Panel Summary: Frontiers of Human-Machine Interaction

The hot points presented to the panel were the following: What are the broader definitions of Human/Machine interaction? For example: non direct connection (using currently available computer GUI)first phase direct connection (linking sensors to the sensory system)second phase (direct connections into the Central Nervous System)What are the technologies that should be developed in order to enable each of the previous phases?What are the scientific research issues that are related to such phases?What are the possible implications of a direct human-computer link on the society? (compared to the Internet revolution?)There are several phases in Human-Machine interaction. The first, and most trivial one, involves using virtual reality and augmented reality devices, that allow even today manipulation of objects by interactively superpositioning artificial objects and data on real images- The next interesting phases, however, involves direct data transfer from artificial sensors to the nervous system. In that regard, we can show various implementations of artificial auditory and visual sensors. Hearing implants are being coupled into the auditory system, and a direct link to the auditory nerve does exist. Regarding visual data, the task is more complicated, and current technologies are being developed in order to implant a sensor into the retina and connect it to the optic nerve.