matrix applied atop androidComputer-brain interfaces are no longer science fiction, raising ethical questions alongside the technical ones.

Researcher weighs pros and cons of biological sensors

For better or worse, biometric recognition devices are already integrated into our everyday lives, says kinesiology professor Francesco Biondi.

“There are the obvious examples: fingerprint scanners that unlock doors and facial recognition that allows payment through a phone,” he writes in an article published Tuesday in the Conversation, which shares news and views from the academic and research community. “But there are other devices that do more than read an image — they can literally read people’s minds.”

A researcher in the Human Systems Lab, Dr. Biondi explores the dynamics of how humans interact with machines and how such interactions affect the cognitive state of the human operator.

While devices such as machine vision systems hold undeniable benefits in uses like detecting distracted driving, Biondi also explores questions related to neuroethics and cognitive freedom:

  • What will happen to the data being harvested and who will have access to it?
  • Should actions undertaken with an implant be governed by the same laws ruling conventional bodily movements?

He concludes: “Personally, I will need to take some more time weighing the pros and cons of biological sensors and devices in my everyday life.”

Read the entire piece, “Smart devices can now read your mood and mind, leading to a new set of concerns about technology and consent,” in the Conversation.

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