Just like millions of other human beings around the world, I was sat watching TV the other morning and there before my very eyes was BCI, Brain Computer Interface, well actually Interfacing, because somebody was actually doing it, on TV!

A quick recap for our new readers, BCI is a concept whereby a sensor is connected to the brain, directly, or in this case via probes on the scalp, which then allow the human user to interact with the computer’s system, hands free.

Just think, and it will do, no more clutter, no more clicky mouse, or dust ridden mouse mat, no more weird touchpad gizmo, think and it shall be done, boom!

My concern has been and still is, that this may all well be a case of the emperor’s new clothes, and that we will see only what we are told  we see.  We will no longer know if we are on the inside looking out, or on the outside looking in.

How amazing, how marvellous, to link a computer to a person, that’s like gluing a goldfish to a Ferrari, whoever would have thought it possible?

Human beings are skin and bones, flesh and blood, but more importantly, below those, we are chemical and electrical bio-systems, we are not like computers, computers are based upon us, what is it they say, “The apple never falls far from the tree” ?, we are the tree, not the apple.  All that these clever people have managed to do is connect a non biological computer to a biological one, fair enough, I can’t nail two pieces of wood together, but I would never even consider connecting a human computer to a ‘tin’ one, not in a million years.

WHY?  I am a human being, and as such am flawed, I have faults, “To err is human etc;”, but I know this to be true, just as strongly, I know this to be true for everyone, so, am I really going to connect myself (Computer 1) up to a BCI (Computer 2), and form a beautiful, long term, monogamous LAN with each other?  NO.

The BCI was developed and invented by humans, who err as you recall, and if I ask them their intentions for said BCI, would probably refuse to tell me, trade secrets and all that, or may even lie to me, that’s what we humans do, yes we do, come on, admit it.  So, will this LAN be just a one way relationship?  No, the BCI is a two way street, you think at the computer, it reacts to you, but who programmes the computer’s reactions?  The manufacturers, who will also be a part of your LAN, a cyber love triangle, they just want to give you the best experience ever, like cyber pimps without the fur coats and purple fedoras.