Thread: Virtual reality machines?

We don't know exactly how the brain works, but its possible that you could stick a bunch of wires into somebodies brain and play them a pre-recorded dream.

Yeah, I think it's totally possible. Once we have a complete understanding of the whole brain we could work out exactly how to trigger a lucid dream state. The brain runs on little electrical signals, right? (my knowledge only goes as far as GCSE biology so correct me if I'm wrong:p) So why couldn't we simulate those signals ourselves using some machine?

Originally Posted by arby

We don't know exactly how the brain works, but its possible that you could stick a bunch of wires into somebodies brain and play them a pre-recorded dream.

weird

You wouldn't play them a pre-recorded dream because it isn't possible to record conceptual thought through technical means. The mind is the only thing that can handle thought. Technical means and devices can only handle sensory representations.

Don't know if anyone has said this but if you look at Arby's Avatar...

Ah, merlock, unless you think its something higher up (spiritual), then all conceptual thought falls under electrical impulses and whatever else the brain uses to work.

By recording the electrical impulses that are generated when someone is having a dream, you can re-create it by re-creating the pattern of impulses. Well, theoretically anyways.

that's assuming all the other impulses happening at the same time (breathing, etc.) don't affect your recorded impulses (which is doubtful)

plus, I'm sure everyone's brain is vastly different in terms of neural connections.
chances are what you're saying won't work

What you would need to do is abstract out some common interface from everybody's brain
then code something to that common interface

Yeah, way to make it more complicated =P

But, putting aside all such complications, it is possible that the brain can be controlled electrically.