Elon Musk's smartphone implants: anticipated in 1967

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In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of life imitating art, specifically referencing Elon Musk's development of brain implants to link with smartphones. This brings to mind movies such as "The President's Analyst" and "The Terminal Man" which explore the dangers of advanced technology. The conversation also raises the question of whether we are already living in a world where technology is deeply ingrained in our daily lives.
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Elon Musk is working on implants that communicate with smartphones. Did he get the idea from a 1967 movie?
Life imitates art?

Elon Musk is making implants to link the brain with a smartphone (CNN)

This made me think of the movie "The President's Analyst" (1967), in which a global communications conglomerate, The Phone Company (TPC), plots to take over the world by injecting microsocopic Cerebrum Communicators into people:



IIRC, just before this scene, James Coburn (the president's analyst) was abducted by TPC, which used a helicopter to carry away the phone booth in which he was trying to make a call for help.
 
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While I enjoyed the James Coburn movie, and his character in sequels (?), the Musk article reminds me more of Michael Crighton's brilliant novel "The Terminal Man" and subsequent movie staring George Segal as the reluctant implant recipient. Crighton practically made a career after medicine of warning about the dangers of advanced technology on human society, but Terminal Man strikes a chord.
 
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Aren't we 80% of the way there already? How much practical difference is there between an implant and a phone that we carry with us all the time?
 
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And modern neurosurgeons routinely implant electrodes in and connect devices to patients.

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Klystron said:
Terminal Man strikes a chord.
Yes indeed. . .

anorlunda said:
How much practical difference is there between an implant and a phone that we carry with us all the time?
"Connected"

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1. What are Elon Musk's smartphone implants?

Elon Musk's smartphone implants are small electronic devices that are surgically implanted into the brain, allowing direct communication between the brain and a smartphone.

2. When were these implants first anticipated?

The concept of smartphone implants was first anticipated in 1967 by Dr. Jose Delgado, a Spanish-American neuroscientist.

3. How do these implants work?

The implants use small electrodes to connect to neurons in the brain, allowing for two-way communication with a smartphone. This allows for control of certain functions and apps on the phone using only the power of thought.

4. What are the potential benefits of these implants?

The potential benefits of these implants include improved communication and control for individuals with disabilities, enhanced cognitive abilities, and the ability to access information and apps without the use of hands or voice.

5. What are the potential risks and concerns surrounding these implants?

Some potential risks and concerns include the invasiveness of the surgery, the potential for hacking or misuse of the technology, and ethical concerns surrounding the control and manipulation of the brain.

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