Anyone who wants to see the dramatic impact of deep brain stimulation needs to see this video[1]. Just by turning off and on his neurostimulator (see starting 2:00-ish) see the dramatic change in his body.<p>[1]<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBh2LxTW0s0" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBh2LxTW0s0</a>
I'm involved with one of these programs and am very encouraged to see DARPA's focus as very much inline with the goals of the broader field of neuroscience.<p>In heading off some of the anticipated snark, this is very much a program with the goal of understanding basic science and developing tools to better understand how our brains work.
A lot of this research is going towards developing neuro-prosthetics. The primary application of neuro-prosthetics in humans is to give paraplegics either the ability to control a cursor with their mind (a huge improvement in standard of living) OR the ability to control a prosthetic arm or leg with their mind (the long term goal).<p>Currently, this is only available with invasive brain surgery that can often have complications. So money spent on better imaging and implant technologies will have a strong positive impact on the field.<p>Interestingly, the researchers I know in this area are confused about why such a big deal is being made about this "Brain Initiative" because the amount ($70M) is actually not a lot given how capital intensive this type of research is and how many labs it will be spread amongst. Still, any funding is better than no funding.
If you have seen Fringe[1], you know where this is headed...
[1] <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_implant#Television" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_implant#Television</a>
To put this in perspective, DARPA's annual budget is a little more than 2.8 bn.<p>70 mn. over five years is (naively) 14 mn. per year -- which is 0.05% of DARPA's budget.
We need to monitor thoughts of people to prevent them from committing crime. We promise* not to use that information in any* bad* way.
* For a very specific meanings of promise, any, and bad which are all unfortunately classified.<p>But seriously, this research can enable us to understand brain better and help a lot of people.
Oh good, a military R&D lab aiming to develop brain implants...<p>Is there an equivalent of a tin foil hat that is available for subdermal implantation?<p>Kidding aside, military research has resulted in some of the most amazing stuff these days... like the entire space program and velcro.
Resistance is futile you will be assimilated.<p>Google glass is not a moonshot. Google brain implant will be - just think about the SAT scores and all your collect test scores difference for those with brain implant and those without.
On the inevitability human computer interfaces leading to some form of Übermenschine: "We just have to hope that Dick Cheney isn't the first person they plug in."