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Would you implant your smartphone into your head? | Iris Proff | TEDxMünster


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[Applause] good evening I can see some of you are

good evening I can see some of you are

good evening I can see some of you are still busy with checking the whatsapp

still busy with checking the whatsapp

still busy with checking the whatsapp messages on your phones what if I tell

messages on your phones what if I tell

messages on your phones what if I tell you in the future you might not even

you in the future you might not even

you in the future you might not even have to hold your phone in your hand to

have to hold your phone in your hand to

have to hold your phone in your hand to do this if you had the choice would you

do this if you had the choice would you

do this if you had the choice would you implant your smartphone into your head

let us do a thought experiment and try

let us do a thought experiment and try to imagine what it would be like if we

to imagine what it would be like if we

to imagine what it would be like if we lived in a world where this would be

lived in a world where this would be

lived in a world where this would be possible in that world you could access

possible in that world you could access

possible in that world you could access all the functions of your phone using

all the functions of your phone using

all the functions of your phone using your thoughts everything that you

your thoughts everything that you

your thoughts everything that you usually see on the screen would be

usually see on the screen would be

usually see on the screen would be displayed into your visual space sitting

displayed into your visual space sitting

displayed into your visual space sitting here and listening to me you can look up

here and listening to me you can look up

here and listening to me you can look up who was this guy called Alan musk again

who was this guy called Alan musk again

who was this guy called Alan musk again just by thinking about him the answer

just by thinking about him the answer

just by thinking about him the answer including a nice picture of mr. musk

including a nice picture of mr. musk

including a nice picture of mr. musk would instantly be displayed in front of

would instantly be displayed in front of

would instantly be displayed in front of you with a quick thought command you can

you with a quick thought command you can

you with a quick thought command you can share what you see and hear with a

share what you see and hear with a

share what you see and hear with a friend in Hong Kong who can participate

friend in Hong Kong who can participate

friend in Hong Kong who can participate as if he would be here with us

as if he would be here with us

as if he would be here with us oh if you happen to not like the talk at

oh if you happen to not like the talk at

oh if you happen to not like the talk at all you can have a thought conversation

all you can have a thought conversation

all you can have a thought conversation with your neighbour about what you had

with your neighbour about what you had

with your neighbour about what you had for lunch none of this would require any

for lunch none of this would require any

for lunch none of this would require any effort it would feel as natural and

effort it would feel as natural and

effort it would feel as natural and intuitive as thinking is does it sound

intuitive as thinking is does it sound

intuitive as thinking is does it sound great or terrible or maybe not so

great or terrible or maybe not so

great or terrible or maybe not so different from what we do today maybe

different from what we do today maybe

different from what we do today maybe you feel like that scenario is just some

you feel like that scenario is just some

you feel like that scenario is just some wild science fiction but I guarantee you

wild science fiction but I guarantee you

wild science fiction but I guarantee you it is not as of the grid as it might

it is not as of the grid as it might

it is not as of the grid as it might seem

seem

seem today tech companies and scientists all

today tech companies and scientists all

today tech companies and scientists all around the world work on the development

around the world work on the development

around the world work on the development of technologies that cross a new

of technologies that cross a new

of technologies that cross a new frontier the frontier of our skin it is

frontier the frontier of our skin it is

frontier the frontier of our skin it is very likely that during our lifetime

very likely that during our lifetime

very likely that during our lifetime summer

summer

summer are going to integrate some

are going to integrate some

are going to integrate some technological device into our heads

technological device into our heads

technological device into our heads there are two basic ingredients that we

there are two basic ingredients that we

there are two basic ingredients that we will need to make such a device the

will need to make such a device the

will need to make such a device the first one is all about perception we

first one is all about perception we

first one is all about perception we would have to turn our eyes into this

would have to turn our eyes into this

would have to turn our eyes into this place in order to melt our perception of

place in order to melt our perception of

place in order to melt our perception of the outside world our front yard the

the outside world our front yard the

the outside world our front yard the metro station with our virtual world our

metro station with our virtual world our

metro station with our virtual world our Facebook and our email account this

Facebook and our email account this

Facebook and our email account this blending of the two worlds we live in is

blending of the two worlds we live in is

blending of the two worlds we live in is called augmented reality already today

called augmented reality already today

called augmented reality already today you can buy glasses like microsoft’s

you can buy glasses like microsoft’s

you can buy glasses like microsoft’s hololens that do exactly that

hololens that do exactly that

hololens that do exactly that they display some text information or

they display some text information or

they display some text information or some funny colorful arrows into your

some funny colorful arrows into your

some funny colorful arrows into your visual fields that help you say install

visual fields that help you say install

visual fields that help you say install a washing machine in your home in the

a washing machine in your home in the

a washing machine in your home in the future instead of using these kind of

future instead of using these kind of

future instead of using these kind of nasty glasses the display could be

nasty glasses the display could be

nasty glasses the display could be integrated into an elegant contact lens

integrated into an elegant contact lens

integrated into an elegant contact lens that is implanted into the eye currently

that is implanted into the eye currently

that is implanted into the eye currently Google Samsung and Sony are working on

Google Samsung and Sony are working on

Google Samsung and Sony are working on the development of smart lenses that

the development of smart lenses that

the development of smart lenses that project images on the eye or that allow

project images on the eye or that allow

project images on the eye or that allow you to make furrows using eye movements

you to make furrows using eye movements

you to make furrows using eye movements let’s have a look at the second

let’s have a look at the second

let’s have a look at the second ingredient when we use our phone in

ingredient when we use our phone in

ingredient when we use our phone in daily life we do not only want to

daily life we do not only want to

daily life we do not only want to perceive information on it but we want

perceive information on it but we want

perceive information on it but we want to interact with that information we

to interact with that information we

to interact with that information we want to scroll through pages search

want to scroll through pages search

want to scroll through pages search things in the web sent messages to do

things in the web sent messages to do

things in the web sent messages to do that we use our thumbs on the screen

that we use our thumbs on the screen

that we use our thumbs on the screen would it be possible to do the same

would it be possible to do the same

would it be possible to do the same thing using our thoughts there is no

thing using our thoughts there is no

thing using our thoughts there is no such device that looks at your brain and

such device that looks at your brain and

such device that looks at your brain and recognizes that you think damn it I

recognizes that you think damn it I

recognizes that you think damn it I forgot Peters birthday today call him

forgot Peters birthday today call him

forgot Peters birthday today call him now but what is possible is to recognize

now but what is possible is to recognize

now but what is possible is to recognize basic building blocks of your thoughts

basic building blocks of your thoughts

basic building blocks of your thoughts for example we can say given the

for example we can say given the

for example we can say given the activity in your brain

activity in your brain

activity in your brain there was a 74% chance that you are

there was a 74% chance that you are

there was a 74% chance that you are thinking about the letter B right now

thinking about the letter B right now

thinking about the letter B right now the technique to do that is called brain

the technique to do that is called brain

the technique to do that is called brain computer interface and it is applied

computer interface and it is applied

computer interface and it is applied mainly for a paralyzed patient

mainly for a paralyzed patient

mainly for a paralyzed patient they can use the interface to

they can use the interface to

they can use the interface to communicate with the outside world

communicate with the outside world

communicate with the outside world without moving at all using their

without moving at all using their

without moving at all using their thoughts they can write or control a

thoughts they can write or control a

thoughts they can write or control a cursor on a computer screen in order to

cursor on a computer screen in order to

cursor on a computer screen in order to do that however they have to wear a cap

do that however they have to wear a cap

do that however they have to wear a cap with electrodes on the head they need to

with electrodes on the head they need to

with electrodes on the head they need to be wired to a computer and the set of

be wired to a computer and the set of

be wired to a computer and the set of things that they can actually do with it

things that they can actually do with it

things that they can actually do with it is pretty limited so it is not really

is pretty limited so it is not really

is pretty limited so it is not really practical to use for everyone in

practical to use for everyone in

practical to use for everyone in everyday life but there was a bunch of

everyday life but there was a bunch of

everyday life but there was a bunch of research going on that tries to make the

research going on that tries to make the

research going on that tries to make the same technology applicable for healthy

same technology applicable for healthy

same technology applicable for healthy people and to integrate it into the body

people and to integrate it into the body

people and to integrate it into the body last year Silicon Valley superstar Alan

last year Silicon Valley superstar Alan

last year Silicon Valley superstar Alan musk founded a new company it seems like

musk founded a new company it seems like

musk founded a new company it seems like he got boards by building spaceships and

he got boards by building spaceships and

he got boards by building spaceships and electric cars and now he wants to build

electric cars and now he wants to build

electric cars and now he wants to build a device that is implanted into the

a device that is implanted into the

a device that is implanted into the brain and that makes healthy people do

brain and that makes healthy people do

brain and that makes healthy people do things with their thoughts the idea is

things with their thoughts the idea is

things with their thoughts the idea is simple the implementation is

simple the implementation is

simple the implementation is ridiculously complicated because much of

ridiculously complicated because much of

ridiculously complicated because much of how the human brain encodes information

how the human brain encodes information

how the human brain encodes information is still a mystery but this moment here

is still a mystery but this moment here

is still a mystery but this moment here now it’s not the peak of technology

now it’s not the peak of technology

now it’s not the peak of technology scary things are about to crawl out of

scary things are about to crawl out of

scary things are about to crawl out of Silicon Valley and the most scary thing

Silicon Valley and the most scary thing

Silicon Valley and the most scary thing is because these things happen in little

is because these things happen in little

is because these things happen in little digestible steps rather than in one

digestible steps rather than in one

digestible steps rather than in one revolutionary leap of development they

revolutionary leap of development they

revolutionary leap of development they will probably feel normal as we go so

will probably feel normal as we go so

will probably feel normal as we go so let’s try and keep a critical distance

let’s try and keep a critical distance

let’s try and keep a critical distance here we are if we could combine a brain

here we are if we could combine a brain

here we are if we could combine a brain computer interface with augmented

computer interface with augmented

computer interface with augmented reality and plant them into our eyes and

reality and plant them into our eyes and

reality and plant them into our eyes and brain and wirelessly connect them to a

brain and wirelessly connect them to a

brain and wirelessly connect them to a computer we would have the magic done we

computer we would have the magic done we

computer we would have the magic done we would have a smartphone integrated into

would have a smartphone integrated into

would have a smartphone integrated into our head it is not at all off the grid

our head it is not at all off the grid

our head it is not at all off the grid to wonder about that scenario so here

to wonder about that scenario so here

to wonder about that scenario so here comes the important part of the question

comes the important part of the question

comes the important part of the question do we want

do we want

do we want to melt with technology do we want to

to melt with technology do we want to

to melt with technology do we want to become cyborgs with magical abilities

become cyborgs with magical abilities

become cyborgs with magical abilities my first intuitive answer to that

my first intuitive answer to that

my first intuitive answer to that question was hell no I love to climb

question was hell no I love to climb

question was hell no I love to climb mountains I love to dive in the ocean I

mountains I love to dive in the ocean I

mountains I love to dive in the ocean I love to have conversations with people

love to have conversations with people

love to have conversations with people made of flesh and blood I get depressed

made of flesh and blood I get depressed

made of flesh and blood I get depressed by spending the whole day in front of a

by spending the whole day in front of a

by spending the whole day in front of a computer screen and I feel like already

computer screen and I feel like already

computer screen and I feel like already today I depend on technology far too

today I depend on technology far too

today I depend on technology far too much and I certainly do not want it to

much and I certainly do not want it to

much and I certainly do not want it to enter my last resort

enter my last resort

enter my last resort my natural body but then I thought about

my natural body but then I thought about

my natural body but then I thought about it again and does it really matter if

it again and does it really matter if

it again and does it really matter if the technology I use is located inside

the technology I use is located inside

the technology I use is located inside my pocket or inside my hand technology

my pocket or inside my hand technology

my pocket or inside my hand technology is a crucial part of how I interact with

is a crucial part of how I interact with

is a crucial part of how I interact with the world I use my smartphone for

the world I use my smartphone for

the world I use my smartphone for communication for orientation to store

communication for orientation to store

communication for orientation to store memories on it I also a part of my

memories on it I also a part of my

memories on it I also a part of my thinking to it in that sense my

thinking to it in that sense my

thinking to it in that sense my smartphone is a part of me I already am

smartphone is a part of me I already am

smartphone is a part of me I already am a cyborg

a cyborg

a cyborg implanting the same functions I used

implanting the same functions I used

implanting the same functions I used today into my head just represents a

today into my head just represents a

today into my head just represents a more direct form of access to them if we

more direct form of access to them if we

more direct form of access to them if we are so afraid of what technology will do

are so afraid of what technology will do

are so afraid of what technology will do to us once it is located inside of our

to us once it is located inside of our

to us once it is located inside of our body we should also be concerned about

body we should also be concerned about

body we should also be concerned about what it does to us today why do we feel

what it does to us today why do we feel

what it does to us today why do we feel like we get lost in a virtual world at

like we get lost in a virtual world at

like we get lost in a virtual world at times I believe this happens simply

times I believe this happens simply

times I believe this happens simply because very often we use technology in

because very often we use technology in

because very often we use technology in an unhealthy way if you cannot have a

an unhealthy way if you cannot have a

an unhealthy way if you cannot have a conversation with your friends without

conversation with your friends without

conversation with your friends without checking the messages on your phone

checking the messages on your phone

checking the messages on your phone every five minutes that’s not the fault

every five minutes that’s not the fault

every five minutes that’s not the fault of whatsapp if you feel like your

of whatsapp if you feel like your

of whatsapp if you feel like your understanding of what goes on in the

understanding of what goes on in the

understanding of what goes on in the world becomes more and more superficial

world becomes more and more superficial

world becomes more and more superficial that’s not the fault of media and if you

that’s not the fault of media and if you

that’s not the fault of media and if you cannot find the way to your grandma’s

cannot find the way to your grandma’s

cannot find the way to your grandma’s place on your own even though you drove

place on your own even though you drove

place on your own even though you drove there for a million times

there for a million times

there for a million times that’s not the fault of Google Maps if

that’s not the fault of Google Maps if

that’s not the fault of Google Maps if you feel like any of the ways you use

you feel like any of the ways you use

you feel like any of the ways you use technology is not doing you good then

technology is not doing you good then

technology is not doing you good then it’s up to you to change it train

it’s up to you to change it train

it’s up to you to change it train yourself communicate digitally but be

yourself communicate digitally but be

yourself communicate digitally but be able to put your phone away when you

able to put your phone away when you

able to put your phone away when you want to immerse in a real-life

want to immerse in a real-life

want to immerse in a real-life conversation focus on some comprehensive

conversation focus on some comprehensive

conversation focus on some comprehensive articles instead of getting distracted

articles instead of getting distracted

articles instead of getting distracted by random headlines of trashy news use

by random headlines of trashy news use

by random headlines of trashy news use Google Maps once and next time try to

Google Maps once and next time try to

Google Maps once and next time try to find the way from your own memory

find the way from your own memory

find the way from your own memory technology is not good or bad it is a

technology is not good or bad it is a

technology is not good or bad it is a powerful tool that is at our disposal

powerful tool that is at our disposal

powerful tool that is at our disposal and there are better ways to make use of

and there are better ways to make use of

and there are better ways to make use of it and worse once it’s up to you to

it and worse once it’s up to you to

it and worse once it’s up to you to judge I found a powerful criterion that

judge I found a powerful criterion that

judge I found a powerful criterion that works for myself I want to use

works for myself I want to use

works for myself I want to use technology only in a way that enables me

technology only in a way that enables me

technology only in a way that enables me to dive deeper in the real world what do

to dive deeper in the real world what do

to dive deeper in the real world what do I mean by that earlier this year I spent

I mean by that earlier this year I spent

I mean by that earlier this year I spent some time traveling in Brazil which was

some time traveling in Brazil which was

some time traveling in Brazil which was a mind-opening experience my phone

a mind-opening experience my phone

a mind-opening experience my phone helped me to share this experience has

helped me to share this experience has

helped me to share this experience has helped me to find couchsurfing hosts

helped me to find couchsurfing hosts

helped me to find couchsurfing hosts Brazilians made of flesh and blood who

Brazilians made of flesh and blood who

Brazilians made of flesh and blood who welcomed me at their homes it’s enabled

welcomed me at their homes it’s enabled

welcomed me at their homes it’s enabled me to join hippie communities in the

me to join hippie communities in the

me to join hippie communities in the middle of the jungle planting cacao and

middle of the jungle planting cacao and

middle of the jungle planting cacao and banana trees thanks to different

banana trees thanks to different

banana trees thanks to different language learning apps I taught myself

language learning apps I taught myself

language learning apps I taught myself Portuguese so I could discuss everything

Portuguese so I could discuss everything

Portuguese so I could discuss everything from Brazilian politics to Chaeronea

from Brazilian politics to Chaeronea

from Brazilian politics to Chaeronea recipes with anyone I met if I use it in

recipes with anyone I met if I use it in

recipes with anyone I met if I use it in the right way my phone becomes a vehicle

the right way my phone becomes a vehicle

the right way my phone becomes a vehicle to immerse myself in the world in ways

to immerse myself in the world in ways

to immerse myself in the world in ways that my grandma wouldn’t even dream

that my grandma wouldn’t even dream

that my grandma wouldn’t even dream about playing candy crush on the other

about playing candy crush on the other

about playing candy crush on the other hand does certainly not fulfill that

hand does certainly not fulfill that

hand does certainly not fulfill that criterion of connecting me to the world

criterion of connecting me to the world

criterion of connecting me to the world it sets me apart from it when we take

it sets me apart from it when we take

it sets me apart from it when we take technology to the next level and melt

technology to the next level and melt

technology to the next level and melt our bodies with it a whole bunch of new

our bodies with it a whole bunch of new

our bodies with it a whole bunch of new options how to interact will pop up in

options how to interact will pop up in

options how to interact will pop up in the newer technology universe there were

the newer technology universe there were

the newer technology universe there were wild speculations going on about thought

wild speculations going on about thought

wild speculations going on about thought communication about virtually beaming

communication about virtually beaming

communication about virtually beaming yourself to another part of the world

yourself to another part of the world

yourself to another part of the world about moving things in your environment

about moving things in your environment

about moving things in your environment with your brain

with your brain

with your brain no one knows which of these options will

no one knows which of these options will

no one knows which of these options will become true let alone when there will

become true let alone when there will

become true let alone when there will become true but what is certain is that

become true but what is certain is that

become true but what is certain is that a multitude of very difficult ethical

a multitude of very difficult ethical

a multitude of very difficult ethical issues would arise if we wire our brains

issues would arise if we wire our brains

issues would arise if we wire our brains to the Internet how will they change

to the Internet how will they change

to the Internet how will they change social interactions how can we make sure

social interactions how can we make sure

social interactions how can we make sure that Mark Zuckerberg doesn’t track

that Mark Zuckerberg doesn’t track

that Mark Zuckerberg doesn’t track everything we do and think what does

everything we do and think what does

everything we do and think what does privacy even mean in such a world ask

privacy even mean in such a world ask

privacy even mean in such a world ask these questions to any tech guru in

these questions to any tech guru in

these questions to any tech guru in Silicon Valley and with a fancy sorry

Silicon Valley and with a fancy sorry

Silicon Valley and with a fancy sorry letter in his hand he will swipe your

letter in his hand he will swipe your

letter in his hand he will swipe your ethical concerns away with his one

ethical concerns away with his one

ethical concerns away with his one killer argument Hey look he will tell

killer argument Hey look he will tell

killer argument Hey look he will tell you every new technology in the history

you every new technology in the history

you every new technology in the history of humanity had good sides and bad sides

of humanity had good sides and bad sides

of humanity had good sides and bad sides and people always worried but would you

and people always worried but would you

and people always worried but would you want to go back to 1852 riding around in

want to go back to 1852 riding around in

want to go back to 1852 riding around in a stupid carriage no well then here we

a stupid carriage no well then here we

a stupid carriage no well then here we go let me why your brain to computer now

go let me why your brain to computer now

go let me why your brain to computer now but this is not a good argument

but this is not a good argument

but this is not a good argument we cannot just project what happened in

we cannot just project what happened in

we cannot just project what happened in the past to the future we have to deal

the past to the future we have to deal

the past to the future we have to deal with the issues Google and Facebook are

with the issues Google and Facebook are

with the issues Google and Facebook are not intrinsically evil but it lies in

not intrinsically evil but it lies in

not intrinsically evil but it lies in their very nature to be driven by

their very nature to be driven by

their very nature to be driven by economic motives rather than by

economic motives rather than by

economic motives rather than by idealistic ones let us not leave the

idealistic ones let us not leave the

idealistic ones let us not leave the stage to them when it comes to designing

stage to them when it comes to designing

stage to them when it comes to designing our future because there is simply not

our future because there is simply not

our future because there is simply not their task it is our task if we don’t

their task it is our task if we don’t

their task it is our task if we don’t want to live in the technological utopia

want to live in the technological utopia

want to live in the technological utopia that the CEOs in San Francisco are

that the CEOs in San Francisco are

that the CEOs in San Francisco are dreaming of we better have a counter

dreaming of we better have a counter

dreaming of we better have a counter concept how do we want technology to

concept how do we want technology to

concept how do we want technology to shape our future in order to answer this

shape our future in order to answer this

shape our future in order to answer this question we must leave our role as naive

question we must leave our role as naive

question we must leave our role as naive consumers behind we have to pick out of

consumers behind we have to pick out of

consumers behind we have to pick out of the pool of possible technological tools

the pool of possible technological tools

the pool of possible technological tools those that enable us to do things better

those that enable us to do things better

those that enable us to do things better those that connect us to the world

those that connect us to the world

those that connect us to the world and don’t set us apart from it we need

and don’t set us apart from it we need

and don’t set us apart from it we need public discussion about the ethics

public discussion about the ethics

public discussion about the ethics behind the hot new ideas and building on

behind the hot new ideas and building on

behind the hot new ideas and building on that discussion we can create political

that discussion we can create political

that discussion we can create political organizations that can control the

organizations that can control the

organizations that can control the growing power of tech companies they can

growing power of tech companies they can

growing power of tech companies they can make laws that guarantee that we as

make laws that guarantee that we as

make laws that guarantee that we as users always stay in full control that

users always stay in full control that

users always stay in full control that there’s always the option to turn off

there’s always the option to turn off

there’s always the option to turn off the phone in your head they can set

the phone in your head they can set

the phone in your head they can set financial incentives to create

financial incentives to create

financial incentives to create non-abusive technologies technologies

non-abusive technologies technologies

non-abusive technologies technologies that serve society and they do not

that serve society and they do not

that serve society and they do not disrupt it because why would anyone

disrupt it because why would anyone

disrupt it because why would anyone create a non abusive technology if you

create a non abusive technology if you

create a non abusive technology if you can make much more money with an abusive

can make much more money with an abusive

can make much more money with an abusive one that is what we should work but most

one that is what we should work but most

one that is what we should work but most importantly let us not be so emotional

importantly let us not be so emotional

importantly let us not be so emotional about the whole topic we shouldn’t be

about the whole topic we shouldn’t be

about the whole topic we shouldn’t be afraid of technological progress per se

afraid of technological progress per se

afraid of technological progress per se but we shouldn’t follow it with blind

but we shouldn’t follow it with blind

but we shouldn’t follow it with blind enthusiasm either neither of these is a

enthusiasm either neither of these is a

enthusiasm either neither of these is a constructive attitude let us make a

constructive attitude let us make a

constructive attitude let us make a conscious choice as individuals as we

conscious choice as individuals as we

conscious choice as individuals as we choose how to consume technology every

choose how to consume technology every

choose how to consume technology every day and a society as we go about

day and a society as we go about

day and a society as we go about designing our future I am looking

designing our future I am looking

designing our future I am looking forward to immerse myself in the world

forward to immerse myself in the world

forward to immerse myself in the world in ways that I cannot even conceive of

in ways that I cannot even conceive of

in ways that I cannot even conceive of today and one day I might have planned a

today and one day I might have planned a

today and one day I might have planned a smartphone into my head it does sound

smartphone into my head it does sound

smartphone into my head it does sound scary but I believe once we found

scary but I believe once we found

scary but I believe once we found solutions for our concerns this might in

solutions for our concerns this might in

solutions for our concerns this might in which my being in the world I will still

which my being in the world I will still

which my being in the world I will still be human or say as human as I am today

be human or say as human as I am today

be human or say as human as I am today what about you thank you

”

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