Ethics of Cybernetics

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


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Who is this guy?

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A cybernetic pioneer at the
Reading University in the UK.


Kevin Warwick:

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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

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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

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Eventually: understand how to manipulate
sense impulses

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In the future: create new senses through
impulse manipulation

Kevin’s Research:

•
What he’s doing in the UK:

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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:

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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

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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?

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Emory University:

–
Implanted a transmitting device into the brain
of a stroke patient

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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?

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Caltech’s Steve Potter:

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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

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The reality of “smart” machines to aid
humans in various functions is imminent.

•
Implementation:

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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?

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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:

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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

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An entirely new “private” realm
-

one’s
emotions.

Ethical Issues:

•
New senses

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Can these senses be patented?

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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….


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If developed, most likely will be used.

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We can only wait and see...

Thank You.

-

Michael Lewis

Bibliography

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Wired Magazine, February 2000
issues

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Cybernetic Intelligence
Research Group
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http://www.cyber.rdg.ac.uk/CIRG/research/research.htm

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Wired online:
http://www.wired.com

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Biomedical Research at Emory

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http://www.bme.gatech.edu/news.html

Bibliography

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Program in Ethics in Science and
Medicine
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http://www.swmed.edu/home_pages/ethics/

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Department of Cybernetics at Reading
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http://www2.cyber.rdg.ac.uk/Cybernetics/