The benefits and downsides of mind-controlled machines

The benefits and downsides of mind-controlled machines 13 November 2016 Eloise Gibson Features correspondent iStock A future where we can control cars or smartphones solely with the power of thought is round the corner — but the price may be invasive surgery. Upcoming event World-Changing Ideas Summit This story is part of a series inspired by the subjects and speakers appearing at BBC Future’s World-Changing Ideas Summit in Sydney on 15 November. Find out more about the inspiring people coming to the meeting, including: Neurosurgeon Jeffrey Rosenfeld on bionic eyes BBC TV presenter Michael Mosley on the science of food and health Uber’s Kevin Corti on the hidden patterns of city transport Researcher and TV presenter Emma Johnston on the impact of cities on oceans Experimental architect Rachel Armstrong on interstellar travel Astronauts Ron Garan and Andrew Thomas + many more Ever since neuroscientists and engineers started working on interfaces to connect our brains to machines, people have been thinking of weird and wonderful ways to use the technology. iStock Neurosurgeon Jeffrey Rosenfeld will talk about bionic eyes at the World-Changing Ideas Summit CAN’T I ALREADY BUY MACHINES CONTROLLED BY THOUGHT POWER? At the World-Changing Ideas Summit, the neurosurgeon Jeffrey Rosenfeld of Monash University will talk about direct-to-brain “bionic eyes” that he and his colleagues are developing to assist the blind.