What is Brain Computer Interface (BCI)?

Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) is exactly what it says – When your brain interfaces (communicates) directly with a computer, that’s brain-computer interface. Usually, the communication channel between brain and computer is like this:

In Brain-Computer Interface, the second part of using the hands to give commands to the computer, is removed. In this process, devices are attached to the brain. These devices read the commands directly from our thoughts and send them to the computer. The computer executes those commands.

Why use Brain-Computer Interface?

Think about it. Who are the people who cannot use their hands?

People who have had a paralytic stroke, or who, through some other disability, are not able to use their limbs. When they are given robotic arms to help them, the arms automatically take orders from the brain. That is one of the ways we use brain-computer interface.

So, is this for real?

Yes!! This is not science fiction!
What’s more, you will be happy to know that Elon Musk and Facebook are among the investors in this technology. So far, the technology is being developed for medical use (like the one we explained above), but (here is the fun part) – there is a game called BrainNet. In this game, two players play Tetris using BCI!

How long has this been going on?

Since the 1970s! The work first started in the University of California in the 1970s.
In June 2004, Matthew Nagle became the first human to receive a BCI implant (something that is put inside something else. In this case, it was a small device put inside the brain).
It is, however, a very slow-moving program, where small improvements also take many years. Mankind is just about starting to understand this new technology and its mass application is being discussed for the first time.

What are the risks?

For starters, the human brain is the most complex mystery known to mankind. We have no idea how the brain works, or what impact technology like this will have on humans, robots, or the world.
Secondly, the risk that all technologies carry – misuse. Remember Dr. Octopus from Spiderman? That would be BCI, with his brain controlling the use of the giant arms.

What’s the way forward?

As you read this, researchers all over the world are trying to do things faster, and more accurately.
Each step takes a lot of effort. Work is going on in Europe and the US. Neuralink, the company backed by Elon Musk, is among the frontrunners in the USA.