Well it seems we have made an advance in the artificial creation of neurons in a lab. Read here. It seems that the aim of these circuit boards is to replace damaged nerve or muscle fibres with the future aim of integrating silicon chips into the human body. The neuron would be implanted as a replacement for a faulty neuron and the circuit board controlling a prosthetic limb. Imaging wiggling your toes. The neuron triggers the circuit board drives the motors to move your prosthetic toes. A boon for paralyzed people and one which would improve the lives of millions.
Now although we are a long way away from actually plugging someone into these neurons we should consider that if this was working as intended it would allow us to actually provide an interface between electronic equipment controlled by the circuit board and the human body which would be controlled by our thoughts. The neuron being driven by a thought impulse in our body. Imagine then that we implanted a new neuron for a function we have not lost such as a third arm. We move the arm in our mind. The neuron triggers the interface then activates and we have enhanced the human body.
This could lead to us having an implanted bluetooth interface which we can type on using the ‘third’ arm which would control external devices. Imagine the way people text nowadays, rapid and sure, with practise we could use a though controlled keyboard system faster than a normal keyboard now. Think of it and it will be done.
Now taking it a step further. Neurons are what make up the human brain. Working in reverse would allow a computer to store information into the neuron which could be accessed by the nervous system. This could lead to the creation of an artificial brain that can be linked to by our own. Imagine a plug in that allowed you to access training that you had not had. Accident at work. Plug in the first aid module to help keep the victim alive. Wow.
Or even a module that can be written to by computer and feeds into the visual cortex and is seen in your mind in the same way you see now. The possibilities are endless from training to, well, things I should not think of.
Only issue here though is if we can all live in a virtual world like the Matrix who is going to keep the species moving forward. After all why face hurt and rejection when your dream girl will never reject you in virtual reality. Even now when we don’t have full immersion within a game how many people, adults and kids, get lost and barely surface to eat. Now imagine you get all the thrills and sensations but none of the risk. Just a thought.