I didn't intend this blog to become yet another technology blog, in particular I wanted to keep away from simply commenting on the latest gadget. However, I think speculation on the future of the relationship between human and technology is within scope.
Some people have theorised that various electronic devices will be implanted, including even a mobile phone or communications computer.
I think the first stage will be the implantation of transducers, initially they might be analogue transducers such as speakers in the ears and a microphone in the vocal chords, and maybe even something to stimulate the optic nerve. As the brain becomes better understood, direct coupling would allow stimulation of the auditory and optical senses, and detect unspoken vocalisation. These developments could also be a significant boon to people with visual or auditory impairment.
These transducers will be charged up inductively whilst sleeping. These transducers will, like a bluetooth headset, receive their signals over a short range radio link, allowing the user to connect to a variety of devices such as mobile phones, portable computers, desktop computers, media streamers etc.
I think implantation of an entire phone or computer will follow quite a bit later because the advanced of technology means such devices would be dated after 18 months, and seriously obsolete after three. The radical surgery required to upgrade an implanted computer would definitely deter most people from being an early adopter, but the quality of audio technology is provably at its useful limit. Digital sound can be rendered or captured at a far higher quality than human senses need, so perhaps only the change from analogue transducers to direct coupling would be the most significant upgrade.
So what would the benefits be of an implanted digital connection linking to a portable computer/mobile phone? A key development would need to be good speech recognition - it'd be tailored specifically to one person's voice, so this is not too far fetched.
It would be possible to, without needing wires..
* carry out a virtually private telephone call
* enjoy music and video privately
* have your own personal alarm clock or reminder service, again, without disturbing others
* remotely control your fully automated house
* surf the web, read email etc without needing a monitor
In the very long term, as direct brain sensing becomes better, it'd be possible to directly control things as though they were an extension of your body, but that's for a whole new blog post!
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