Too much Sci-Fi? Loading OS's on humans.

[cheawick]

Working 12 hour shifts (plus) does silly things to ones mind, I'm sure. But I wound up in a rather plausible conversation and would like to hear others thoughts.

One night this week I was freezing my tail off with two other fellows in a "guard shack" on Eglin Air Force Base, when this strange conversation got started.

So as not to write a story I'll just throw this out as a solid note.

The basis was a comparison of the human brain with a computer. We all agreed that both are similar in the respect that data signals are equivically binary (on and off signals).
The only difference is the interpertation of those signals (BIOS?).

Long story short, we all agreed that given the propper research, an operating system for a computer could be installed on the human brain (Linux, Mac, Windows... etc), and periphials could be intergrated into the human body to interact with other computers or other external devices.

Just wonderig what other folk think of this off the wall concept.

[Belisarius]

Not that off the wall for Sci-Fi. You should watch Ghost in the Shell sometime (click on the link in my .sig).

[cheawick]

Saw the first movie for ghost in the shell, haven't checked the out series or the second movie.

[Belisarius]

The second movie was great, but you really need to be into Ghost in the Shell to appreciate it, I think. It's more of a device for a philosophical discussion than a typical movie. As for the TV show . . . some of the best stuff ever put onto the small screen.

As to the main subject, they are really two different technologies with a similar purpose. The brain uses chemical reactions in addition to electricity, whereas the computer uses magnetism in addition to electricity. Further, whereas the computer has evolved around the von Neumann architecture, the brain has evolved, in a more literal sense, in a manner we're still trying to figure it out. While it might be very possible to create a facade that appears similar to Linux or Windows, that would mask the tremendous differences in the underlying interactions. For instance, how would an OS operate in a system that lacked a CPU?

[cheawick]

What timing! I just picked up the second GitS movie by chance browsing a local store. Since you deem the series so highly, I'll have to take a stab at renting it after all.

As for that missing CPU, I would think that it would be a virtual CPU. What ever interface is made to allow the human mind to access the "machine" language I'd wager would emulate both the BIOS and CPU.
Think of it like the artificial limbs that are emerging, some say that they can transmit hot or cold sensations. I remember reading an article (in popular mechanics perhaps?) that one even goes as far as to detect varying degrees of pressure, kinda like the sense of touch but with out actually being able to feel. You know you are touching something, but is it a rock or your mates tender arm.

I'll try to find that article again. Chances are I probably tossed it though.

[cheawick]

Hmm. Finally watched the second movie. I think I'll have to watch it a few more times. This movie is very "dark" compared to the first one. Sadly, they do not use "The Major" to her newfound extent. I wanted to see more of the NET action. Ah well.