By Caitlin Moore

In a panel conversation called Is The Brain The Ultimate Computer Interface?, contributing editor for Scientific American and freelance science writer Christie Nicholson will address trends that sound outlandishly futuristic but actually aren’t far from becoming a reality.

Accepted in the first round of selections for SXSW 2010, this panel will tackle such questions as “How close are we to enhancing humans with an ability to control machines?” and “What are the positive medical outcomes of controlling machines/materials with our thoughts?” By discussing the kinds of developments that have already occurred – such as scientists’ ability to create a functioning artificial hippocampus in rats (essentially making it possible to create memories related to motor skills) – we can better prepare for what the future may hold.

Like many of us, Nicholson finds the possibilities of “brain-hacking” to be “amazing and scary,” but points out the specific positive effects these technologies may have in the medical realm. Recent innovations (as recently outlined by 60 Minutes) “are providing hope for paralyzed people to communicate, walk and function in ways never thought possible.” Individuals suffering from memory and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s stand to benefit from further research in this area as well, as do those with Parkinson’s and even depression. According to Nicholson, “medical uses provide a powerful argument for harnessing” these technologies.

Power demands responsibility, of course, so Nicholson will also discuss ethical and social considerations during her presentation. Nicholson believes that, eventually, “a board comprised of leaders from different industries” should be assembled to establish ethical guidelines, but for now, “the first thing we need to do is understand what technologies exist and function today and who is funding what research.”

We are only beginning to understand how our brains work and how we may apply technology as a means of control and improvement, making panels like “Is The Brain The Ultimate Computer Interface” (and SXSW in general) not only informative, but essential.