The Future of Human-Device Connections

 

            In the last few decades, science and technology have developed at a rapid pace. Such advancement has led to a revolution in the sophistication and power of computers and computing devices in general. These devices are integrated into almost all parts of industry, and are contributing to continued innovations that push the boundaries of what the human mind can accomplish. One industry in particular that has benefited from these advancements is the medical industry, and more specifically the realm of neurotechnology. In particular, BCI’s, or Brain-Computer Interfaces, have gained increasing relevance in the media, as the number of companies that are marketing their new devices and software are increasing. In particular, companies like Elon Musk’s Neuralink have contributed to this new buzz about the future of BCI’s among the general populous – “Most notably, in 2016, entrepreneur Elon Musk launched Neuralink in San Francisco, California, with the goal of connecting humans and computers” (Drew).

            Before we discuss the emerging potential breakthroughs in the application of BCI’s, it would be more fitting to discuss where the use of BCI’s has actually stemmed from. BCI’s were initially developed with the goal of helping paralyzed individuals regain some semblance of control over their motor control and actions by enabling them to control devices using their thoughts. For example, James Johnson, an individual who was paralyzed from the neck down in an accident, was part of a clinical trial that “would first entail neurosurgery to implant two grids of electrodes into his cortex…The system would then use Johnson’s brain activity to operate computer applications or to move a prosthetic device”(Drew). Eventually, through months and years of careful training and research, Johnson was able to use a BCI to control a robotic arm, use various software, play video games, etc. with just his thoughts. His story is one of many that have emerged in the last decade that lend great promise to the development of BCI technology. However, the main concern now is, as usual, from the realm of business and marketing – how can this technology be advanced to the point that it is ready for commercial use, and how will it be regulated by the government? As more and more companies proclaim that they are moving forward in their development of BCI technology that can eventually be used for daily consumption, like with Neuralink - “Musk said…the company is on track to launch human trials and transition from implanting its chips in monkeys to humans by the end of the year” (Kay) -  questions of ethics and how far this technology can go without becoming dangerous are just the beginning of the difficulties that will be encountered when it comes to furthering this technology.

            The workplace is an area of everyday life that has the potential to be very impacted by the future use of BCI’s. It could have impacts on the efficiency of businesses, with employers using it to increase productivity and overall effectiveness. As stated before, BCI’s were initially used to assist paralyzed patients with the ability to use devices with their thoughts – but now, “BCIs can…be used as a neurofeedback training tool to improvise cognitive performance” (Gonfalonieri). However, BCI’s have already raised massive concerns about its ethicality, and the potential for it to be abused by both the user and those that make the devices and control them. This abuse could only be exacerbated in the workplace, as “Companies who opt to use BCI technology can face massive backlash from employees, not to mention from the public…Even when used with the best of intentions, companies could risk becoming overly dependent on using brain data to evaluate, monitor, and train employees, and there are risks associated with that” (Gonfalonieri). The fact that all of these questions are already being raised about BCI’s is more proof that until more absolute evidence of its effectiveness and safety is provided through peer-reviewed research and large-scale trials.

 

 

References

Kay, Grace. “Elon Musk Says Neuralink's Brain Chip Will Be 'Similar in Complexity Level to Smart Watches'.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 25 Apr. 2022, https://www.businessinsider.com/author/grace-kay.

Drew, Liam. “The Brain-Reading Devices Helping Paralysed People to Move, Talk and Touch.” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 20 Apr. 2022, https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-01047-w.

Gonfalonieri, Alexandre. “What Brain-Computer Interfaces Could Mean for the Future of Work.” Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Review, 6 Oct. 2020, https://hbr.org/2020/10/what-brain-computer-interfaces-could-mean-for-the-future-of-work.