Update on Google Brain Plug-In

March 29, 2006

"Perhaps in the future, we can attach a little version of Google that you just plug into your brain," said Sergey Brin a while back. He'll be happy to hear that scientists in Italy have successfully combined living human brain cells with silicon circuits to create a "neuro-chip":

They used special proteins found in the brain to glue brain cells, called neurons, onto the [silicon] chip ... The proteins allowed the neuro-chip's electronic components and its living cells to communicate with each other. Electrical signals from neurons were recorded using the chip's transistors, while the chip's capacitors were used to stimulate the neurons.

I sense the approach of a true revolution in advertising.

Posted by nick at March 29, 2006 06:59 AM

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Comments

Not sure I'd line up for mine, but maybe there are other people for whom it might be useful, if nothing else to avoid making such silly and worrying statements to the press.

Posted by: Gianni at March 29, 2006 12:23 PM

I have the feeling it will end up more like Futurama than Neuromancer.

Posted by: Chris_B at March 30, 2006 12:35 AM

Hmmmmm, a data port hookup on the back of your skull, just like in Star Trek.

But attached to something that, in all likelihood, will more closely resemble SkyNet than the United Federation of Planets.

I'll pass. Thanks anyway.

Posted by: J. Francis Lehman at April 2, 2006 01:53 PM