News > Geek > Pass the Chips, Please. Uh, the Neuroprosthetic Chips, That Is.

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SUNDAY JULY 29 2007 4:00 AM

Pass the Chips, Please. Uh, the Neuroprosthetic Chips, That Is.

Submitted by Rahodeb

Edited by Rahodeb

Ah, the brain: Powerful, complex, highly funtional, and soon-to-be compatible with the latest technical hardware. Imagine a world in which we could purchase more RAM for our very own noggins! It might be a while before we get there, but researchers at the University of Florida have developed chips which someday might be inserted in our brains.

It may sound like science fiction, but University of Florida researchers are developing devices that can interpret signals in the brain and stimulate neurons to perform correctly, advances that might someday make it possible for a tiny computer to fix diseases or even allow a paralyzed person to control a prosthetic device with his thoughts.

They're calling it a "neuroprosthetic" chip, and are currently putting their cool $2.5 million grant to use studying the concept in rats, with aims to test in human noodles within the next four years. The initial goal is to repair conditions and disabilities such as paralysis and epilepsy.

We really feel like if we can do this, well have the technology to offer new options for patients, said Justin Sanchez, director of the UF Neuroprosthetics Research Group and an assistant professor of pediatric neurology, neuroscience and biomedical engineering. Theres kind of a revolution going on right now in the neurosciences and biomedical engineering. People are trying to take engineering approaches for directly interfacing with the brain.

The hope is we can cure more immediately a variety of diseases.

I hope that some of these "people who are trying to take engineering approaches for directly interfacing with the brain" are thinking about the commercial possibilities, here. Forget the CliffsNotesbuy the neuroprosthetic chip with the whole damn book on it! Or, if you've got the funds, splurge on the entire college education, complete with honorary degree! Traveling to Karachi, but don't speak Urdu? Get the damn chip! Traffic school, just buy the chip! Those pesky wedding vows, or the stats for that upcoming presentation at work? Special order it! Whatever you need help remembering, we can remember it for you wholesale.

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Comments

imclever

Kent, WA

February 2007

JUL 29, 2007 04:15 AM

Jack me in.

Nixie

United Kingdom

March 2006

JUL 29, 2007 04:26 AM

another fine example of life imitating art

Greybeard

Los Angeles, CA

December 2006

JUL 29, 2007 04:31 AM

Terminal Man

Johnny Mnemonic

Orbital Mind Control Lasers

We can hope the chip and firmware development tools are Linux-based, not Micro$oft.

Lockeblade

Australia

May 2007

JUL 29, 2007 05:00 AM

Personally, I think all technological research should be suspended until 4 fundamental things have been created:

1. Light sabers

2. Material Transporters

3. Holodecks

4. Replicators

Then, and only then, may such frivolous things as disability curing brain-chips be invented

SirPsychoSexy

Ridgewood, NJ

January 2004

JUL 29, 2007 06:26 AM

imclever said:
Jack me in.

I would like off, please.

SirPsychoSexy

Ridgewood, NJ

January 2004

JUL 29, 2007 06:33 AM

Greybeard said:
Terminal Man

Johnny Mnemonic

Orbital Mind Control Lasers

We can hope the chip and firmware development tools are Linux-based, not Micro$oft.

Yeesh, I don't even want to think about what a BSOD could do to a person. *shudders*

Varuka_Salt

I'm lost

October 2006

JUL 29, 2007 06:45 AM

Where can I volunteer?!?!?!?!!?
Can I get an optical heads up display with that too!!???!?!?!?

Moonrabbit

Vancouver, BC

February 2005

JUL 29, 2007 06:52 AM

I for one will be leading a rebellion against the techno-zombie empire.

How 'bout a little EMP, Scarecrow! Hyaaa!

KingMike

Westfield, NY

October 2006

JUL 29, 2007 07:15 AM

I just got done watching Total Recall 2 nights ago. Or did I?

How about Exosquad, anyone remember that show? The American cartoon show where humans plug into their mecha via a port on the back of their necks? The plugging into The Matrix concept seems borrowed from that show, where I'm sure Exosquad probably borrowed it from somewhere else.