mendax.org

While surfing various articles today, I ran across a truly disturbing idea posted on Computerworld.com’s site. The article discusses “hybrid” computers. At first, I was thinking that they found a better, more energy efficient way to run computers. The annoying “going green” phenomenon is so hot right now. (Reference ridiculous “green” weak on NBC. Barf.) But no. It was not a “going green” article. In fact, it was just the opposite. It detailed an idea so disturbing, I’m still a little queezy.

So what’s the article about? Using organic material in computers. Now, I know, I know. This is nothing all that new. There have been numerous sci-fi movies about computers with organic material in them (i.e. Terminator… I still can’t believe The Terminator is my governor. *sigh*). What gets me is the actual reality of these abominations. The scientist in the article said that he successfully used the brain and eyes of a moth in a robot. The robot was able to use the moth eyes and recognize when things were in its path, thus avoiding the obstacle. *vurp* So disgusting.

I’m not the kind of person who goes all sappy about animals normally, especially insects, because, frankly, insects are pretty disgusting for the most part. But come on!!! This guy is talking about using the parts of animals and, in effect, reanimating them. Did Victor Hugo’s novel teach us nothing? You tread on very unstable ground when you start messing with life in this way. The scientist was actually talking about one day “growing human brains” to use in cyborgs. He’s equated “growing” hearts for transplants with growing human brains.

The moral issues surrounding such an idea is vast. The fact that hippies aren’t jumping all over this one is mind-boggling to me. They can sit in trees for a year, but they can’t protest the use of human brains in robots? Once again… I hate hippies. The one time they can be useful and they don’t raise a fuss about this? How I hate the hippies. Stupid, smelly, dirty hippies.

I just honestly can’t believe that society is going to embrace this idea. What happens when you stimulate a “grown” brain? Will the cloned brain have a consciousness? Does human consciousness imply there is a soul present? What constitutes a soul? Does such a thing exist? Will the brain ever become conscious enough to make decisions on its own? Will it have emotions? Yes, electrical impulses can be controlled by the operator, but what actually happens when electricity is applied to the brain? Will we ever really know? Do we take the chance of crossing boundaries that maybe we were never meant to cross?

All I could imagine while reading that article was the image of severed moth eyeballs mounted like a trophy in some cold metal robot. Which led me to imagine severed human eyes… mounted in a cold metal robot… lifeless and disturbing.

How did we get to this place where people could consider this to be an acceptable path?

Popularity: 4% [?]