The speed of technological advancements continues to exceed our expectations, and yet we cannot help but notice that the science fiction we grew up with played a huge part in predicting our future. For example, back in 1964 one of the most renowned sci-fi authors, Isaac Asimov, eerily revealed his accurate predictions for 2014.
Mainstream audiences are beginning to strap virtual reality headsets to their eyes like all those movies back in the nineties. Meanwhile, familiar concepts such as self-driving cars or big brother-style digital snooping have all become our present reality.
Anyone who has seen the 1999 movie The Matrix will remember the scene where a young Keanu Reeves has information directly uploaded to his brain. The character is then able to learn any skillset within a few seconds. “I know kung fu,” he says shortly after receiving the necessary files.
The ability to skip years of studying complex subjects and just upload information directly to your brain captured audiences’ imagination. Science fiction often inspires scientists to investigate the possibilities, and in this case they looked at this unlikely concept. Could it be possible to become an expert in your field of choice by simply transferring the information directly into your brain?
Not entirely, but researchers from HRL Laboratories in California have discovered a method to deliver a way to amplify learning. Although this is on a much smaller scale than anything you are likely to have seen on the silver screen, there is no denying they have noticeable results from their work.
Tests involved studying electric signals in the brain of a pilot and then transferring this data via electrode-embedded head caps into users who were just starting to learn how to fly an aircraft using a flight simulator. Surprisingly, those who received the electronic signals through a cap that resembled what Christopher Walken wore in the movie Brainstorm showed a 33 percent improvement over the placebo group’s results.
Despite obvious comparisons with The Matrix, the real star of the show is instant learning technology, and if these tests continue to show promise, it could have potential after all. Dr. Matthew Phillips pointed out that the system targets changes to specific regions of the brain as you learn. Although we immediately see parallels from Hollywood movies, he also advised that “the method itself is quite old. In fact, the ancient Egyptians 4000 years ago used electric fish to stimulate thinking and reduce pain.”
Unfortunately, those searching for a shortcut to improving their knowledge will not be able to simply upload expertise to their brains. It could, however, be an interesting tool to aid and improve learning and make the process of preparing for a big exam or an important sales call, or even learning a brand new language, a whole lot easier.
The ability to amplify and boost learning is yet another fascinating discovery that offers a broad range of possibilities. Maybe, it could even dramatically change the lives of those with learning difficulties as this technology progresses or provide scientists with a greater understanding of how our brains and learning processes work.
Looking at all of the latest technology trends, it increasingly feels very reminiscent of the worlds that frequented the sci-fi movies we loved growing up. Once again we find ourselves asking the age-old question: Does art imitate life, or life imitate art?
The Internet has certainly allowed us all to join a never-ending quest to find quicker or convenient methods to improve our lives. There is also a wealth of niche communities filled with dreamers who are sharing ideas and obtaining inspiration from the media that surrounds them to help them continually ask, What if?
Ultimately, we can all thrive in the future, if we understand what is shaping it today, and this is something that we are all learning or gaining inspiration from in many ways without even realizing it.
Mainstream audiences are beginning to strap virtual reality headsets to their eyes like all those movies back in the nineties. Meanwhile, familiar concepts such as self-driving cars or big brother-style digital snooping have all become our present reality.
Anyone who has seen the 1999 movie The Matrix will remember the scene where a young Keanu Reeves has information directly uploaded to his brain. The character is then able to learn any skillset within a few seconds. “I know kung fu,” he says shortly after receiving the necessary files.
The ability to skip years of studying complex subjects and just upload information directly to your brain captured audiences’ imagination. Science fiction often inspires scientists to investigate the possibilities, and in this case they looked at this unlikely concept. Could it be possible to become an expert in your field of choice by simply transferring the information directly into your brain?
Not entirely, but researchers from HRL Laboratories in California have discovered a method to deliver a way to amplify learning. Although this is on a much smaller scale than anything you are likely to have seen on the silver screen, there is no denying they have noticeable results from their work.
Tests involved studying electric signals in the brain of a pilot and then transferring this data via electrode-embedded head caps into users who were just starting to learn how to fly an aircraft using a flight simulator. Surprisingly, those who received the electronic signals through a cap that resembled what Christopher Walken wore in the movie Brainstorm showed a 33 percent improvement over the placebo group’s results.
Despite obvious comparisons with The Matrix, the real star of the show is instant learning technology, and if these tests continue to show promise, it could have potential after all. Dr. Matthew Phillips pointed out that the system targets changes to specific regions of the brain as you learn. Although we immediately see parallels from Hollywood movies, he also advised that “the method itself is quite old. In fact, the ancient Egyptians 4000 years ago used electric fish to stimulate thinking and reduce pain.”
Unfortunately, those searching for a shortcut to improving their knowledge will not be able to simply upload expertise to their brains. It could, however, be an interesting tool to aid and improve learning and make the process of preparing for a big exam or an important sales call, or even learning a brand new language, a whole lot easier.
The ability to amplify and boost learning is yet another fascinating discovery that offers a broad range of possibilities. Maybe, it could even dramatically change the lives of those with learning difficulties as this technology progresses or provide scientists with a greater understanding of how our brains and learning processes work.
Looking at all of the latest technology trends, it increasingly feels very reminiscent of the worlds that frequented the sci-fi movies we loved growing up. Once again we find ourselves asking the age-old question: Does art imitate life, or life imitate art?
The Internet has certainly allowed us all to join a never-ending quest to find quicker or convenient methods to improve our lives. There is also a wealth of niche communities filled with dreamers who are sharing ideas and obtaining inspiration from the media that surrounds them to help them continually ask, What if?
Ultimately, we can all thrive in the future, if we understand what is shaping it today, and this is something that we are all learning or gaining inspiration from in many ways without even realizing it.