Nerve Mapping, Virtual Reality. When?

Question

We've all seen it in science fiction from Neuromancer to the Matrix and know its possible to connect a computer system to the human nervous system and interact. When do you think we will be doing it?

Answer 1

Growl, you are not totally right!

It is true: the last 40 years have been stagnating, as we did not have the technology.  But during the last 6 years, new techniques have made considerable advances, in very disparate domains that need to be assembled:

- nano tube carbon fibers, to make muscles, Chemistry (France, 4 years ago)

- DNA skin spray, to re-build skin, Bio-Chemistry (England, 3 years ago)

- Mollecular Resonnance scanners, to "copy" a member, Electronics (a few years ago)

- 3D imaging, 3D photocopy, 3D manufacturing (Software)

... and so many more.

I am working with Coimbra University (Portugal), the FIRST uni to offer a PhD in Bio-Engineering.

We are working on prosthesis, controlled by nervous impulses.

That is: Connecting "(micro/nano) computers" to existing "remaining" nerves to get chemical/electrical impulses generated by the brain.

In other words, "reading the brain commands"!

This involves a lot of Neural Network computations, but we are getting there.

The Colchea implants was the initial starting point: sound is converted into electrical impulses attacking the auditive nerve, or directly into the cognitive area of the brain.  

Micro electrodes within the brain was the next stage.  

Reading nerve's terminations the next (remember: a nerve acts in both directions)

Using these "commands" from the brain, and developing an activation of "nanotube carbon fibers" assembled in bunches to make a "muscle", we will, not too far away, control prosthesis from the brain...

In vision, the retinal implants have made huge progresses (although still suffering from a "power supply problem"), as well as chemical therapy for the regeneration of the optic nerve!

It is not a problem of technology: we have the tools.  It is a political and financial problem.  Research needs to be paid, and governments prefer buying bombs...

Answer 2

There is major research for direct control of prosthetics for the past 40 years with hardly any progress. Direct neural interaction with virtual reality is, at best, in the distant future.

Don't believe movies and video games. They are not related to real tchnology.