14-05-2012, 12:19 PM
Brain-Computer Interface Technology’s Influence on the Progression of Digital Enterprise
[attachment=21968]
Introduction
As modern society continues to get more complicated because of richer and faster data management and communications, it has become more automated via the myriads of computer programs and devices that are now integral to our lives. In fact, it seems that the only thing that holds us back is our ability to interact and communicate with those programs and devices! So far keyboards and mice (and to a limited extent, touch screens) have been the only effective input mechanisms to computing devices, and are essentially a bottleneck between two very efficient signaling, computing, and processing devices. In order to “compute at the speed of thought” we need some direct interface between the electrical signaling processes in our brain and those that control electronic machinery.
Brain-Computer Interfaces or Brain-Machine Interfaces (BCI and BMI will be used interchangeably throughout this paper) are in some ways similar to traditional input devices like keyboards in that they translate human generated impulses (button presses in the case of a keyboard, and electrical brain signals for BCIs) into input data that is understandable by modern computing devices. However, while a keyboard must be an intermediary device- because electrical brain signals are sent to our hand in order to operate the machinery, BCIs can be seen less as translators and more as conduits for signaling. They are similar to a network path that connects two different types of transmission vehicle- for instance a hub that connects a fiber optic line to a coaxial cable network. Because the BCI is not intermediary, there is a significant reduction in the bottleneck created by things like typing speed (a mere 300 words per minute) allowing us to truly interact with machines at the speed of thought.
The applications for such devices are far reaching- from cybernetics (the science of systems control and communications in living organisms and machines ) to virtual reality computing, instantaneous communications, and even nano-technology. Medicine, military, manufacturing, information systems, environmentalism, and transportation are just a few industries that would be dramatically changed by the introduction of such technology. BCIs represent a fundamental shift in the course of technological development because until this point, technology has always behaved completely separately from its operators- BCIs would serve to connect machine and operator in a much more meaningful and inseparable manner.
Of course, with any new technology, there are also social and ethical considerations. BCI technology would change the way we communicate not just with machines, but also with each other. Our ability for memory storage could be artificially improved- instantaneous communication could lead to truly democratic processes and the potential for a so called ‘human network’. Because BCI reads the electrical impulses that make up what we are thinking, there is the potential for these machines to encroach on the privacy of one’s thoughts, or be used harmfully against individuals. These devices might require surgery to implant, making them impractical or undesirable. These issues must be considered as we analyze the impact of BCIs on the progression of digital enterprise.
Technical Description
Current BCI devices fall into two categories- non-invasive, which include haptic controllers and EEG scanners, and invasive, which require a surgical implant directly into the grey matter of the brain. There is also a sub category of invasive BCIs called partially-invasive, where a device is surgically implanted inside the skull of a person, but does not enter the grey matter. The basic purpose of these devices is to intercept the electrical signals that pass between neurons in the brain and translate them to a signal that is understandable by non-organic, external devices. In turn, they can also translate the signal from the external device and produce an electrical signal inside the brain that neurons can understand.
Understanding BCI Devices
The most common form of BCI, currently, are those that are used medically- either to control a robotic/cybernetic prosthesis to restore motor function (neuroprosthetics) or to repair some sensory disorder with a mechanical sensor (for instance, the cochlear implant to restore hearing). These devices most commonly operate by reading specific, known signals that are in mapped portions of the brain- especially those portions of the brain that control the senses. However, research is underway to discover how to establish two way data communication between the brain and other external devices- a true BCI. To first understand how a BCI device would work, we must first understand how the brain works.
The Brain as a Computer
The basic model for the brain is that it is a very powerful super-computer, one that we don’t fully understand quite yet, but like genetic research, will be understood one day through the time and data intensive research of mapping. The brain is both an electrical and chemical entity that is divided into regions, each of which control specific tasks, and that are connected via axons- a network of electrical wires that go into the central nervous system. Therefore, by mapping signals and regions to their functions, researchers have begun to get a clearer picture of how a brain controls external devices, and can use these mappings to interpret the signals in an external device (Johnson, 1998).
In fact, it is the electrical model of the brain that lends itself to the direct interaction between the brain and electronic computing. The spinal cord is the brain’s input/output system- and the spinal cord is almost completely electrical- making an external, electrical, input/output device like a BCI almost intuitive. In addition, the brain is resilient enough to learn and understand new electric signals. This resilience means that not only can a device be connected to the brain via its electronic properties, but that the brain does most of the work in incorporating new electronic signals and can be trained to operate the device that the BCI interfaces to.
In the future the use of BCIs as translation devices (like keyboards) will give way to their use as network conduits because of the model of a brain as a computer. The brain processes and stores information like a computer; therefore, it is a natural next step to believe that the brain and a computer can be networked, with BCI devices simply acting as a gateway or conduit between two devices. Of course, this raises many ethical issues for instance, the ability to network two brains through a computer- but that is getting a little ahead of ourselves.
Capturing Brain Signals
Neurons fire electrical impulses in the brain which may be captured by an electrode that is inserted directly into the cerebral cortex (invasive), or that are in contact with the scalp (noninvasive). These electrodes either operate singly or in an array and their behavior is generally defined by their application. Other methods of capturing brain signals include electroencephalography (EEG) and magneto encephalography (MEG). Other methods that are not in use but are being considered include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and near infrared spectrum imaging (NIRS) to provide analysis of brain wave and chemical patterns, but are currently impractical due to their size (Berger, et al., 2007).
[attachment=21968]
Introduction
As modern society continues to get more complicated because of richer and faster data management and communications, it has become more automated via the myriads of computer programs and devices that are now integral to our lives. In fact, it seems that the only thing that holds us back is our ability to interact and communicate with those programs and devices! So far keyboards and mice (and to a limited extent, touch screens) have been the only effective input mechanisms to computing devices, and are essentially a bottleneck between two very efficient signaling, computing, and processing devices. In order to “compute at the speed of thought” we need some direct interface between the electrical signaling processes in our brain and those that control electronic machinery.
Brain-Computer Interfaces or Brain-Machine Interfaces (BCI and BMI will be used interchangeably throughout this paper) are in some ways similar to traditional input devices like keyboards in that they translate human generated impulses (button presses in the case of a keyboard, and electrical brain signals for BCIs) into input data that is understandable by modern computing devices. However, while a keyboard must be an intermediary device- because electrical brain signals are sent to our hand in order to operate the machinery, BCIs can be seen less as translators and more as conduits for signaling. They are similar to a network path that connects two different types of transmission vehicle- for instance a hub that connects a fiber optic line to a coaxial cable network. Because the BCI is not intermediary, there is a significant reduction in the bottleneck created by things like typing speed (a mere 300 words per minute) allowing us to truly interact with machines at the speed of thought.
The applications for such devices are far reaching- from cybernetics (the science of systems control and communications in living organisms and machines ) to virtual reality computing, instantaneous communications, and even nano-technology. Medicine, military, manufacturing, information systems, environmentalism, and transportation are just a few industries that would be dramatically changed by the introduction of such technology. BCIs represent a fundamental shift in the course of technological development because until this point, technology has always behaved completely separately from its operators- BCIs would serve to connect machine and operator in a much more meaningful and inseparable manner.
Of course, with any new technology, there are also social and ethical considerations. BCI technology would change the way we communicate not just with machines, but also with each other. Our ability for memory storage could be artificially improved- instantaneous communication could lead to truly democratic processes and the potential for a so called ‘human network’. Because BCI reads the electrical impulses that make up what we are thinking, there is the potential for these machines to encroach on the privacy of one’s thoughts, or be used harmfully against individuals. These devices might require surgery to implant, making them impractical or undesirable. These issues must be considered as we analyze the impact of BCIs on the progression of digital enterprise.
Technical Description
Current BCI devices fall into two categories- non-invasive, which include haptic controllers and EEG scanners, and invasive, which require a surgical implant directly into the grey matter of the brain. There is also a sub category of invasive BCIs called partially-invasive, where a device is surgically implanted inside the skull of a person, but does not enter the grey matter. The basic purpose of these devices is to intercept the electrical signals that pass between neurons in the brain and translate them to a signal that is understandable by non-organic, external devices. In turn, they can also translate the signal from the external device and produce an electrical signal inside the brain that neurons can understand.
Understanding BCI Devices
The most common form of BCI, currently, are those that are used medically- either to control a robotic/cybernetic prosthesis to restore motor function (neuroprosthetics) or to repair some sensory disorder with a mechanical sensor (for instance, the cochlear implant to restore hearing). These devices most commonly operate by reading specific, known signals that are in mapped portions of the brain- especially those portions of the brain that control the senses. However, research is underway to discover how to establish two way data communication between the brain and other external devices- a true BCI. To first understand how a BCI device would work, we must first understand how the brain works.
The Brain as a Computer
The basic model for the brain is that it is a very powerful super-computer, one that we don’t fully understand quite yet, but like genetic research, will be understood one day through the time and data intensive research of mapping. The brain is both an electrical and chemical entity that is divided into regions, each of which control specific tasks, and that are connected via axons- a network of electrical wires that go into the central nervous system. Therefore, by mapping signals and regions to their functions, researchers have begun to get a clearer picture of how a brain controls external devices, and can use these mappings to interpret the signals in an external device (Johnson, 1998).
In fact, it is the electrical model of the brain that lends itself to the direct interaction between the brain and electronic computing. The spinal cord is the brain’s input/output system- and the spinal cord is almost completely electrical- making an external, electrical, input/output device like a BCI almost intuitive. In addition, the brain is resilient enough to learn and understand new electric signals. This resilience means that not only can a device be connected to the brain via its electronic properties, but that the brain does most of the work in incorporating new electronic signals and can be trained to operate the device that the BCI interfaces to.
In the future the use of BCIs as translation devices (like keyboards) will give way to their use as network conduits because of the model of a brain as a computer. The brain processes and stores information like a computer; therefore, it is a natural next step to believe that the brain and a computer can be networked, with BCI devices simply acting as a gateway or conduit between two devices. Of course, this raises many ethical issues for instance, the ability to network two brains through a computer- but that is getting a little ahead of ourselves.
Capturing Brain Signals
Neurons fire electrical impulses in the brain which may be captured by an electrode that is inserted directly into the cerebral cortex (invasive), or that are in contact with the scalp (noninvasive). These electrodes either operate singly or in an array and their behavior is generally defined by their application. Other methods of capturing brain signals include electroencephalography (EEG) and magneto encephalography (MEG). Other methods that are not in use but are being considered include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and near infrared spectrum imaging (NIRS) to provide analysis of brain wave and chemical patterns, but are currently impractical due to their size (Berger, et al., 2007).