1. Brain Computer Interface
By: Steven Conner

2. Quick Background Research began in the 1970s
Grant from the National Science Foundation
Contracted by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

3. How It Works
Electrodes - small chips that send or read electrical impulse signals
Neurons - a nerve cell in the brain that receives and outputs nerve impulses as electric signals
Electrical Signals - How all the pieces communicate
Computer - either reads in the electrical signals sent back from the electrodes or sends data to the electrodes to be signalized

4. Electrodes
Two types
Interior - a small computer chip placed on the gray matter of the brain.
External - a form of headgear. EEG (electroencephalograph)

5. Medical Use Artificial Hearing Audio Cortex Artificial Sight
Visual Cortex
Artificial Speech
Comprehension Cortex & Vocal Cortex
Prosthetic limbs
Nerves & cerebellum
Normalization

6. Military Use
Combat Enhancement Suits
Mind Controlled Combat Robots

7. Other Uses Mind Controlled Mini-Quadcopter
Second Life for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)

8. Present Ethical Issues
Neuro side effects from use
BCI can cause subjects to lose some sleep
Mental state
No mental change has ever been recorded
Risk of brain related illness like amnesia
BCI has no recorded cases of causing brain related illnesses

9. Future Ethical Concerns
Mind Control
The current level of BCI is still decades away (if even possible) from mind control
Thought Reading
At the current level of BCI we can only get fragmented thoughts after placing the EEG on a subject's head

10. References
[1]: Vidal, JJ (1973). "Toward direct brain-computer communication". Annual review of biophysics and bioengineering 2: 157–80. doi: /annurev.bb PMID
[2]: Grabianowski, Ed. "How Brain-computer Interfaces Work" 02 November HowStuffWorks.com. <
[3]: Greenfield, Susan A. "Brain Story: Unlocking Our Inner World of Emotions, Memories, Ideas and Desires." DK Adult, 2001.
[4]: Evans, Gareth. “Brain Computer Interfacing: A Big Step Towards Military Mind-Control” July 17, Army-Technology.com. <
[5]: Anthony, Sebastian. “Berkeley Researchers Replace Passwords With Passthoughts by Reading Your Mind” April 8, Extremetech.com. < brainwaves-replace-passwords-with-passthoughts>
[6]: NEUROGADGET. “SECOND LIFE AVATARS CONTROLLED VIA BRAIN-COMPUTER INTERFACE” July 8, Neurogadget.com. <