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From: wrs@pupthy.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: Input device
Message-ID: <205@pupthy.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 29-Jan-87 12:42:58 EST
Article-I.D.: pupthy.205
Posted: Thu Jan 29 12:42:58 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 30-Jan-87 06:02:02 EST
References: <4188@utah-cs.UUCP> <1165@hope.UUCP> <851@mecc.MECC.COM> <3949@sdcrdcf.UUCP> <408@psu-cs.UUCP>
Reply-To: wrs@pupthy.UUCP (William R. Somsky)
Distribution: na
Organization: Physcis Dept, Princeton Univ
Lines: 53
Keywords: brain

Larry Wall <lwall@sdcrdcf.UUCP> writes:

>> Here's the computer terminal I want:
>>
>> Text input by subvocalization.  A few sensors on the appropriate nerves
>> should do.
>> Alternate text input by analysis of sound, when desired.
>> Pointing input by looking at what you want to point at.
>> Graphic input by scanning the image on your retina, 
>        [...]
>> Okay, that's the spec.  Who wants to implement it?
>> I'd suggest biocircuits so you can power it via ATP.

Shannon Nelson <nelsons@psu-cs.UUCP> writes:

>  While we're at it, let's attach this computer to the top of the
>  medula oblongata.  It can then take care of all of the bodily
>  functions, and we can hide it inside the huge cavity behind the
>  eyes, right between the ears...   :-)

   I had thought about this at one time.  (The beginnings of a sci-fi
story that never went anywhere.)  There isn't really that much extra
room inside the skull.  The scenario I envisioned went something like
this:

   The computer, plus a fuel cell for power, is about the size of a
fist.  One kidney is surgically removed, and the computer/fuel-cell
is placed in the vacated space.  (You can get along quite well with
one kidney, but keep the removed one in cryogenic storage, just in
case the remaining one goes bad.)

   Now, the displaced kidney was connected to a major vein and artery,
so those connections are tied into the fuel cell.  The fuel cell then
leaches oxygen and simple sugars out of the blood stream, oxidizes the
sugars to generate electrical power for the computer, and deposits the
waste products back in the blood stream to be removed by the remaining
kidney.

   The computer is tied directly into the brain via optical fibers
runing up the spinal column to diverse areas of the cerebral cortex.
The computer-to-brain fibers terminate in modified retinal neurons
to couple the optical signals into the neural pathways of the brain.
The brain-to-computer fibers originate in special bioluminescent
neurons to feed the neural signals of the brain back to the computer.
(These special neurons are something for the genetic engineering
boys/girls to work out.)

   Now THAT would be computer interfacing! :-)

Quote:  "Sorry, CapCom, but I've got a failure with my on-board computer!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
William R. Somsky                          Physics Dept ; Princeton Univ
wrs@pupthy.PRINCETON.EDU                 PO Box 708 ; Princeton NJ 08544