 

 

It's not natural.

 

*sigh* I knew I was gonna hear that from somepony eventually. To be honest I'm almost honored. How weird is that? 

 

As I said before, no one would force you to do this. It's the same as any other technology, there for the use of those who wish to take advantage of it. Longevity and enhanced faculties sound like a dream come true for me.

 

Of course, there is a chance that uploading may not work or is more difficult than simply uploading a file. Were that the case, there are so many other avenues of life extension.

 

There's medical nanites that "save" a template of your body and just maintain it at that given point. This means that one doesn't deteriorate from age and that many injuries can be recovered from by the nanites accelerating and facilitating quicker and more efficient cell regeneration.

 

Then there's full on biological immortality, where the individual's genome is rewired from the root up to maintain that optimal functionality. The drawback to that versus the nanomachines is that the person would have to actively cultivate their body to maintain optimal health, much like today. Otherwise, fat build up and other complications become your body's norm and then the only cure is to go under the knife.

 

If you ask me, the cybernetics are the better option, but then again, I'm biased so what do I know?   

[PsychedelicPony 440]

I saw something that was similar that was cool. Apparently at Harvard they have made it so a human wearing a helmet type thing can, by thought, control a rat.

[Flash Fire 386]

@@Flash Fire,

 

It's the precursor to that. "Controlling" a body remotely from a brain that's currently sitting in another body, is not too far divorced from simply "controlling" the new body that brain is now in.

 

 

 

 

*sigh* I knew I was gonna hear that from somepony eventually. To be honest I'm almost honored. How weird is that? 

 

As I said before, no one would force you to do this. It's the same as any other technology, there for the use of those who wish to take advantage of it. Longevity and enhanced faculties sound like a dream come true for me.

 

Of course, there is a chance that uploading may not work or is more difficult than simply uploading a file. Were that the case, there are so many other avenues of life extension.

 

There's medical nanites that "save" a template of your body and just maintain it at that given point. This means that one doesn't deteriorate from age and that many injuries can be recovered from by the nanites accelerating and facilitating quicker and more efficient cell regeneration.

 

Then there's full on biological immortality, where the individual's genome is rewired from the root up to maintain that optimal functionality. The drawback to that versus the nanomachines is that the person would have to actively cultivate their body to maintain optimal health, much like today. Otherwise, fat build up and other complications become your body's norm and then the only cure is to go under the knife.

 

If you ask me, the cybernetics are the better option, but then again, I'm biased so what do I know?

 

Why should we try to extend life when we can't take adequate care of the people currently on this planet?

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@,

 

Well full on "mind control" would be pretty near impossible. Remote, parasitic, motor control is also quite difficult to the point of being prohibitive.

 

What the Avatar monkey is demonstrating is less full on mental control, and more an extended game of literal "monkey see, monkey do." The two's neurology have been linked so that one's brain commands also reach the other's. The host monkey is just following commands because he sees no reason not to. The Avatar still has a choice and could resist the input were he so inclined. He just thinks this is fun!

 

A human with a similar hook up could resist the other brains control of their motor functions rather easily. Their movements would be rather sluggish and disoriented, because their nervous system is juggling two different sets of commands, but it's not "mind control" and anyone observing would know what was going on.

 

Even the technology to facilitate even an attempt would be bulky. It's not exactly something you could slip into a guy (or girl's) drink and get them to bend to your will. It could only be implemented by invasive brain surgery, and would be easily detachable by a simple X-ray or CAT scan. Heck, those might even scrub the programming from the device all together, just leaving dead plastic and metal in the victim's brain, that's not only easily removed but traceable AND admissible as evidence.

 

@@Flash Fire,

 

So we CAN take adequate care of people. One of the central tenants of transhumanism is improving the human condition into something more than what it is, so we can solve a number of societal ills that are brought about by humanity's inability to solve it. 

Edited February 19, 2014 by Steel Accord

[Lugubrious Pony 25]

This thing is like TeamViewer in real life!

Edited February 19, 2014 by Lugubrious Pony

[Limey 524]

If this means I can become a robot, then I'm all for it.