Do you think there will ever be a convergence of technology into the human body?

We already have pacemakers.

Technically, yes, but there is no way Twitter is around in 5 years.

Actually, my co-worker jokes with me all the time about this. He claims that as much as I text, I should get an implant in my brain…so that I can see a virtual keyboard at all times. And that it’d be convenient for me to just type into the air, on a virtual keyboard, to get my text messages out faster.

All joking aside, yes…I think one day it will be possible. And I actually expect a demand for it. Maybe not in our lifetime, but I definitely see it happening.

Picture you laying on the sofa with your girl/wife watching a movie..and you’re still logged into Fluther via your peripheral vision. New Activity…you’re still watching the movie but checking at the same time. She’s the none the wiser. Betcha it would happen.

@Captain_Fantasy actually that thought crossed my mind too, but what do you think of actually interfacing with the technology in the sense of internet, GPS coordinates, and things of that nature?

There already is internal brain pacemakers for stopping seizures, electrical impulse assisted muscle contraction devices, nano medicines and vaccines…we are on the dawning age of all things we could dream possible. The one nefarious one we have is Biometric Sensors.

I mean, wouldn’t it be crazy to do something like… sky diving, and record the entire thing, and then be able to youtube the moment your done, and everyone would be able to see exactly what it was like to sky dive? Thinking about all this just makes me want to do all these things now!

There are already artificial retinas which get their input from tiny cameras. And prosthetic limbs which are “hooked up” to nerves, so that they can be controlled the same way as an arm of flesh.

That would useless in the longterm. Would you really want surgery every time technology advanced?

@Lightning Oh, I’m sure will be able to just flash the ROM.

@dpworkin What if the ROM is replaced by advanced technology….what if they live in a remote area…..

It’s inevitable. The only question is who or what will be in control. All communications technology is converging. And everything is getting smaller. Houses and appliances are becoming “smart” and increasingly available via interface on communication systems. Nanotechnology will allow implants on basically a cellular level eventually. You figure it out.

@Lightning What do I know? I thought I was kidding.

@dpworkin Sorryssss I am in attack mode. My fault.

I actually had the experience of wearing a display that projected information directly to the retina. I was able to look at the vehicle component (a differential) and have the service drawing superimposed on top. Push a button and there was an exploded view. Of course it was not controlled by my mind but you know that is coming. 50 years from now our grandchildren will laugh at how people in the old days used keyboards to communicate. (Just like we think Morse code is archaic.)

Hopefully I will be long gone by then.

There was a 60 minute episode showing an implant that relieved depression and a quadrapelgiac woman hooked into a computer she ran with her brain- absolutely amazing!

The problem with superimposing stuff over reality is when your attention should be on reality. Driving, social interaction, your job….. You can only focus your visual attention on one place at a time. If you’re facebooking while you should be driving, there’s a serious problem.

There will be some kind of inherent limits imposed on these if stuff like it comes out.

I do certainly believe technology will move rather quickly towards things of this nature in the coming years, but we should be aware of the drawbacks and try to anticipate what might need to be regulated.

there are already devices being devised by companies testing them in DARPA for DOD implementation. The devices in question are such as robotic arms ( for the handicapped ) , limbs that generate electricity to power devices. there are also bots built on the nano sized scale to combat cancer, it’s still in testing but they say its very very promising so far. heck you can buy coffee pots and other such devices that update when the coffee is done or when your plant needs watering. either way the ideas your thinking of are very real, steven hawking for example is a good example of some of the implementation of the computer technology. all in all progression will take place and I could see these ideas you have becoming very real in the distant future. just gonna have to wait for technology to become even more complex and coding to become even more sophisticated.

Often the difference between science and science-fiction is time and motivation.

Eh, I don’t think I would want to be jacked into the internet.

@LKidKyle1985 MAX? MAX HEADROOM???

Yes. But widespread use of brain chips is still decades away.