Ethics of CyberneticsEthics of Cybernetics

Cybernetics:Cybernetics:

What it is, and how it will impact our What it is, and how it will impact our lives.lives.

Cybernetics:Cybernetics:

• Defined as: “The study of the interaction Defined as: “The study of the interaction between man, machine, and animals”between man, machine, and animals”11

1: Norbert Wiener

How is it being used?How is it being used?

• Latest biomedical research is using Latest biomedical research is using Cybernetics to create “superhumans” Cybernetics to create “superhumans” which will transform the way we practice which will transform the way we practice medicine, transmit thoughts, and medicine, transmit thoughts, and communicate with one anothercommunicate with one another

Kevin WarwickKevin Warwick

• Who is this guy?Who is this guy?

– A cybernetic pioneer at the A cybernetic pioneer at the Reading University in the UK.Reading University in the UK.

Kevin Warwick:Kevin Warwick:

• What’s so important about him?What’s so important about him?

– Research entails creating software to read Research entails creating software to read the signals from a nervous system and to the signals from a nervous system and to record and condition that data for record and condition that data for retransmissionretransmission

SuperhumansSuperhumans

• If Kevin’s research is successful, we will begin If Kevin’s research is successful, we will begin to approach the reality of “superhumans” to approach the reality of “superhumans”

• What are superhumans?What are superhumans?

– Superhumans = men and women who have Superhumans = men and women who have machines implanted internally to help them machines implanted internally to help them surpass the physical boundaries of normal human surpass the physical boundaries of normal human function including thought process, emotional and function including thought process, emotional and physical capabilities.physical capabilities.

Kevin’s research:Kevin’s research:

• What it consists of:What it consists of:

– Currently: reconstruct and study traditional Currently: reconstruct and study traditional electrical impulseselectrical impulses

– Eventually: understand how to manipulate Eventually: understand how to manipulate sense impulsessense impulses

– In the future: create new senses through In the future: create new senses through impulse manipulationimpulse manipulation

Kevin’s Research:Kevin’s Research:

• What he’s doing in the UK:What he’s doing in the UK:

– His next experiment involves him placing a His next experiment involves him placing a small glass case containing a power supply, small glass case containing a power supply, a mini-printed circuit board to receive and a mini-printed circuit board to receive and transmit signals in his left arm’s nerve fiberstransmit signals in his left arm’s nerve fibers

– These chips will receive signals from the These chips will receive signals from the collar and send them to a computer collar and send them to a computer instantaneously instantaneously

Experiment Example:Experiment Example:

• When Kevin moves a finger:When Kevin moves a finger:

– Electronic signals travel from his brain to Electronic signals travel from his brain to activate the muscles and tendons that operate activate the muscles and tendons that operate his hand. his hand.

– The collar picks up the signal en routeThe collar picks up the signal en route

– Nerve impulses will still reach the finger but Nerve impulses will still reach the finger but he will tap into them as though he was he will tap into them as though he was listening on a phone linelistening on a phone line

Why is this significant?Why is this significant?

• More routes for more senses could be More routes for more senses could be foundfound

• Alternative pathways for blind or deaf Alternative pathways for blind or deaf people to “see” or “hear” with ultrasonic people to “see” or “hear” with ultrasonic wavelengthswavelengths

– Example: A blind person could use this Example: A blind person could use this technology to navigate around objects with technology to navigate around objects with ultrasonic radar, much the way bats doultrasonic radar, much the way bats do

Ever worked before?Ever worked before?

• NO.NO.

• But then again, nobody’s ever tapped But then again, nobody’s ever tapped into their nerve fibers before.into their nerve fibers before.

What has been done?What has been done?

• Emory University:Emory University:

– Implanted a transmitting device into the brain Implanted a transmitting device into the brain of a stroke patientof a stroke patient

– Linked motor neurons to siliconLinked motor neurons to silicon

– Afterwards, patient was able to move a Afterwards, patient was able to move a cursor on a computer screen just by thinking cursor on a computer screen just by thinking about it.about it.

What has been done?What has been done?

• Caltech’s Steve Potter:Caltech’s Steve Potter:

– Has a living layer of rat neurons growing over a Has a living layer of rat neurons growing over a microelectrode array. Neural activity is sent to microelectrode array. Neural activity is sent to an SGI workstation which renders the data. an SGI workstation which renders the data. (Acts as the body)(Acts as the body)

– Trying to organize data to make sense of it. Trying to organize data to make sense of it.

– By end of year recognize speech.By end of year recognize speech.

– Brain can command artificial limbsBrain can command artificial limbs

It’s only a matter of timeIt’s only a matter of time

• The reality of “smart” machines to aid humans The reality of “smart” machines to aid humans in various functions is imminent.in various functions is imminent.

• Implementation:Implementation:

– Requisite programs must be set up. Like Requisite programs must be set up. Like keyboards are today.keyboards are today.

– Basic programming shouldn’t be too hardBasic programming shouldn’t be too hard

– Implant owner will have to learn how to operate his Implant owner will have to learn how to operate his new little friend.new little friend.

Ethical Issues?Ethical Issues?

• Many issues arise:Many issues arise:

– Is it ethical to create a “superhuman” where Is it ethical to create a “superhuman” where machines are in charge of key human machines are in charge of key human functions such as thought control and functions such as thought control and communication?communication?

– Is it ethical to allow some humans, probably Is it ethical to allow some humans, probably the wealthy ones, to communicate through the wealthy ones, to communicate through cybernetics and not others?cybernetics and not others?

Ethical Issues:Ethical Issues:

• How safe must the implants be for them to How safe must the implants be for them to be distributed?be distributed?

• Senses and impulses could be transmitted Senses and impulses could be transmitted in a harmful way in a harmful way

– What kind of security should accompany the What kind of security should accompany the implantsimplants

– An entirely new “private” realm - one’s emotions.An entirely new “private” realm - one’s emotions.

Ethical Issues:Ethical Issues:

• New sensesNew senses

– Can these senses be patented?Can these senses be patented?

– What if they’re addictive - who regulates?What if they’re addictive - who regulates?

Is It All Bad?Is It All Bad?

• Warm fuzzy outcomes:Warm fuzzy outcomes:

– ALS - Lou Gehrig’s disease - could possibly ALS - Lou Gehrig’s disease - could possibly be cured once we understand how to be cured once we understand how to retransmit nerve impulses.retransmit nerve impulses.

– We can create a new way, although artificial, We can create a new way, although artificial, to make people feel happyto make people feel happy

The Future….The Future….

• If developed, most likely will be used.If developed, most likely will be used.

• We can only wait and see...We can only wait and see...

Thank You.Thank You.

- Michael Lewis- Michael Lewis

BibliographyBibliography• Wired Magazine, February 2000 Wired Magazine, February 2000

issuesissues

• Cybernetic Intelligence Research Cybernetic Intelligence Research Group - Group - http://www.cyber.rdg.ac.uk/CIRG/research/research.htmhttp://www.cyber.rdg.ac.uk/CIRG/research/research.htm

• Wired online: http://www.wired.comWired online: http://www.wired.com

• Biomedical Research at EmoryBiomedical Research at Emory– http://www.bme.gatech.edu/news.htmlhttp://www.bme.gatech.edu/news.html

BibliographyBibliography

• Program in Ethics in Science and Program in Ethics in Science and Medicine - Medicine - http://www.swmed.edu/home_pages/ethics/http://www.swmed.edu/home_pages/ethics/

• Department of Cybernetics at Reading - Department of Cybernetics at Reading - http://www2.cyber.rdg.ac.uk/Cybernetics/http://www2.cyber.rdg.ac.uk/Cybernetics/