The University of California in San Francisco has taken it upon themselves to create a new software that allows those who are paralyzed to speak. Previously, those who were paralyzed, such as the scientist Stephen Hawking, were only able to communicate through mouth and eye movements that controlled a keyboard. The new software created by UCSF connects directly to the paralyzed persons brain and reads brain signals sent to the mouth. The technology is simple, but it is a good starting block and is already able to keep up with the pace of a normal conversation. This new technology, however, is raising ethical questions of whether or not a person's private thoughts will eventually be able to be translated. Scientists have replied saying that the software can only detect brain signals sent to muscles in the mouth and that it is impossible to read a person's inner thoughts. For more information, click HERE.
1. If you were paralyzed, would you try this new software on yourself even though it's still in the early stages of development?
Personally, I would try just about anything to be able to communicate with others. I would absolutely try this new software and I wouldn't worry about it reading my private thoughts because I don't think it will ever be possible.
2. What are some other hurdles the developers of this software may run into while developing this technology?
I think it will be extremely difficult for scientists to build their software well enough to be able to translate everything a person may want to say. I would say that simple sentences will work, but it will be impossible to translate everything.
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Great story choice and well done!
This may be a really great idea but it could be a really bad idea. Like your artical states the software could have a chance of reading the persons inner thoutghs. On the other hand, this software could be a step up for those that can't commuicate normally.
i think i would be willing to try it if it could help me comuncate with the world
it may not be safe againts hacking and it might not work all the time
I agee. If I was paralyzed I'm guessing no being able to speak would be the hardest part. So yes I would try this new software because it gives hope that one day you'll be able to communitcate easily. I also think it was be very difficult for a system to be able to pick up on everything someone is trying to say.
Lilly, I agree that this new software could act as a sort of light at the end of the tunnel for paralyzed people. Something to hope for and look forward too. I'm sure that even if it didn't work perfectly, they would still be beyond thrilled to be able to say anything at all and communicate with their family and friends.
I think if I was paralyzed that I would do anything to talk to my friends and family again and be abal to communicate with the world again
My guess would be it will eather maby cause brain damage or with it be technolgy cause to much radiation
Jonathan, you put a lot of good thought into your answer! I suppose it is possible for the technology to have some side affects or cause different issues with the paralyzed person. I am guessing many of these issues will be identified and hopefully fixed as they are doing research on the technology.
If I was paralyzed and not able to talk, I would try just anything to be able to communicate with others, but I don't really like the idea of all my thoughts being said out loud. In this case, I would say the good outweighs the bad. The developers may not always be able to get the technology to decipher what a person is thinking.
I would agree with you Nolan. It may be a very deciding factor for some people of whether or not they would risk anything being said outloud that they did not intend to be said outloud. Developers today do have the technology to decipher somewhat simple sentences, but more complex sentences may be more of a challenge.
Jessica, that is a very good point I completely didn't think of. I guess it could be possible that certain thoughts and sentences could be translated incorrectly. Do you think this will be an issue for scientists or not? If it was an issue for certain sentences, could the scientists fix it or would it not be able to be changed.
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