Ethics of Cybernetics
Cybernetics:
What it is, and how it will impact our
lives.
Cybernetics:
•
Defined as: “The study of the interaction
between man, machine, and animals”
1
1: Norbert Wiener
How is it being used?
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Latest biomedical research is using
Cybernetics to create “superhumans”
which will transform the way we practice
medicine, transmit thoughts, and
communicate with one another
Kevin Warwick
•
Who is this guy?
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A cybernetic pioneer at the
Reading University in the UK.
Kevin Warwick:
•
What’s so important about him?
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Research entails creating software to read
the signals from a nervous system and to
record and condition that data for
retransmission
Superhumans
•
If Kevin’s research is successful, we will
begin to approach the reality of
“superhumans”
•
What are superhumans?
–
Superhumans = men and women who have
machines implanted internally to help them
surpass the physical boundaries of normal
human function including thought process,
emotional and physical capabilities.
Kevin’s research:
•
What it consists of:
–
Currently: reconstruct and study traditional
electrical impulses
–
Eventually: understand how to manipulate
sense impulses
–
In the future: create new senses through
impulse manipulation
Kevin’s Research:
•
What he’s doing in the UK:
–
His next experiment involves him placing a
small glass case containing a power supply,
a mini
-
printed circuit board to receive and
transmit signals in his left arm’s nerve fibers
–
These chips will receive signals from the
collar and send them to a computer
instantaneously
Experiment Example:
•
When Kevin moves a finger:
–
Electronic signals travel from his brain to
activate the muscles and tendons that
operate his hand.
–
The collar picks up the signal en route
–
Nerve impulses will still reach the finger but
he will tap into them as though he was
listening on a phone line
Why is this significant?
•
More routes for more senses could be
found
•
Alternative pathways for blind or deaf
people to “see” or “hear” with ultrasonic
wavelengths
–
Example: A blind person could use this
technology to navigate around objects with
ultrasonic radar, much the way bats do
Ever worked before?
•
NO.
•
But then again, nobody’s ever tapped
into their nerve fibers before.
What has been done?
•
Emory University:
–
Implanted a transmitting device into the brain
of a stroke patient
–
Linked motor neurons to silicon
–
Afterwards, patient was able to move a
cursor on a computer screen just by thinking
about it.
What has been done?
•
Caltech’s Steve Potter:
–
Has a living layer of rat neurons growing
over a microelectrode array. Neural activity is
sent to an SGI workstation which renders the
data. (Acts as the body)
–
Trying to organize data to make sense of it.
–
By end of year recognize speech.
–
Brain can command artificial limbs
It’s only a matter of time
•
The reality of “smart” machines to aid
humans in various functions is imminent.
•
Implementation:
–
Requisite programs must be set up. Like
keyboards are today.
–
Basic programming shouldn’t be too hard
–
Implant owner will have to learn how to
operate his new little friend.
Ethical Issues?
•
Many issues arise:
–
Is it ethical to create a “superhuman” where
machines are in charge of key human
functions such as thought control and
communication?
–
Is it ethical to allow some humans, probably
the wealthy ones, to communicate through
cybernetics and not others?
Ethical Issues:
•
How safe must the implants be for them
to be distributed?
•
Senses and impulses could be
transmitted in a harmful way
–
What kind of security should accompany the
implants
–
An entirely new “private” realm
-
one’s
emotions.
Ethical Issues:
•
New senses
–
Can these senses be patented?
–
What if they’re addictive
-
who regulates?
Is It All Bad?
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Warm fuzzy outcomes:
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ALS
-
Lou Gehrig’s disease
-
could possibly
be cured once we understand how to
retransmit nerve impulses.
–
We can create a new way, although artificial,
to make people feel happy
The Future….
•
If developed, most likely will be used.
•
We can only wait and see...
Thank You.
-
Michael Lewis
Bibliography
•
Wired Magazine, February 2000
issues
•
Cybernetic Intelligence
Research Group
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http://www.cyber.rdg.ac.uk/CIRG/research/research.htm
•
Wired online:
http://www.wired.com
•
Biomedical Research at Emory
–
http://www.bme.gatech.edu/news.html
Bibliography
•
Program in Ethics in Science and
Medicine
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http://www.swmed.edu/home_pages/ethics/
•
Department of Cybernetics at Reading
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http://www2.cyber.rdg.ac.uk/Cybernetics/
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