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Incredible! This invokes the feeling that it'll be impossible to keep computers out of our bodies at some point, which is scary on so many levels. But like an

Incredible! This invokes the feeling that it'll be impossible to keep computers out of our bodies at some point, which is scary on so many levels. But like any tool, if I look at all the good that can come out of it - simply amazing things are possible.

xwdv 5y ago
My muscular memory of Vim is so strong, I’d wager I could code even faster and more powerfully with a proper brain interface.
- nine_k 5y ago
  This always puzzles me a but. Is it the typing speed that limits the amount and quality of code one can write in a day? To me, it's mostly finding out things about the subject area, finding the right APIs, code search. Of course, when typing is fast enough so that you never break your flow, it is important.
  - Treegarden 5y ago
    The whole point of vim is normal mode, not insert mode. Insert mode is just typing, but normal mode is code or file navigation. Its not about typing speed but deliberate action and precision - with vim you need only a couple of keystrokes. In this context speed refers not to typing code but to doing what you mentioned quicker (at least for code search, jump to definition, go back in cursor history) but there is vimium for the web which helps with research. My hands are slowly failing me and vim is a god send.
  - czrnb 5y ago
    I think that in order to not break your flow, you should be able to translate your thoughts (the answer you found) to code or text as fast as possible. Typing slowly when you know what you want to write can be frustrating for one (lowering your motivation), but most importantly is too trivial a task to prevent you from thinking at the same time (and thus parasitic thoughts can break your flow). A HCI that can help you write your code as you think of it (and maybe log the thought process for future reference !) would be awesome on that front.
- Cthulhu_ 5y ago
  I doubt so; I think that editing text via the brain would take a lot of focus to think the right things at the right time. In practice I think your brain would go one direction and the interpreter would type that, so then you'd think "no wait go back I was just distracted by a squirrel" and the whole document is deleted. Or something.
pope_meat 5y ago
You know how sometimes you have to fight auto correct while typing on your phone? Imagine that with a brain interface...
- irjustin 5y ago
  I mean... who thinks in individual characters? I would assume it would type the words our correctly based on what I'm thinking. But to your point, would the system understand thought? Knowing the difference between: > "I'm sending two to you" or "I'm sending to Two One Smith Lane." requires a lot of knowledge/intent if indeed you can't think in terms of individual characters.
  - robbedpeter 5y ago
    It will likely be something like imagining typing, or swiping. It won't work at the level of words. You'd have to correlate between 50k and 250k individual words per person, which would be cumbersome and obnoxious. You have to correlate word components, and the easiest way to train is tapping into a feedback loop that already achieves your intent, like typing. Systems like the palm pilot graffiti interface, or some optimized symbolic gesture system will become prevalent, but imagining typing will probably carry us sufficiently until better systems are worked out.
- oneepic 5y ago
  A lot of people have experience with fighting mental BS, so hopefully that translates. OTOH they don't have experience fighting both at the same time...
- paranoidrobot 5y ago
  Duck. No, Duck. I meant duck. Duck that. Ducking hell. I could imagine easily going insane if I were forced to interact through a piece of technology that would not do what I wanted. It's bad enough when my phone won't do what I want.
  - rorykoehler 5y ago
jcun4128 5y ago
I think it could be cool being born with a symbiote AI.

xwdv 5y ago

My muscular memory of Vim is so strong, I’d wager I could code even faster and more powerfully with a proper brain interface.

nine_k 5y ago
This always puzzles me a but. Is it the typing speed that limits the amount and quality of code one can write in a day? To me, it's mostly finding out things about the subject area, finding the right APIs, code search. Of course, when typing is fast enough so that you never break your flow, it is important.
- Treegarden 5y ago
  The whole point of vim is normal mode, not insert mode. Insert mode is just typing, but normal mode is code or file navigation. Its not about typing speed but deliberate action and precision - with vim you need only a couple of keystrokes. In this context speed refers not to typing code but to doing what you mentioned quicker (at least for code search, jump to definition, go back in cursor history) but there is vimium for the web which helps with research. My hands are slowly failing me and vim is a god send.
- czrnb 5y ago
  I think that in order to not break your flow, you should be able to translate your thoughts (the answer you found) to code or text as fast as possible. Typing slowly when you know what you want to write can be frustrating for one (lowering your motivation), but most importantly is too trivial a task to prevent you from thinking at the same time (and thus parasitic thoughts can break your flow). A HCI that can help you write your code as you think of it (and maybe log the thought process for future reference !) would be awesome on that front.
Cthulhu_ 5y ago
I doubt so; I think that editing text via the brain would take a lot of focus to think the right things at the right time. In practice I think your brain would go one direction and the interpreter would type that, so then you'd think "no wait go back I was just distracted by a squirrel" and the whole document is deleted. Or something.

pope_meat 5y ago

You know how sometimes you have to fight auto correct while typing on your phone? Imagine that with a brain interface...

irjustin 5y ago
I mean... who thinks in individual characters? I would assume it would type the words our correctly based on what I'm thinking. But to your point, would the system understand thought? Knowing the difference between: > "I'm sending two to you" or "I'm sending to Two One Smith Lane." requires a lot of knowledge/intent if indeed you can't think in terms of individual characters.
- robbedpeter 5y ago
  It will likely be something like imagining typing, or swiping. It won't work at the level of words. You'd have to correlate between 50k and 250k individual words per person, which would be cumbersome and obnoxious. You have to correlate word components, and the easiest way to train is tapping into a feedback loop that already achieves your intent, like typing. Systems like the palm pilot graffiti interface, or some optimized symbolic gesture system will become prevalent, but imagining typing will probably carry us sufficiently until better systems are worked out.
oneepic 5y ago
A lot of people have experience with fighting mental BS, so hopefully that translates. OTOH they don't have experience fighting both at the same time...
paranoidrobot 5y ago
Duck. No, Duck. I meant duck. Duck that. Ducking hell. I could imagine easily going insane if I were forced to interact through a piece of technology that would not do what I wanted. It's bad enough when my phone won't do what I want.
- rorykoehler 5y ago

jcun4128 5y ago

I think it could be cool being born with a symbiote AI.