This is the beginning

Strap in and get ready for the cybernetic age.

So a guy who was paralysed has had electrodes put in his brain that can pick up the impulse when he wants to walk...then the signals are sent to his legs and he walks. So far he has climbed stairs and walked a 100M at a time.

The article

This is how it starts, in a few years it will by like a William Gibson novel out there.

a reply to: SprocketUK
Speaking as someone who likes to walk a lot (I do 6+ miles a day) I can't imagine the mental agony of not being able to walk. This is amazing news & a great signpost for the future.
(Although I do have Wallace shouting 'It's the wrong trousers!" in my head.)

a reply to: SprocketUK

Im excited about this. Having lost my left optic nerve to a micro-occlusion of an unknown cause, 3 years ago. I do miss having full sight, even with my 20/20 right eye.

a reply to: CoyoteAngels

I'm wondering about the aural implications, in the long term. I've been deaf in my right ear since I had mumps at the age of 5.
Upside: I have saved a fortune from not buying terribly expensive stereo systems, as I can't hear in stereo. I once ruined a salesman's day after he approached me in a store and tried to sell me a wonder-system with four speakers 'for extra stereo surround-sound!'.

a reply to: AngryCymraeg

You should see me pour a cup of coffee. I swear, I was over the cup!

a reply to: SprocketUK

If only Stephen Hawking's cyber wheelchair and exo-suit were the base standard... since the 1980's.
Shout out to ye olde Omni Magazine for my intro to William Gibson, a genius.

Speaking of geniuses, if the cosplayers can play with it, surely corporate cyberpunks can crank tech out yesterday.

Let's go.

The implications of that are scary frightening ....
Electrodes in your brain.
What could go wrong , right ?
"Terminate 'em ."

a reply to: SprocketUK

I am not familiar with William Gibson's writings, forgive me. But...

This is really good news to me. The idea that this guy can be more independent and use his own body again is an amazing testament to human ingenuity.

There is this more technical article if anyone is interested in the science, which alot of goes over my head but at the beginning of the discussion section( on the right of your screen) we get this quote,

We conceived a wireless, digital bridge between the brain and spinal cord that restored natural control over lower limb movements to stand and walk on complex terrains after paralysis due to a spinal cord injury. Moreover, neurorehabilitation mediated neurological improvements that persisted even when the bridge was switched off.

Walking naturally after spinal cord injury

Basically, not only does this tech help paralyzed people with all sorts of spinal injuries, but they are finding that by reconnecting the brain and the sections of the spinal injury, even digitally/electronically, the injuries show signs of healing!
While they do say that this "healing" is more likely to be affective in newer injuries, this individual whos injury is over ten years old, is still showing signs of healing.

Now, whether or not I would be willing to have some type of cybernetic implant as this, my knee jerk reaction is a "hell NO", I also am not paralyzed.

Thanks for the info!

I've been seeing a striking similarity in the way our body's work to the way a computer works.

Perhaps our bodies are the computer and God provides the 'soul' (electricity) to make the computer function? Maybe Jesus is the 'upgraded' program?

Looking back through history all past civilizations have to start over from near extinction level events. Perhaps the program keeps getting re-written in hopes of a more positive outcome for mankind, or it's just the computer game resetting itself to zero in order to begin a new game.

a reply to: datguy

Here you go:

www.goodreads.com...

a reply to: SprocketUK

sucks that christopher reeve died before the technology advanced

a reply to: Oldcarpy2

thank you i am going to check it out. initial reviews are comparing to 1984 and Brave New World, which is an honor itself IMO, though i was hoping for more of a Bladerunner/Johnny Mnemonic style

a reply to: Gothmog

Technology is always touted as being beneficial when first introduced. Always. Then - as per human nature - it is twisted to something evil; generally either pornography or being used destructively, like to kill people in some way (militarily or otherwise).

Ultimately, this will be no different.

Am I a cynic?

No. I'm a realist.
:

a reply to: datguy

You won't be disappointed!👍

a reply to: SprocketUK

There have been prosthetic legs for years now that can allow the person to feel the difference between gravel, sand, and solid ground.

There's synthetic blood that is like 5x more efficient at transporting oxygen throughout the body.

I wouldn't be surprised if they can make a Robocop type of person within the next few years.

💉🐏⚡📱⚡🗼⚡☁📞🧜‍♀️🐉

a reply to: incoserv

If you said, “… beneficial to humans then priced out of everybody’s reach…” then I might have considered that as both cynical and a realist.

Some can’t see beyond their teenage plaything! Then add money = stupid. There is your cynical tech equation!



The brain is vast and can adapt to any stimulus. Control over prosthetics is easy. Figuring out how the brain works to prove your technophobe nightmares is levels of magnitude greater. So I am not worried this is the end.

originally posted by: TEOTWAWKIAIFF
Control over prosthetics is easy.

No need to build robots. Harari's "useless class" provides them plentifully. Neuromodulation is achieved, synthetic, unreal VR Eden is coming in the midst of a real hell.

originally posted by: Gothmog
The implications of that are scary frightening ....
Electrodes in your brain.
What could go wrong , right ?
"Terminate 'em ."

Could give the term virus whole new meanings. And think what could be done with remote access software?

Personally, I think that nano-robotics is the way to go by programming and using them to repair damaged brain tissue or even creating certain tissues to bridge missing parts if needed. Its a whole new technology that is just getting started, I believe.