SMU and DARPA develop fiber optics for the human nervous system
49 replies, posted
[img]http://buildinternet.com/wp-content/uploads/engadget.jpg[/img]
[url=http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/18/smu-and-darpa-develop-fiber-optics-for-the-human-nervous-system/]Source[/url]
[release][img]http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2010/09/100917-neurophotonic-01.jpg[/img]
The Department of Defense and Southern Methodist University have teamed up to develop prosthetics that use two-way fiber optic communication between artificial limbs and peripheral nerves to essentially give these devices the ability to feel pressure or temperature. The technology is called neurophotonics, and it will someday allow hi-speed communication between the brain and artificial limbs. But that's just the beginning -- the work being done at SMU's Neurophotonics Research Center might someday lead to brain implants that control tremors, neuro-modulators for chronic pain management, implants for treating spinal cord injuries, and more. And since we can't have a post about DARPA-funded research without the following trope, Dean Orsak of the SMU Lyle School of Engineering points out that "[s]cience fiction writers have long imagined the day when the understanding and intuition of the human brain could be enhanced by the lightning speed of computing technologies. With this remarkable research initiative, we are truly beginning a journey into the future that will provide immeasurable benefits to humanity." Truly.[/release]
Oh DARPA you crazy crazy people.
Rated useful.
Oh damn. That's awesome.
Excellent.
Ok this is awesome.
Another step closer to organic-cybernetic system interfacing.
Side effects: Light discomforts.
:smug:
[QUOTE=Novangel;24915617]Side effects: Light discomforts.
:smug:[/QUOTE]
:commissar:
This seems like a pretty damn useful thing to have. Prosthetic limbs that feel? Excellent!
How long before we get full limb replacements on the cheap?
Couple more years and we're fighting cyborgs on the streets.
More like, we will be the cyborgs.
Goddamn it DARPA, stop being so awesome!
This is awesome. I can imagine that 100 years from now people will replace the normal human nervous system for this fiber optic system and get a huge boost in reflexes.
Not really it'd be slighty faster I suppose.
[QUOTE=Master117;24915736]This is awesome. I can imagine that 100 years from now people will replace the normal human nervous system for this fiber optic system and get a huge boost in reflexes.[/QUOTE]It'll probably be longer than that until synthetic nerves become better than our own. The main delay in reaction times involves processing the information; it reaches the brain very fast as it is.
That and some chemical parts of the nervous system.
DARPA takes the shit in science fiction and makes it real.
DARPA and Southern Methodist University seems like an unlikely combination.
Should be interesting to see how long it will take to make robotic body parts controlled through these cables.
Nice
[QUOTE=bobsmit;24916066]DARPA and Southern Methodist University seems like an unlikely combination.[/QUOTE]
This isn't the 1600's anymore. The church doesn't attempt to impede scientific research into bettering humanity.
Why should they? They're all about making humanity a better species.
On the On topic side, this sounds incredibly useful for repairing people who've had MS, uncontrollable tremors and seizures and maybe, repair damaged neurons resulting from tumors.
If I sign up as a test subject, do I get free implants?
this is awesome.I fucking love you darpa.making my dreams come true :buddy:
Even the homo sapiens will be like [I]slooooow doooooown[/I], and you'll be like [b]Fuck you[/b] and kick it in the face with your [B]CYBER LEGS.[/B]
Seriously, I really didn't think this kind of tech could be coming so quickly. I expected the first prototypes to be ready after like three decades.
Just wow.
DARPA just doesn't know when to stop being cool.
Searched for cyborg-pictures to post in this thread, and found this:
[IMG]http://imgur.com/W1pmk.jpg[/IMG]
I guess that's going to be possible too. :v:
I want Vision Enhancements.
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