Where do men end and machines begin? It’s a question that scientists and ethical philosophers are asking much more seriously at the moment. We all begin to wonder this when we’ve spent four hours online looking for holiday deals, or the best savings rates – technology has become so immersive, particularly in the field of computer games, that we are looking at the dawning of true virtual reality in the next few decades. But the ethics of man combined with machine, particularly in the field of neurotechnology is concerning some. So concerned are they that the highly esteemed Nuffield Council on Bioethics has launched a consultation to look into the issue. The concern centers around the use of mind controlled machines, which are in development at the moment. Neurotechnology: Scientists are already using Deep brain stimulation (DBS) to treat Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, OCD and stroke, with the use of electrodes passed into the brain and out to a battery pack attached to the body. Source: The Coming Crisis
