I surfed into two completely different links but they both give us a hint about what is waiting around the corner.

Honda connects brain thoughts with robotics

The first one is about robotics controlled by brain. From my perspective, robotics and humanoids is an area that is taking off the years to come. See also humanoids – the next generation.

Honda managed to interpret a mans brain pattern when he thought about lifting his right hand. They converted it to a command to the ASIMO humanoid, the robot that they developed during 25 year. ASIMO lifted the right arm when the man thought about lifting his own right arm. Does this mean that they can now read our thoughts? Not at all! This is of course not a developed technique yet and it will take many years to make it even near to robust. One day it will be more developed and useful for something. The question is for what? I am thinking of people who can not move an arm, for example. But is this something that is relevant after so many years that it will take? After so many years I think that Asimo or his “grandchildren” will understand what to do anyway. If not so, an artificial arm will do the job or maybe a new arm from genetic engineering. This is what the 2nd link below is about.

If it is possible to detect and interpret brain signals in the future, will also be possible to do the other way around – create and feed the brain with signals. Of course it is, reversed engineering so to say! So again we have this 2-edged sword to deal with (heaven or hell: future scenarios). I don’t even want to speculate about what could be possible to make us do or think with such techniques. It will take a long time before it is real, but it is coming sooner or later if nothing spectacular is happening with humanity before that.

Genetic engineering breakthrough

The other link is about how genetic scientists managed to turn stem cells into muscles in a living body. This seems to be much closer in time than the first news.

Again I was thinking about disabled people that, in some cases, obviously can be helped from this. What about the elderly? Has not their muscles started to decrease in volume and strength?

Another arena is sports with all its doping problems. Is growing new muscles doping? If we can built muscles and maybe even design them to the type we want, what sport result will we have? Should it be allowed? Can it be detected and stopped?

I have no idea, really!