Yeah, it's technologically impossible now but will it always be technologically impossible? I doubt it. Sixty years ago, computers took up an entire room and were rudimentary with their processing abilities. Today, we have computers which fit in the palm of our hand and can run millions of calculations per second. Sixty years ago, I doubt few could have imagined a handheld computer.

A probe stuck into a brain (if its possible) could be comparable to a room sized computer sixty years ago. If we can read and decypher signals from a brain, we have I/O. I'm sure that we'd get better at it over time. The time to start thinking about it is now, not sixty years later when it may be too late.

Yes it's technologically possible, in that there's no proof that it wouldn't be. I think what some people are trying to tell you, is that this technology is simply not near mature enough yet. I mean if you had an idea on how to make those very simple brain controlling contraptions work better than giving you a mouse cursor or some joints in an arm that are really difficult to control. Getting the same degree of dexerity and quickness that you have with your hand is simply laughable at this stage. Maybe not so in 30 years, depending on how many wars will be fought. I think for handicaps we will see autonomous subsystems or bio-tech much more capable, before we get to the real man-machine interface. But it's a fascinating topic, I'll give you that.

Ignoring all of the moral, technical, medical and legal difficulties this would create... imagine what it would be like to visit a website, which as part of its load process, scans your thoughts to generate advertising tailored specifically for you. And, as you view the advertisement and start to think about it, the advertisement changes its salespitch to dynamically follow your thought processes to make it more compelling. It'd be like the most compelling and suggestively hypnotic advert you've ever seen. And, the purchasing process can be streamlined since you'd only have to mentally authorize the purchase and the software would pull your credit card data from a database or your mind. Before you know it, you're putting in an order for twenty three cases of viagra and cailis even though you're a young healthy man. Single? No problem, the company has a partnership with your local escort service. Ugh... present the technology and capitalism will find a way to exploit it to the max.

Or even worse, what if a authoritarian/totalitarian regime got a hold of the technology and mandated that all of its citizens got the necessary surgeries to get a direct neural connection? There wouldn't be a personal choice on whether you wanted to have a hole drilled into your head. It'd be forced on you, and if you refused, you'd be labeled as an enemy of the state.[/quote]I'm sure that we could argue against most modern technology, if we're allowed to argue "But what if a totalitarian regime used this technology to do X". (I mean yes, I think this would be an argument against say, if a Government said it needed to mind read all citizens to detech crimes, but I don't think it works against the mere existence of technology.)

There's a reason why DARPA is funding this kind of technology:[/quote]If it's being funded anyway, then is it good that only the Governments/military have the technology?

All in all, if this was possible it would be some scary shit. I say, "Just because you can doesn't mean you should.".[/quote]There are some worrying issues we will have to face - this applies to all kinds of technology. But that day is going to come, so we'd better start preparing to deal with it.

Yes I agree to control a robotic arm or anything complex would require years of practice and then you will probably never reach the same degree of control you have now. However, I am talking about sending on off signals for the keyboard and controlling a cursor. I don't think those things will require nearly as much effort as controlling a robotic arm.

[quote name='slayemin' timestamp='1328870622' post='4911616']
2. It's better to have a device which is non-intrusive. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotiv)

Yes I agree to control a robotic arm or anything complex would require years of practice and then you will probably never reach the same degree of control you have now. However, I am talking about sending on off signals for the keyboard and controlling a cursor. I don't think those things will require nearly as much effort as controlling a robotic arm.

It's an interesting discussion, but I'm confused that you think you have some revolutionary "idea" that simply needs money to invest.

It's still a long way to go before its safe enough to try on any human though