A NOVEL STRATEGY FOR COUPLING DATA INTOTHE HUMAN NERVOUS SYSTEM

摘要

Research up to the present has led to the demonstration of reliable prototypicalrndevices that use sensory substitution to prosthetically restore lost sensory function. Therernare three envisioned paths of future development. First, and most urgent from the medicalrnperspective, is the development of robust and relatively inexpensive implementations ofrnthe technology to make it accessible to a wide range of patients suffering sensory loss.rnSecond, and perhaps most significant in the long run, the technology enables a wholernrange of non-invasive low-risk experiments with human subjects to gain a deeperrnunderstanding of brain plasticity and cognitive mechanisms. Third, and most relevant tornnuclear power plant operators, moving beyond the restoration of lost senses, it should bernpossible to use the same technology to expand human sensibilities, for example, enablingrnthe user to monitor the state of the power plant by direct subjective experience of the datarnstream generated by the plant's sensors.