Proton-based transistor could let machines communicate with humans
96 replies, posted
[quote]
Materials scientists at the University of Washington have built a transistor that uses protons rather than electrons, in a breakthrough that could allow devices to communicate directly with living things.
While electronic devices send information using electrons, the human body sends signals and performs work using ions or protons.
"So there's always this issue, a challenge, at the interface – how does an electronic signal translate into an ionic signal, or vice versa?" says Marco Rolandi, assistant professor of materials science and engineering.
"We found a biomaterial that is very good at conducting protons, and allows the potential to interface with living systems."
In the body, protons activate 'on' and 'off' switches, and are key players in biological energy transfer. Ions open and close channels in the cell membrane to pump things in and out of the cell, and are also used to flex muscles and transmit brain signals.
A machine that was compatible with a living system in this way could monitor such processes - and, one day, could generate proton currents to control certain functions directly.
The UM transistor is a first step towards this, as it can send pulses of proton current. It's a field-effect transistor, a basic type that includes a gate, a drain and a source terminal for the current. It measures about five microns wide.
"In our device, large bioinspired molecules can move protons, and a proton current can be switched on and off, in a way that's completely analogous to an electronic current in any other field effect transistor," says Rolandi.
The device uses a modified form of the compound chitosan. It's compatible with living things, is easily manufactured, and can be recycled from crab shells and squid pen discarded by the food industry.
Chitosan works remarkably well at moving protons, says the team, absorbing water and forming many hydrogen bonds; protons are then able to hop from one hydrogen bond to the next.
"So we now have a protonic parallel to electronic circuitry that we actually start to understand rather well," says Rolandi.
The next step, says Rolandi, will be direct sensing of cells in a laboratory. The current prototype has a silicon base and couldn't be used in a human body.
Longer term, however, a biocompatible version could be implanted directly in living things to monitor, or even control, certain biological processes directly.[/quote]
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Fuck yeah science
Holy shit.
Calling it now, first message from computers:
[B]"RESISTANCE IS FUTILE, YOU WILL BE ASSIMILATED"[/B]
Good, I can finally yell at my technology properly.
Augmentations and BCIs are getting closer to reality by the day.
My constant shouting at my computer won't be in vain!
But seriously, this is brilliant. Not long until Deus Ex is reality.
[QUOTE=Soviet Bread;32422397]Good, I can finally yell at my technology properly.[/QUOTE]
"But sir, you input commands into my system, not me. Insulting a machine like this is highly illogical."
[QUOTE=ironman17;32422480]Augmentations and BCIs are getting closer to reality by the day.[/QUOTE]And they call us Transhumanists unrealistic.
Did anyone say
[b]VIRTUAL REALITY?[/b]
Actually no. Stay far away from virtual reality. We don't need second life to become worse.
[QUOTE=Doctor Zedacon;32422744]And they call us Transhumanists unrealistic.[/QUOTE]
I just call transhumanists morons.
[QUOTE=Soviet Bread;32422811]I just call transhumanists morons.[/QUOTE]
Hey
Shut up
[QUOTE=Soviet Bread;32422811]I just call transhumanists morons.[/QUOTE]
They probably aren't too fond of you either.
[QUOTE=Riutet;32423048]They probably aren't too fond of you either.[/QUOTE]
Yeah god forbid I don't obsess over a video game and want to turn my head into a walking computer completely forgetting what my species is.
[QUOTE=Soviet Bread;32423073]Yeah god forbid I don't obsess over a video game and want to turn my head into a walking computer completely forgetting what my species is.[/QUOTE]Good job knowing absolutely dick all. Please, don't talk about a subject you have zero understanding of.
Its better for everyone.
It will never be heard from again.
Called it.
[QUOTE=Doctor Zedacon;32423173]Good job knowing absolutely dick all. Please, don't talk about a subject you have zero understanding of.
Its better for everyone.[/QUOTE]Compelling argument.
[QUOTE=Soviet Bread;32423241]Compelling argument.[/QUOTE]
Implying yours is any better.
[QUOTE=Frogz;32423269]Implying yours is any better.[/QUOTE]
It was, I actually made a point.
18 posts in and already shit storm.
[editline]lol[/editline]
Facepunch in a nutshell.
Yay, perhaps this could mean we can repair those who are limb, making synthetic nerves send the signal instead of the broken ones!
[QUOTE=Soviet Bread;32423073]Yeah god forbid I don't obsess over a video game and want to turn my head into a walking computer completely forgetting what my species is.[/QUOTE]
We are a species that has overcome natural limits with technology since the dawn of our species, my Kamerad
[QUOTE=Soviet Bread;32423275]It was, I actually made a point.[/QUOTE]You want points, then lets do this shit.
First, no one brought up video games except for the single post about Deus Ex and the one about Second Life. No one else even considered it. But more importantly, your implication that it has to do with a game is stupid and baseless, considering people have been writing about this technology for many years, since before Deus Ex was even a concept.
Second, the idea that augmenting your body somehow "dehumanizes you" is stupid and bullshit. What, are people with pacemakers less human than us? What about people with hearing aids, or contact lenses, or the millions of people who have received life-saving surgery? Are they all less human somehow?
And the notion that is simply our biological appearance that makes us really human is also bullshit and ignores all the real factors that make us human, such as our abilities to reason and empathize. What makes someone human goes deeper than flesh.
Third, it will greatly help the medical world by giving it so many new ways to save lives and make them better. It can help cure diseases and prevent serious damage to our bodies, and repair whatever damage we may endure. It will make the lives of every single person better and longer.
Fourth, it will improve our natural abilities and even give us new ones. Our potential both on an individual scale and as a species will expand in ways never before even imagined in our history. We will be able to do things no man has ever been capable of before, and interact with each other in so many new ways. Society will grow and develop more and expand further because of this technology.
[QUOTE=LuckyLuke;32423198]It will never be heard from again.
Called it.[/QUOTE]
The business potential behind this is huge, so no one with power wants to see this go under.
you guys might not realize it, but Deux Ex augs are impossible without this kind of communication
So how long before my TV decides to not turn on for me because I've been shouting at it ? Or they blow up due to logic-bombs [img]http://i.somethingawful.com/forumsystem/emoticons/emot-saddowns.gif[/img]
[QUOTE=Soviet Bread;32423241]Compelling argument.[/QUOTE]
STOP POSTING
[QUOTE=Soviet Bread;32423073]Yeah god forbid I don't obsess over a video game and want to turn my head into a walking computer completely forgetting what my species is.[/QUOTE]
How is obsessing over deus ex have anything to do with transhumanism ?
I asked for this.
[img]http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/2130/811617-adam_jensen_deus3_thumb.jpg[/img]
[QUOTE=Soviet Bread;32423073]Yeah god forbid I don't obsess over a video game and want to turn my head into a walking computer completely forgetting what my species is.[/QUOTE]
Not paying attention to your ignorance of the very thing you condemn, what's so bad about being a walking computer and completely forgetting what your species is? You racist bro?
[QUOTE=Riutet;32424423]Not paying attention to your ignorance of the very thing you condemn, what's so bad about being a walking computer and completely forgetting what your species is? You racist bro?[/QUOTE]
No just retarded.
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