| From: | Victor I. Haaz |
| Date: | 27 Aug 2000 at 01:16:13 |
| Subject: | Re: AMIOPEN: Ami on ABC (Maybe!) |
Hi,
From: Matthew Kille <mattk@enterprise.net>
[---]
>The research that Kevin Warwick is working on concerns tapping into nerve
>fibres to read and record signals sent from the brain. (I don't know where
>you got the controlling thinking/emotions bit from.)
[---]
These are his own words: "When I'm bored, my computer senses it, and
sends signals, that, f.ex. makes me sexually excited."
(There are more easy ways to get sexually excited... Or to learn it better.)
He mentioned other feelings, too.
>I can see that this really upsets you. Quite a lot of people seem to get
>very worked up about this subject, and I'm not sure if it's because they
>don't like the idea of "cyborgs" or whether they just don't believe it's
>possible. It's very similar to the argument for/against genetic
>engineering on humans: There are huge potentual benefits, but people often
>prefer to focus on negative aspects.
I know many things are possible. One thing is the idea of transforming
ourselfes, like trying to get additional hands, etc. But they want to highly
intervent/modify the control-system of the deepest feelings, so our real self.
(So, *not* just to alter state of consciousness temporarily, or the like,
on free will.)
OK, nowadays many people going to experience many alternatives, even
extreme things. You (may) have the right. But, to claim, as a sciencist,
that some, quite extreme, not even researched yet way is the only
necessary one... (See below.)
Of course, there are great benefits in science, let it be genetics, or other.
But, there are always people who wants really extreme things.
>I should point out that although Kevin is (one of) my supervisor(s), I work
>in a completely different field of research. However I can add a few
>comments that are relevant here:
>
>Today, human body implants are quite common and widely used, even brain
>implants. These are a great benefit to the people who use them, as they
>control fits, restore hearing, sight, stop heart attacks, (pacemakers),
>etc. Technically, these people are 'cyborgs', but that doesn't mean that
>they are any less human than the rest of us.
I know. No problem with that, until a certain point, of course.
> This could have major
>benefits for the phyically disabled, as it has the potentual to allow
>better control over (possibly artificial) limbs.
He don't want to restrict it to those. But the opposite. "It's necessary
to survive of mankind." "I think old-fashioned life is obsolete, I don't
feel sorrow." (Or something like this.) "I will be the first who enter into
the new form of being."
>This /is/ serious research.
In some aspects.
>> If you want to disscuss it further, then let's go private:
>> victor@pannonline.hu
>
>I already suggested that, but you brought it back to this mailing list!
I just wanted to tell others what I heard. Though, his 15 minute video get
played on some scientific-like channel 2-3 times a week.
>However, I don't think it's worth discussing further; You've obviously got
>your mind made up, so I wont try to convince you otherwise.
No, I'm still open, if you can add something essential to this.
(I'm interested in other aspects of such studies, in private.)
Regards,
Victor I. Haaz
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