Brain-Computer Interfaces, Ethical?

posted over 9 years ago

The field of Brain Computer Interface (BCI) research has led to the engineering of a device system that allows you to convert your thoughts into action by using your brain’s neural activity: think controlling a robotic arm via electrodes that are placed on a brain that controls the arm with its thoughts. This revolutionary field in neuroscience has given hope to those who are severely disabled including but not limited to those who suffer from blindness, paralysis, and other debilitative physical disabilities. Hence, computer-brain interface technology has the potential and power to do incredible good.

Some note, however, the importance of recognizing the possibility for ethical wrongdoing. One such ethical question surrounding this field is the possibility for social stratification as a result of barriers such as cost. If brain enhancement does become effective and ubiquitous, there is the possibility that pressure to enhance one’s brain in order to keep up with rising competition, might leave some unable to access this enhancement because of financial barriers. Hence, this will not only widen the gap in society between the rich and the poor, but become dangerous, creating a social strata in which an intellectual elite armed with thought-controlled weapons would government the people. One could think of an army with capabilities such as night vision eyes, fingers that can fire bullets, humans made immortal by copying their genetic material into more resilient hardware, these endless possibilities ascend into the world of sci-fi as they are scary.

So what do YOU think? Is computer-brain interface ethical? Should we be concerned with social stratification in looking at the future of computer-brain interface? Should research in this field be limited in order to prevent it from becoming a tool used to propel us into a dystopian-society? Weigh in below!

To hear experts in the field debate on this issue, come join the Bioethical Debate series on Monday, March 2nd from 7:30 to 9:00 PM in ITE 104 as Kavita Krishnaswamy's team take on Professor Richard Wilson's team.

More on BCI, here are some links:

http://biomedphys.sgu.ru/Files/LIB/Springer/Neural%20Engineering/03.pdf http://www.google.com/patents/US7120486 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/001346949190040B

Follow this link to vote in our poll:

http://my.umbc.edu/groups/biocom/discussions/14887

(edited over 9 years ago)

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posted	February 24, 2015
sponsor	Biology Council of Majors, B-Ethical, Philosophers Anonymous
topics	Community News & Opinion Teaching & Learning myUMBC
tags	biocom bioethics brain-computer debate interface
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Brain-Computer Interfaces, Ethical?

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