Put your thinking caps on.....

[Eskay]

The process is called transcranial magnetic stimulation. Its used widely already in medical treatments for strokes and parkinsons. It's use for this was just given FDA approval in the US, its been around a lot longer in the rest of the world. Interestingly its well documented in use for debilitating part of the brain (e.g. an impulse applied to a certain point to inhibit the ability to count). What the article in the OP is suggesting is doing the opposite, to improve the abilities of parts of the brain. Makes it seem a whole less far fetched.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcranial_magnetic_stimulation#TMS_for_therapeutic_purposes

The use in the article I posted was experimentally for other purposes. I'm not definite on this but the technology doesn't look particularly expensive, though downsizing it for personal unimpeded use (say at a desk) might be a different game.

One of the more interesting uses alluded to is that it brings out abilities people may be unaware of. Imagine the potential of being able to paint a beautiful picture at the flick of a switch. The popularity would be outstanding.

Besides, who doesn't want a team of enhanced super-scientists working to bring them new stuff. If this thing can get me a hovercar then i'm all for it.

Provided it can be turned off, and indeed has no permanent effects,

It appears to be non-permanent and is only on when the device is physically on you.

Or if we're actually on Earth it will just lead to a whole new way for us to destroy eachother. Sometimes I do wish we wouldn't be such a destructive-natured species.

Edit; another thing just came to me: is it possible for a human to fully understand how our brain works? I mean, surely we can't reach the level where it is fully understood how the thing works. Seems to me we can only understand stuff that we can get our heads around, but how do you get your head around your own head?

They can build self replicating machines. I'm guessing you're the more cynical sort from your comment, but if the mind is merely a biological machine then there should be no problem. Like quantum physics, just because its bloody complicated and no agreement doesn't mean its not possible

 

[Rhayn]

Or if we're actually on Earth it will just lead to a whole new way for us to destroy eachother. Sometimes I do wish we wouldn't be such a destructive-natured species.

Edit; another thing just came to me: is it possible for a human to fully understand how our brain works? I mean, surely we can't reach the level where it is fully understood how the thing works. Seems to me we can only understand stuff that we can get our heads around, but how do you get your head around your own head?

They can build self replicating machines. I'm guessing you're the more cynical sort from your comment, but if the mind is merely a biological machine then there should be no problem. Like quantum physics, just because its bloody complicated and no agreement doesn't mean its not possible

You seem like someone who know's his stuff, so I'll just go ahead and ask you: if we can rise to the level where we utilize our full braincapacity, will we understand fully how the mind works, or will we just be at a level of understanding 'almost the whole thing'?

What I'm trying to get at here is that I find it hard to belive we, with our own brain, can understand exactly to the point how the mind works. I think a perfect understanding would require even more. To feel you got the hang of something you've got to rise to the level where you are 'above' the incoming information. I'm finding this a bit hard to explain, but let's try your example of quantum physics:

I say quantum physics is there to be understood - it's not the ultimate challenge as far as I am concerned. While it is ridiculously hard to get your head around, and belive me, I've tried, I belive it is merely a question of time until we have a complete understanding of quantum physics.

But understanding quantum physics requires a whole lot more than knowing your way around bosons and neutrinos. You have to understand how it's all connected. So, I pose the question: can we, once we've reached our full brain capacity, understand exactly everything about the brain? I say we can't, it would require us to rise above the maximum capacity of our mind, to see how it is indeed all connected.

Perhaps when we learn more and more about our own brain, the brain evolves even more. The whole process of understanding then becomes futile, as our own brain is meant to keep growing while we learn, unlocking more and more as we go. That is what I belive.

I hope you understand, my thoughts aren't exactly easy to get your head around. Heh. Also, I hope you understand I'm not flaming you or anything, merely posing a question. This is something that's very close to my heart, as I'm quite intrested in this stuff. If I've got some basic knowledge of stuff wrong, feel free to tell me, I wouldn't be suprised.

And yes, I'm the cynical sort. I'm not happy about it either, and it saddens me every day that some people go to such lenghts to make other people's life a misery. But that only fuels my own intrest to make this world a better place.

 

[XJ-0461]

Provided it can be turned off, and indeed has no permanent effects, it sounds like a godsend. I'd love to flip a switch to be good at math for a couple hours, even if during those couple hours I can't remember how to eat. Having the option of flipping the switch back off would make it totally acceptable.

I agree with you, on/off switches would make it all right.

 

[TheGreenManalishi]

They're just going to put GPS transmitters in to keep you out of Area 51 and Zyzzyx.

 

[Eskay]

You seem like ...

Flattery will get you everywhere. It won't unfortunately turn me into someone that knows their stuff. Call it amateur interest, if anyone wants to correct me or point me to a good source I'd be rather happy. You haven't come across as flaming at all and raise some very interesting points.

First of all we need to look at brain capacity. The whole 'we only use ten percent of our brain' phrase is rather misleading. As I understand it there is not a dormant 90%, every part of the brain is used, but only 10% is used at once. So there isn't going to be some massive cognitive leap if someone figures out how to use that one day. Disappointing isn't it?

Secondly I think the problem you're having is something along the lines what we historian-ish types like to call perspective. Any observation is always affected by what angle you're looking at the problem from (act of measuring it changes the outcome, sound familiar?). When applied introspectively the problem arises that by learning we alter the subject matter. Am I understanding your point correctly?

If so, the honest answer is I haven't a clue. The trouble is when it comes to brains and sentience, understanding on the whole is basic at best. We don't know what makes people smart or if there's a physical attribute to this. I think we'll be able to fully understand certain aspects of the brain, for instance its role as a sensory organ or motor skill co-ordinator. But as for sentience or being able to form a total understanding of the brain I am less sure.

But enough of my blathering, here's ideas from the smart people...
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19826586.100-is-this-a-unified-theory-of-the-brain.html?page=1

Finally "And yes, I'm the cynical sort. I'm not happy about it either". For some reason I found this line hilarious, call it my macabre sense of humour, but you sir have made my day.

 

[Rhayn]

You seem like ...

Flattery will get you everywhere. It won't unfortunately turn me into someone that knows their stuff. Call it amateur interest, if anyone wants to correct me or point me to a good source I'd be rather happy. You haven't come across as flaming at all and raise some very interesting points.

First of all we need to look at brain capacity. The whole 'we only use ten percent of our brain' phrase is rather misleading. As I understand it there is not a dormant 90%, every part of the brain is used, but only 10% is used at once. So there isn't going to be some massive cognitive leap if someone figures out how to use that one day. Disappointing isn't it?

Secondly I think the problem you're having is something along the lines what we historian-ish types like to call perspective. Any observation is always affected by what angle you're looking at the problem from (act of measuring it changes the outcome, sound familiar?). When applied introspectively the problem arises that by learning we alter the subject matter. Am I understanding your point correctly?

If so, the honest answer is I haven't a clue. The trouble is when it comes to brains and sentience, understanding on the whole is basic at best. We don't know what makes people smart or if there's a physical attribute to this. I think we'll be able to fully understand certain aspects of the brain, for instance its role as a sensory organ or motor skill co-ordinator. But as for sentience or being able to form a total understanding of the brain I am less sure.

But enough of my blathering, here's ideas from the smart people...
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19826586.100-is-this-a-unified-theory-of-the-brain.html?page=1

Finally "And yes, I'm the cynical sort. I'm not happy about it either". For some reason I found this line hilarious, call it my macabre sense of humour, but you sir have made my day.

Ah, you do raise some fair points. You did understand what I was trying to say - I'm suprised too - it was late and I had been studying for a good five hours before.

I'll have to agree with you on

I think we'll be able to fully understand certain aspects of the brain, for instance its role as a sensory organ or motor skill co-ordinator. But as for sentience or being able to form a total understanding of the brain I am less sure.

I haven't got much to add to that, more than 'I agree'.

About the final line again, I understood the hilarity of the sentence myself just 15 minutes after I clicked post and went to sleep. It came out as rather humorous, yes.

 

[Drachknouir]

they are all ready using this tech in the UK. there is a blind women who was given a video camera type eye that is directly connected to her brain and she can actually see with it. look it up on the BBC.

 

[Pumpkin_Eater]

The world is going cyber punk! I for one welcome the change and only wish it could have come twenty years earlier so that I could be in my prime when the cybernetics and net diving are every day occurrences.