Two scenarios popped into my mind the first time I watched The Matrix almost 20 years ago.
First, I pictured how cool it would be to learn something by simply having a specific programme “uploaded” to my brain. I didn’t even want much – perhaps just 10 percent of Mika Hakkinen’s driving abilities.
Next, I imagined being able to truly immerse myself into a virtual reality. I could literally play out my Die Hard fantasies by eliminating an entire building full of baddies – all without leaving the comfort of a recliner.
However, when I realised that I would need to have a permanent hole in the back of my head to enable me to be plugged in, I decided that I didn’t want any of these fantasies to come true after all.
One question always lingers at the back of my mind, though – would it be possible for us to play computer games telepathically?
The thought is certainly appealing. Being able to close my eyes, lie back and play my favourite game without a keyboard, mouse or control pad sure sounds like fun.
Typing stories would become a thing of the past. All I’d have to do is wear a special headset and a pair of goggles, recall what I felt and experienced during a drive, and the words would appear and arrange themselves on-screen.
Recently, I chanced upon an article in a magazine about scientists who had managed brain-to-brain communication between two individuals in two different countries.
In a nutshell, one person managed to say “Hello” to the other person just by thinking it. His thoughts/brainwaves were captured by a brain-computer interface, translated into impulses and sent over the Internet. The other guy received said impulses and supposedly understood what they meant.
The scientists estimated that the data transmission speed was around two bits per minute. So at this point, the technology is in its infancy.
Naturally, I couldn’t help thinking that someday, it could be possible to drive our cars with our minds.
Yes, one might argue that the fun in driving is using our senses and our limbs to drive a car.
But, since our bodies only move because our brains tell them to, driving essentially starts and ends in our minds.
So, if you can think of a manoeuvre that your car could perform, without bending the laws of physics, driving could become even more pleasurable.
Braking, downshifting, turning and accelerating could all be done at the speed of thought. You could picture your car taking corners cleanly, and it would do exactly that.
But in reality, this technology would never be safely used.Imagine, for instance, dozens of cars all gunning for the same gap in traffic. Vehicles would crash into each other as they aimed for the same parking space.
Now picture motorcyclists and personal mobility device (PMD) users also using the same technology. It would be utter chaos.
Ironically, the only way we could safely control cars, motorcycles, e-bikes and e-scooters with our minds is to ensure that every motorist and PMD user submits to an advanced system that oversees everything.
Hmm, that sounds like the premise of The Matrix.
Drivers having the power to drive at the speed of thought – it’s a scary thought indeed.
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