Brain-computer interface technology, also known as brain-computer joint cognitive technology, is a new communication control technology that uses external devices such as computers, power levels and processing chips to replace basic intermediary companies such as nervous system and muscle tissue to complete the interaction between the brain and external information. In the past few decades, the brain-computer interface technology has been continuously improved, and the related scientific research results have shown high use value to the outside world.
Brain-computer interface has key research significance and great development potential in rehabilitation diagnosis and treatment, service robot, wearable measurement and human-computer interaction technology. ValuatesReports, a market research organization, reported that the global market capacity of brain-computer interface is expected to reach $3.85 billion in 2027.
In August, 2020, Space Exploration Technology Company and elon musk, the founder of Tesla, held a new product launch conference for Neuralink, a brain-computer interface company under their own group. Three little pigs showed a new generation of brain-computer interface technology and equipment-a coin-sized processing chip that can be embedded in the brain and a surgical treatment machine that can be completely embedded in the processor. With the rapid development of cognitive science and technology and the miniaturization of machinery and equipment in the future, the application of brain-computer interface will be more common.
Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology is a technical way to integrate human science, cognitive science, information science rationality, management science, biotechnology specialty, professional norms and medical engineering, and to integrate the brain in the practical sense of molecular biology with artificial intelligence product system software, so as to realize zero-distance information exchange between computers and human beings with instant cognition and concepts.
Brain-computer interface technology is often possible because there are many nerve cells in the brain, which can receive and transmit subtle organic chemical information according to the characteristics of neurotransmitters, and interact with each other to produce brain thematic activities. However, brain hair contains water, which is an insulator, and can discharge electromagnetic waves to the brain, which sets standards for the supervision, accurate measurement, collection, recording, display, coding, decoding and analysis of electromagnetic waves in brain theme activities. The whole process of brain-computer interface technology involves five processes: collecting electromagnetic wave information in the brain, encoding and decoding the information, outputting information immediately, receiving information and sending commands, and feeding back the implementation to the brain.
Scientific and technical personnel first collect brainwave data signals from the brain by using mechanical equipment such as level meter and microprocessor chip, then apply data signal generation and processing technology to decode and analyze the original brainwave data signals, convert them into data instructions, and then display or output corresponding data instructions according to facilities such as electronic computers. Then, according to the data instructions collected and accepted by monitoring machinery and equipment, they send commands to the general goal, which will be quickly implemented after receiving the commands, and feedback the opinions on the implementation to the brain to regenerate the movement intention of the brain.
Risk is a key issue that cannot be ignored in the development trend of brain-computer interface technology. At present, the risk problems of brain-computer interface technology mainly include human personal safety risk, private information security risk, subjectivity and obligation risk and social fairness risk.
Invasive or semi-invasive brain-computer interface must embed processing chips and other hardware in the head, which will destroy the natural physical defense system of the head and may also cause trauma, bleeding, feeling and other problems in human brain surgery. From the point of view of technical safety, it is necessary to deal with the physical and mental health risks that are likely to occur when the software of brain-computer interface system is implanted in the body, such as structural damage, rejection, strangeness, incorrect interpretation of brain theme activities caused by system abnormalities, and unexpected effects. If the related hardware and software equipment are illegally used (such as intentionally inputting data signals, changing the value of data signal valves, etc.). ), it is likely to cause head disorder, and in more serious cases, it will cause brain damage and even threaten personal safety.
The technical safety risk of non-invasive (wearable) brain-computer interface can not be ignored, and the misinterpretation of EEG signals deserves great attention. Because the skull blocks the data signal of the nervous system, it is difficult for non-invasive brain-computer interface equipment to obtain sustained and stable EEG signals at this stage, and the probability of indirect injury to the body increases due to mistranslation, especially for some brain-controlled postures that must be operated with high precision, such as manipulating disabled wheelchairs to cross the road and driving cars. If the brain electronic signal is misinterpreted, it is likely to lead to particularly obvious adverse effects.
The security risk of private information brought by brain-computer interface is very prominent. Because this technology can not only collect the personal privacy information that human beings have shown, but also have the working ability to collect all kinds of personal privacy information stored only in the internal structure of the brain, such as physical condition, daily life experience, assets, interpersonal relationships, psychological characteristics, marriage and friendship, beliefs and other personal privacy information.
Brain-computer interface may collect and solve nervous system information without permission. Digitally stored nervous system information is more likely to be quietly collected by cyber hackers or illegally certified enterprises. Brain-computer interface is also likely to reveal people's logical thinking information. Thinking information may be more personal in all information. If the information of nervous system can be accurately explained by brain-computer equipment, then the whole thinking process and thinking result of people may be inferred, and people's logical thinking may be leaked or stolen. From the perspective of information security, once the brain-computer interface can reasonably load information into the brain in the future, or even "load" information into the brain according to the control of the thematic activities of the nervous system, it will lead to risks such as information content leakage, intentional influence on the thematic activities of the brain and even control.
With the continuous improvement and further development trend of brain-computer interface technology, its function will expand from collecting and analyzing brain data signals to completing the close combination of brain and artificial intelligence technology, that is, according to the rapid and high-precision calculation of fuzzy management decision-making, the integration of error correction and fast learning ability of microbial intelligence and the large-scale, fast and accurate memory and search ability, the relationship between human beings and artificial intelligence technology will be completely refreshed.
When the brain is closely related to artificial intelligence technology and manages decisions together, who is the implementer? The human brain and artificial intelligence technology are closely combined. In system software, there are many aspects of human subjectivity? If the human brain and artificial intelligence technology are closely combined, the system software is incorrect or even criminal, how to divide the obligations? These are all worthy of attention and discussion.
With the application of brain-computer interface technology, especially after the close combination of brain and artificial intelligence technology, the digital gap between people will further widen. Brain-computer interface technology is conducive to greatly improving human thinking ability, and then has significant advantages in learning, training, work and other sports.
But limited by technology, economic development, politics, metallurgy and other factors, only some people have the premise and cost of "evolution". When some people in the era can use brain-computer interface technology to improve their development potential beyond "everything is normal", those who insist on improving themselves without "plug-in software" are likely to fill the shortcomings in daily life, culture and education in the market competition, and thus aggravate social stratification or expand the differences between people. This huge digital divide will undoubtedly lead to the lack of fairness and rationality in the development of human society and lead to sharp social problems. At present, laws and regulations, administrative departments, economic development and other political and metallurgical means are difficult to supervise this situation.
Scientific and reasonable new technology will have a far-reaching impact on human personal and social development, and it is very important to attach great importance to the safety risk of scientific and reasonable new technology. Whether brain-computer interface technology can always benefit human beings depends on people's mentality and management decisions in the process of technological development trend, especially the preventive measures against various ethical risks.
In the future discussion, on the one hand, the scientific and technological community should strengthen relevant analysis and independent innovation, reduce the security shortcomings of technology and reduce security risks; On the other hand, government departments and institutions in related fields should speed up the construction and improvement of the risk assessment and early warning information management system of BCI technology, improve relevant social moral rules and laws and regulations, promulgate standardized and standardized management systems, build a supervision system for the development trend and use of BCI technology, and strive to create a sustainable development concept of BCI technology.