U.S. Army Pursues Brain-Computer Interface Technology

The U.S. Army is seeking a technology that would allow direct connection between soldiers' brains and computers. According to the British newspaper The Guardian, the advanced technology section of the U.S. Department of Defense, the Pentagon, has unveiled a new research program called 'Designing Systems for Neural Engineering.' The aim of this program is to design and construct an interface that connects the human nervous system directly to a computer. However, the concept of an interface that connects the human brain to a computer is not a new research topic. For years, science fiction stories have discussed the capabilities that might arise from connecting the human brain to a computer, but advancements in robotic technology have not progressed as quickly as those stories suggest, and there is still a long way to go before these stories become reality. Philip Aloudah, one of the managers in the U.S. Army's technology division, states that the best technology we currently have for the relationship between the human brain and computers is akin to connecting two supercomputers via an old internet modem. However, if we can advance our tools, we can give this connection a real form. According to the website of the U.S. Army's advanced research division, potential applications of this project will include creating tools that allow the brain to hear sounds that are inaudible to humans or analyze images in spaces that are invisible to the human eye. Existing technologies for brain-computer communication can connect one hundred to a thousand nerve cells to a computer, but this new program aims not only to increase that number but also to enhance the quality of this connection by reducing background noise. However, a project of this nature requires close collaboration among neuroscientists, biologists, electronic engineers, medical engineers, and others. Each final product must be tested on humans under medical supervision. Although the projects from this center are initially intended for the U.S. Army, the results will ultimately be made available to the public.