Humans Becoming Machines
The technological advances that have been presented allow people to use neurological sensors on humans to react. An example of this is a mechanical arm that has sensors surgically placed on the arm stub and the nerve charges make the mechanical arm react as a normal arm would. This allows people like the woman in the story can doing things like throw a ball.
SEI’s Reliability
The reliability of the mechanics could of short and the persons arm or limb could falter at a very inopportune moment.
Bionics From the Economist
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Digital Eye Contact Lenses
By: Kala Clarence
Synthesis:
Although, the process has not quiet gotten there just yet, lab tests have shown that there was no harm from the contacts (while the digital parts were off) on the eyes of the lab test subjects (rabbits). These contacts could be a break through in Information Technology and even the ways humans interact with each other and the world around them. The Area’s of Impact they would affect would be Health (in Business and actual Physical Health improvements), Education, and Entertainment (possibly), and Politics/Government (Militia). These contact lenses could make millions, and also save millions (humans; what with the chemical sensors). Also, seeing the world in a new Bionic way would change the way one teaches and learns. And, if they are successful in implementing access to Internet and Television in the lenses, then it would for sure be an impact on Education (more distractions in school) as well as Entertainment (change the way Entertainment is advertised and used). . . Sounds too good to be true, huh? The only problem is the safety level of the device and the affects that it would have on its wearer, but research teams are 
working on that consistently, in order to make this fantasy a reality.
SEI Analysis
The Social and Ethical Issues that these contacts would bring are Equality of Access, Security (and Privacy) and People and Machines (and Reliability).
The problems presented for Equality of Access is that these contacts will make even more visible who can afford them and who cannot. The people who are able to afford such luxuries would have a noticeable advantage over those who cannot... Especially if these contacts have the ability to let one communicate with others without vocally speaking to each other, and the use of cell phones. Although access to communication would be easier and possibly faster, this would lead to fewer opportunities to the lower class. An example of this is that many Employers like to have instant communications with their employee’s; the new digital contacts would be the new cell phone. Hence, one may not be able to get a job just because they would not have these new Digital contact lenses. And, who is to say that computers will still be very popular and accessible to the public once these devices are out and about? If these contacts have the ability that many hope for them, then the use of the basic computer will be less and less, until no one needs them at all. How will those who cannot afford the lenses, and do not have access to computers, be able to successfully finish their education (which uses more and more technology as the years go by)? Lets also not forget people who would need these contacts for health and medical reasons, if one is in need of them (which could potentially save their lives) and one does not have equality of access to them, then that individual’s situation could have been improved, but was simply not because they were not rich enough. . . Hmm, that already is starting to sound familiar. . .
One of Security issue’s would be if the technology got into the wrong hands, especially if they are able to reverse engineer it, and make masses of them for them selves and use the advantages in ways that could harm other people’s lives and well being. Not only that but, if they could reverse engineer it, then they could also find a way to access the health and medical records recorded on the contact lenses themselves. This would also be a Privacy issue as well as a S
ecurity Issue, for they could do what they want with the records, including setting up false health records in order to assassinate some one. People would be mis-diagnosed, and given the wrong treatments for the health problem that they would not have. Also they could make false records to cover up murders (or set up murders to get the people they want in jail), or they could just simply commit Identity Theft. All of this would lead to false accusations, Social havoc, and the Health/Medicine fields and records would all be mixed up. The Security of these contacts would be one of the flaws in this device, for even with proper Security measures, there will always be that some one who can crack the code, or find a loop hole around it. We must not assume that every thing will be just “fine” and expect that nothing bad will happen.
A problem with People and Machines (and Reliability) would be if Humans became to co-dependent on these contact lenses to know every thing about their health, and to warn them about too high blood sugars (for example). What if these contacts suddenly broke down? Then where would we technology dependent humans be? We would be clueless on what to do, that’s what! Not to mention if our eyes had become so dependent on these contact lenses that they actually became weaker because of them… The technology itself could weaken our eyes (over a period of time), especially since the gadget would emit some amount of heat when working, doing damage to our retinas’. It all depends upon the type of materials the contacts would be made out of, and if they leave some kind of toxic waste. Dependency on these contacts would be a big problem, for the moment we depend and rely too much on them will be the moment we will have a hard time living without them. That is when the reliability of the device becomes a part of the equation, for we all know that things break down no matter how awesomely efficient, or ‘unbreakable’ it was made to be. The job related problems also come into play with People and Machines, for soon, people with these digital contacts might be preferred to be hired as an employer, rather than some one who does not use the digital eye contacts.
Cited References:
1. Chen, Brian X. "Digital Contacts Will Keep an Eye on Vital Signs." Wired. N.p., 10 Sep. 2009. Web. 4 Feb. 2010.
2. Moskowitz, Clara. "New Contact Lenses Go Bionic." Live Science. TechMediaNetwork, 18 Jan. 2008. Web. 9 Feb. 2010.
3. Britt, Robert R. "Contact Lenses to Double as T.V.'s." Live Science. N.p., 9 Feb. 2009. Web. 9 Feb. 2010.
4. Hickey, Hannah. "Contact lenses with circuits, lights a possible platform for superhuman vision."
5. Greene, Kate. "How to Build a Bionic Eye." Technology Review. Technology Review, 25 Jan. 2008. Web. 9 Feb. 2010.
"Sensor Tape" for American Soldiers
By Taylor Adair
Synthesis:
Synthesis:
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) paid Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) $2 million dollars and signed an 18 month contract to create a technology called "sensor tape." PARC specializes on "jet-printing" and "polymer devices and circuits." Using the ink-jet 
printing PARC has developed sensors, such as high intensity light sensors to observe the environment during a blast explosion. The sensors are sensitive to light, motion, sound, speed and vibration. This "sensor tape" attached to helmets or clothing will be relatively cheap, so it can be passed out to all soldiers. The "sensor tape" will be small, light weight (6 ounces) patches, which can be worn up to a week on a helmet or uniform.All sensors will be capable of gathering and recording information connected to the blast explosions. When the data is finally retrieved and recorded, then the tape can be disposed of.
The information
gathered after a bomb explosion is collected at National Ground Intelligence Center where the data is studied. Michael Leggieri Jr, coordinator of Blast Injury Research Program said "We know that if you hit your head against something...that you can get a brain injury. But the mechanism, at the cellular level --how does that happen? There are still a lot of unknowns here". This collected information is accessible to professionals through Joint Trauma Analysis and Prevention of Injury in Combat Program. Through the information collected from "sensor tape", Leggier and other researchers can fully understand TBI and to treat TBI patients more properly.
Video
Social and Ethical Issues
printing PARC has developed sensors, such as high intensity light sensors to observe the environment during a blast explosion. The sensors are sensitive to light, motion, sound, speed and vibration. This "sensor tape" attached to helmets or clothing will be relatively cheap, so it can be passed out to all soldiers. The "sensor tape" will be small, light weight (6 ounces) patches, which can be worn up to a week on a helmet or uniform.All sensors will be capable of gathering and recording information connected to the blast explosions. When the data is finally retrieved and recorded, then the tape can be disposed of.
gathered after a bomb explosion is collected at National Ground Intelligence Center where the data is studied. Michael Leggieri Jr, coordinator of Blast Injury Research Program said "We know that if you hit your head against something...that you can get a brain injury. But the mechanism, at the cellular level --how does that happen? There are still a lot of unknowns here". This collected information is accessible to professionals through Joint Trauma Analysis and Prevention of Injury in Combat Program. Through the information collected from "sensor tape", Leggier and other researchers can fully understand TBI and to treat TBI patients more properly. Video
Social and Ethical Issues
Reliability:
This technology will worn by American soldiers all over the world, from Iraq to Afghanistan to other countries. The "sensor tape" needs to be able to operate in all sorts of environment from the extreme cold to the harsh heat. If this product is to be used in rough environments then the tape should be very durable, but in all of the articles that i have read none of the them describe the "sensor tape" as sturdy or strong, therefore i do not believe that it is durable. The tape needs to be durable enough to last through a bomb explosion. If the sensors cannot last through a bomb explosion then "sensor tape" is pointless. It needs to sustain long enough for someone to retrieve the data from the tape.
If the "sensor tape" breaks down or malfunctions, it will most likely be difficult to repair. It probably takes a specialist to fix this. An ordinary person like a soldier probably is not capable of fixing it, unless trained. Also if a soldier does try to fix it, then the data from the tape will become unreliable.
It is possible that the "sensor tape" does not noticeably malfunction and the appearance of it is nothing out the norm then the researchers will think they have accurate data.With the undependable information the TBI researchers will come to the wrong conclusions about the cellular mechanisms in the brain. Therefore treating TBI victims improperly, if treated inaccurately this can cause numerous unexpected problems for the patients. Also if the data is misread or misunderstood because of the human error, doctors and researchers can treat patients wrongly.
Equality of Access:
Because the "sensor tape" is only in development not everybody will able to use it right away. It will take time to construct and perfect the technology. The producers of the "sensor tape" will give it out to few soldiers for a test run, only a minority of soldiers will have access at first. Then with time perhaps the "sensor tape" will be given out to all soldiers in combat. More likely though the sensor patches will be only passed out to the most elite soldiers, or soldiers who are on riskier missions. Every soldier should have the same amount of supplies as the other. Not one soldier is worth more than the other. They all chose to serve their nation, knowing that one day they might risk their life for this nation. Another reason why the government might not distribute the sensors to every military personnel is because they do not want to use their military spending money on this technology. There is a good chance this will be happen because the United States is on the decline, therefore we do not have as much money and we are in debt.. Even though the "sensor tape" will be priced reasonable, other equipment will be higher in priority.
Not every doctor or researcher will have access to information collected from the "sensor tape". The information from the sensors could be to detailed to give to civilians. Only doctors or researchers in the military could have access to the data. The sensors could give out information that the government or military does not want to be seen in the public. The conclusions about TBI will be less detailed because there will be less medical officials or researchers who see the data. The more variety of brains makes better answers.
People and Machines:
The "sensor tape" will do good for all society. With the data collected from the sensors long term and short term affects of TBI will be solved. Soldiers who have been injured during an explosion, will have their memory back and have less headaches. Also people who have had a concussion will be healed better and treated quicker. The "sensor tape" will help many teenagers that have had a concussion, TBI is the number one injury, which can cause there learning capability to decline. It is common for athletes to get concussions also. When an athlete gets a concussion there can be lasting affects from it and they cannot play their support for a certain amount of time. With conclusions from the tape they will have a faster recovery.
Doctors and researchers will also receive more detailed information from the "sensor tape" making their job easier. They do not have to collect unreliable information from soldiers who witnessed or were affected by the explosion. The sensor patch will make the data more accurate, leading to better answers about TBI. The researchers will be more confident in their work, less doubtful and less stressed.
The "sensor tape" does not have to be limited to research for TBI. It could be used in numerous of ways. The possibilities are endless. It could be used in every area of impacts. For example the "sensor tape" could be used on track athletes, in order to find out how their speed changes and how their breathing differs. "Sensor tape" will help to contribute to job opportunities for people. Job opportunities in the medical and military field.
Articles:
Baker, Fred W. "Sensors May Lead to Faster Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injuries." U.S.Army. N.p., 15 Jan. 2008. Web. 9 Feb. 2010..
http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/01/15/7002-sensors-may-lead-to-faster-treatment-for-traumatic-brain-injuries/
Shachtman, Noah. "Brain Blasts Mapped with Stick-On Sensors." Wired 4 June 2008: Web. 9 Feb. 2010.
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2008/06/the-pentagon-is/
Weinberger, Sharon. "DARPA’s Stick-On Body Sensors." Wired. 12 June 2007. Web. 9 Feb. 2010.
Ricklin, Jennifer. "Sensor Tape Program." Strategic Technology Office. N.p., 20 June 2007. Web. 9 Feb. 2010.
"All ink-jet printed polyfluorene photodiode for high illuminance applications ." Palo Alto Research Center. 2010. Web. 9 Feb. 2010.
This technology will worn by American soldiers all over the world, from Iraq to Afghanistan to other countries. The "sensor tape" needs to be able to operate in all sorts of environment from the extreme cold to the harsh heat. If this product is to be used in rough environments then the tape should be very durable, but in all of the articles that i have read none of the them describe the "sensor tape" as sturdy or strong, therefore i do not believe that it is durable. The tape needs to be durable enough to last through a bomb explosion. If the sensors cannot last through a bomb explosion then "sensor tape" is pointless. It needs to sustain long enough for someone to retrieve the data from the tape.
If the "sensor tape" breaks down or malfunctions, it will most likely be difficult to repair. It probably takes a specialist to fix this. An ordinary person like a soldier probably is not capable of fixing it, unless trained. Also if a soldier does try to fix it, then the data from the tape will become unreliable.
It is possible that the "sensor tape" does not noticeably malfunction and the appearance of it is nothing out the norm then the researchers will think they have accurate data.With the undependable information the TBI researchers will come to the wrong conclusions about the cellular mechanisms in the brain. Therefore treating TBI victims improperly, if treated inaccurately this can cause numerous unexpected problems for the patients. Also if the data is misread or misunderstood because of the human error, doctors and researchers can treat patients wrongly.
Equality of Access:
Because the "sensor tape" is only in development not everybody will able to use it right away. It will take time to construct and perfect the technology. The producers of the "sensor tape" will give it out to few soldiers for a test run, only a minority of soldiers will have access at first. Then with time perhaps the "sensor tape" will be given out to all soldiers in combat. More likely though the sensor patches will be only passed out to the most elite soldiers, or soldiers who are on riskier missions. Every soldier should have the same amount of supplies as the other. Not one soldier is worth more than the other. They all chose to serve their nation, knowing that one day they might risk their life for this nation. Another reason why the government might not distribute the sensors to every military personnel is because they do not want to use their military spending money on this technology. There is a good chance this will be happen because the United States is on the decline, therefore we do not have as much money and we are in debt.. Even though the "sensor tape" will be priced reasonable, other equipment will be higher in priority.
Not every doctor or researcher will have access to information collected from the "sensor tape". The information from the sensors could be to detailed to give to civilians. Only doctors or researchers in the military could have access to the data. The sensors could give out information that the government or military does not want to be seen in the public. The conclusions about TBI will be less detailed because there will be less medical officials or researchers who see the data. The more variety of brains makes better answers.
People and Machines:
The "sensor tape" will do good for all society. With the data collected from the sensors long term and short term affects of TBI will be solved. Soldiers who have been injured during an explosion, will have their memory back and have less headaches. Also people who have had a concussion will be healed better and treated quicker. The "sensor tape" will help many teenagers that have had a concussion, TBI is the number one injury, which can cause there learning capability to decline. It is common for athletes to get concussions also. When an athlete gets a concussion there can be lasting affects from it and they cannot play their support for a certain amount of time. With conclusions from the tape they will have a faster recovery.
The "sensor tape" does not have to be limited to research for TBI. It could be used in numerous of ways. The possibilities are endless. It could be used in every area of impacts. For example the "sensor tape" could be used on track athletes, in order to find out how their speed changes and how their breathing differs. "Sensor tape" will help to contribute to job opportunities for people. Job opportunities in the medical and military field.
MLA Citations
Articles:
Baker, Fred W. "Sensors May Lead to Faster Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injuries." U.S.Army. N.p., 15 Jan. 2008. Web. 9 Feb. 2010.
Shachtman, Noah. "Brain Blasts Mapped with Stick-On Sensors." Wired 4 June 2008: Web. 9 Feb. 2010.
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2008/06/the-pentagon-is/
Weinberger, Sharon. "DARPA’s Stick-On Body Sensors." Wired. 12 June 2007. Web. 9 Feb. 2010.
Ricklin, Jennifer. "Sensor Tape Program." Strategic Technology Office. N.p., 20 June 2007. Web. 9 Feb. 2010.
"All ink-jet printed polyfluorene photodiode for high illuminance applications ." Palo Alto Research Center. 2010. Web. 9 Feb. 2010.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Micro-radios
Underlying Technology:
Carbon Nanotubes: Microscopic tubes of carbon atoms, known for extremely small size and extremely high tensile strength. Almost all nano-size devices use this structure somewhere in their construction. Here is an actual image of a carbon nanotube, two nanometers across, taken with a scanning electron microscope:
Nanoradio: A single carbon nanotube that can serve all the functions of a radio; antenna, transmitter, demodulator, all in one. It has been developed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and is so sensitive and small that the "static" in the background is actually the bouncing of atoms off the nanotube.
Synthesis:
In October 2007, a University of California research team led by Peter Burke succeeded in creating a nano-scale demodulator that could interact with a regular radio to send music from an iPod to speakers across the room. While impressive, it may not exactly be earth-shattering stuff. But, a mere two weeks later, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory one-upped the team by creating an entire radio only 10 nanometers across (one ten thousandth the width of a human hair). The implications of that one are astounding.
It works on a vacuum-tube principle. Vacuum tubes, for those not aware, were a technology popular in the 1950s where electrons are projected short distances between electrodes with a jump, something dependent on a vacuum environment. Once transistors, a superior method for the technology of the time appeared, they fell into disuse. However, vacuum tube-type devices become rapidly more efficient as you delve deeper into the nano scale, enabling electric transmissions in the nanometer range.
Since these devices are so small, they can transmit information picked up at the molecular level, and this is where their best use will likely be found. They can be put in the body and transmit information from individual cells, while they are functioning. There is no current method for doing so that does not destroy the cell, as no transmitters can work on a small enough scale. This will have a large impact on Health and Medicine. Putting the devices in brain cells could allow you to see the transmissions between the cells, helping to diagnose problems, study effects of treatments, and possibly discover ways to enhance the brain itself. Similar to the RFIDs that can find use even scattered in the wind, these radios can lead to even smaller RFID tagging, with smaller radio technology. Data could be transmitted from anywhere, on any level, as long as they continue to function.
A third study shows the capability of nanodevices to power themselves with energy taken from biological phenomena like muscle pulses. When this technology is improved enough, the nanoradios could not only observe cells, but run forever off the energy of the cells themselves, making conventional power supplies unnecessary.
Analysis
Privacy and Anonymity: O'Brian and Big Brother would have drooled over having this kind of technology at their disposal. How private can you be, when it is possible to peer into and send transmissions from your very cells? The technology is not quite here yet, but it is certainly possible that such a nanoradio could be combined with a nanobot that could automatically insert the nanoradios into humans and their cells, allowing total monitoring of every aspect at all times.
It is not certain who exactly will have control of the technology at this phase, as it has only been seen in university studies, and no corporation has yet taken up the task of trying to create and cell products based on this technology. However, it is entirely possible upstart companies such as Nanomix may have a role in marketing uses of this product, and possibly abusing it to expand their power into a Corporatocracy. I would be very skeptical of any corporation having control of such a spying device. Hopefully policies and standards will be enacted immediately to regulate such a device.
Obviously, they should need consent in order to implant a nanoradio into someone's cells, but it may be possible to covertly do it. On the other hand, if implanted only in the willing, it seems the only way to preserve privacy may be to not use it in the first place; negating the possible benefits as well. It will be every person's choice about if the benefits outweigh the costs when finally this becomes popularly available.
Control: Even such an instrument as a security camera could be an instrument of control, discouraging theft and identifying it when it does happen. How much more could a sensitive, undetectable instrument like a nanoradio accomplish the same? If someone has access to the transmissions from your nanoradio, they will know practically everything about you, and this is a means of having great overpowering control.
Going back to the issue of who has control, the control this offers also has great positive benefits. Controlled by doctors, they could be used to swiftly analyze the chemicals in a cell and transmit it, possibly finding viruses and other malicious infecting agents, who if chemically analyzed could lead to near instantaneous diagnosis and more effective treatment. This will rapidly increase the efficiency of our medical system, assuming a cheap and efficient way of creating and distributing nanoradios is found.
Since the nanoradios would draw on the energy of the people they are inside of, you would essentially be powering the very thing that helps control you with no other option, which is quite a scary thought. But to be honest, I somewhat doubt this. People don't tend to react well to being under 24/7 control, especially in a democracy. In the future though, anything is possible.
Reliability: This technology is still in it's infancy. Currently, transmissions are full of static due to quantum interference, but the Berkeley team assures us that this could be solved with better vacuums, capable of cutting down the interference. Even then, the chemical sensors and distribution system could easily go wrong in many ways.
If radio does not decode and transmit effectively, bad signals could be sent that could lead to misdiagnosis. If the chemical sensors miss information, or get incorrect information from bad analysis, then it could cause poor or wrong information, again possibly leading to bad information and bad treatments. And if the nanoradios arrive in the wrong place, especially if this is not realized, the faults that could be caused are beyond reckoning. They could leave nano "corpses" behind once deactivated that could cause problems.
Personally, I don't think this will be on that level of danger, the worst case scenario of course. Testing would be done on a variety of animals before considered for use in humans, and the static problems already have a foreseeable solution. I would never underestimate the ability to work out problems in technology eventually.
-Zev Feinstein
Madrigal, Alexis. "Nano Electronics Researcher Decodes Radio Signals Using Atom-Sized Component." Wired. Wired.com, 7 Oct. 2007. Web. 5 Feb. 2010.
Rowe, Aaron. "Hamsters Get Nanotechnology Now But We Could Be Waiting for Ten Years." Wired. Wired.com, 26 Mar. 2009. Web. 5 Feb. 2010.
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/03/nanogenerator/#ixzz0eeBQB6Rz
Friday, February 5, 2010
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