Interview with cyborg Kevin Warwick

From What The Wiki?!

Cyborg expert Kevin Warwick spoke at WTH the first day of lecturing. In this interview with Sanne Hart, he tells about his fear of intelligent computers and what his plans are for the future.

"I push the system to its limits, which makes me a hacker"

How did you first become fascinated by cybernetics (the study about the control and communication between animals and machines)?

Kevin Warwick: As a teenager I read a lot of science fiction books, such as H.G. Wells 'War of the worlds' (1898) and Michael Critchon's 'The Terminal Man' (1972). I was already interested in technology by then, but because computers hardly existed at that time, I focused on motorcycles and other machinery instead. When I got a job at the Department of Cybernetics at the University of Reading in 1988, I could finally live out my fantasies about computers and the human body.

Do you feel like a hacker when it comes to innovative technology?

KW: Just like computer hackers I'm about pushing the system to its limits. If someone says that I can't do something, I want to do it more than ever. Therefore, in a more general sense, in terms of science, I'm a hacker.

How is it that humans can benefit from computer knowledge?

KW: If we establish a link between the human brain and a computer, ultimately we might load the networking capabilities and memory from the computer directly into our brain. Before we can realize this, however, a lot more experimentation will be necessary.

In which ways are people already profiting from being linked to a computer?

KW: About three to four hundred people with Parkinson's disease have now had an implant into their brain to help them to function better physically. Furthermore thousands of people with a hearing disability have received similar implants. These are all unidirectional, the human brain sharing in the computer's senses. As far as I know, I'm the only person who experienced what a robot felt as well as he what my sensations were.

What did you experience when you became a cyborg?

KW: The implants settled in very quickly. When the robot moved, I felt the current running up my index finger. Apparently the human brain is not stupid. It amazed me how readily my brain reacted.

Why do you fear computers will eventually take over the power from humans? Won't their makers interfere?

KW: Initially a computer will be like a child, influenced by its parents. But, like a child, the computer robot will gain more and more freedom. And if it is created with enough intelligence, it might even adapt and control itself. This can be very dangerous, especially if the robot has military capabilities. Then it might affect us physically if it decides by itself to throw bombs at people. Such an intelligent design might not have an on and off switch anymore and will therefore act as a terminator.

What future experiments are you planning?

KW: Within two to three years time I'm planning to have an implant once again, linking my brain to a computer. This way my team of technical assistants, surgeons and nurses will gain again more knowledge about inserting implants and monitoring the results. Then eight to nine years from now, I would like to have a brain to brain communication through the computer. My wife is not in for this anymore after our telegraphic experience, but certainly I must take this step and be a cyborg again.

Thank you for the interview.

Interview by Sanne

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