English Conversation Course for Part-Time Students
Sunday, 26 November 2017
Week 5 [04.12-10.12.17] New computers could delete thoughts
Go to http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/delete-thoughts-read-your-mind-without-your-knowledge-neurotechnology-new-human-rights-laws-a7701661.html and read the article. Comment on it on our blog. Share with us your experiences and observations.
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It is amazing and somewhat scary how fast-growing computer technologies are nowadays. I've never herad about that computers are able to read in our minds before and it's thought provoking.
ReplyDeleteA great aspect of that discovery is the option of using it as a help for paralized people. Today paralysis is some kind of a sentence to spend the rest of your life in misery. If those people would be able to move, even some parts of their body, it will change their life and give them hope for the rest of their days.
But on the other hand there is the opportunity to use these technologies as intrusive for our privacy. As we already know, our actions are tracked based on what we do in the Internet (which is an integral part of every day) and as customers we are led to buy things selected specially for us.
What's interesting, this summer me and my boyfriend were trying to buy last minute trip. Based on my cookies, the browser offered me higher prices for the same trips that my boyfriend had find on his computer. This time, we were able to make a proper choice.
So how can we make our own decisions if the big companies and stores we visit will be able to read our minds? If they can interfere with it, then we will probably start buying what they are going to put into our heads.
They already can make us buy by using other marking tricks, like the arrangement on the shelves, the colours and the smell. We are already manipulated.
I thing that reading-mind-computers should be allowed only in selected cases such as medicine, science or investigations when it comes to someone's life. Not for sales profitability
This situation with tickets makes me like "I don't want to live on this planet any more"
DeleteBad use of neurotechnology can lead to gross abuses. If it’s going to interfere into our thoughts without any permission… I just don’t want to think about consequences… But my first thought, which wasn’t scanned yet by any computer I believe, is to recording night dreams. I’m pretty sure that all of you have problems with reminding last night’s dreams. Sometimes, the dream is very realistic and I feel like in real world with full control of the situation, then I remember it well. But every other time I only know that I was dreaming these night, and don’t know what was that dream about. It would be nice to watch what your brain processed during you were sleeping. Of course, there is not only “sweet dreams” but I think possibility to watch them all can provide even better knowledge about ourselves. These dreams should be stored on local disc on PC without Internet connection and greatest anti-malware software just to be sure that nobody can get access to them. We all know that not every dream is a reason to be proud ;)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Marcello Ienca. "Mind is considered the last refuge of personal freedom and self-determination, but progress in neural engineering, brain imaging and neurotechnology jeopardizes freedom of mind."
ReplyDeleteI hope we have found the right solution to stop this type of infection. On the one hand, looking at someone's thoughts can prevent all kinds of aggressive behavior, but on the other hand How will humanity look when we start being controlled by a government or agency?
We are afraid that we will become puppets controlled by big corporations and governments. I would not like to live that way.
Remember Matrix movies or Orwells' 1984? When i read the title and the article it immediately sprung to my mind! Imagine that we are obligated by law to have such an implant and there will be nothing we can do to prevent control over our minds and thus ourselves!
ReplyDeleteCountries, laws and whole social model is a way behind nowadays technology. Because of the Internet there was a problem with copyright in 90's - law couldn't deal with such big, distributed network. Traditional borders faded, as we could make friends with people from other side of globe.. so why can't we send them some music we like (and bought rights to it)? As tehcnology advances it won't be easier.
ReplyDeleteI always thought of advancements in letting brain directly communicate to be extremely exciting and promising. There's a lot going on recently with topics like moving artificial limbs with bare neuro-stimulation.
ReplyDeleteHowever, considering few topics mentioned in article in addition to rise of state-level human segregation and scoring (see plans of Chinese goverment: http://www.wired.co.uk/article/chinese-government-social-credit-score-privacy-invasion), I feel like we're back to (as Jacek mentioned) Orwell's 1984 again. And now its for good.
I feel like rereading Nineteen Eighty-Four and Brave New World...
Few days ago I participated conference called Code Europe. I remember especially about one, discuss panel about machine learning, artificial intelligence, and in overall about the future. Since then, I can’t think about something different than how our world will be look in five years. Conversation was focused od new jobs, creating because of machine learning. People claim, there will be three big groups of professions: trainers, explainers, sustainers. I curious, if they right or no. I think, they have a lot of points. One beautiful quote from your article: “We need to be prepared to deal with the impact these technologies will have on our personal freedom.” and that’s true for sure. During conference I felt afraid, but now I know that life is one big racing, no matter what is going on currently on other part of the world, so it’s up to you if you like to be a part of this game or no, but no matter what we think about artificial intelligence now, for some time, we will be everybody part of this. Your article is more about neuroscience, but this fields it’s so close to what I’m talking about. It’s scary to think that somebody can know what we are thinking about.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the author. We should have some sort of regulations along with every innovation which can be potentially used for harmful actions.
ReplyDeleteImagine if scanning brains would be simpale enough that every person could do it then no information would be safe. For example scanning people which use ATMs. One of their thoughts would be for sure their pin code.
What's worse goverment could use it to ban thinking about something they don't like.
Fortunately, for now, you can not read in our thoughts dressing us in a complicated apparatus for the head. For now, mind-reading must be just with the consent of the person. Other forms of reading in the minds mentioned in the article, in my opinion is based on Artificial Intelligence. For example, facebook, its prediction what we think will be based on the analysis of previous messages, not on magical reading in our minds.
ReplyDeleteI do not agree with Lukasz. I not imagine that each new innovation should be monitored and accepted by any government institution. This rules will be kills many, many new technology. In example: cars can also be used to kill and track people.
ReplyDeleteOk, calmly, I think we are not in danger yet ;) Experts can warn you, people will read and that's it. we do not have artificial intelligence for now. We can only train it to a certain extent. On the other hand, I prefer to believe in it than in flat earth (which unfortunately has recently become fashionable).
ReplyDeleteWhen I think about entering someones brain, it gives me goose bumps. There has to be regulations to protect ours privacy. And our thoughts are the most private data in the world. For me scanning someones brain, equals to taking this person hostage. It's like take away his free will. That person would be very open for any suggestion and very easy to manipulate. I read that Facebook is working on technology to type by just thinking, but I personally think there is more than just that. If this technology would really exist, Facebook could read your mind and inculcate any thoughts he would like to your brain. Imagine constant thinking about commercials and stuff you suddenly want to buy. Disgusting!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that computers can't delete our memory. That's because we are not robots. Only way to delete thoughts is trough pills or drugs, but rememebr that we use about 10% brain. I read somewhere that if u have strong memories it is located in your right side of brain, when u forgot ones it comes to left side. While you remind this memory it will come for right side again and again. So it is just impossible. By the way you can cheat lie detector. Every people should be open-minded, so he can't be possessed by computers.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion this it the next century technology. I just don't realize it could work in our times. I mean at least give us flying cars first! Human brain reading sounds like a Sci-Fi movie scenario. I don't deny this is possible, but it's just scary. Our minds should stay unknown for others. Mind reading is a crime against our privacy. i believe that big corporations are working on it. Privacy nowadays is still doubtful. Our Facebook account, phones - spying on us and following every step we take. Corporations want to know everything about consumers, but walking through our minds is too much.
ReplyDelete