How can humans become immortal(永生的)? You might have only seen the idea of uploading the human brain to a digital cloud in science fiction movies. Elon Musk, Tesla CEO, has already done so. The secret was revealed when a question posted on Twitter caught his attention.
“If you could upload your brain to the cloud, and talk to a virtual version of yourself, would you be buddies?” Musk replied on July 19, “Already did it.” The reply indicated that Musk’s brain-computer interface(接口)company, Neuralink, had already realized the technology, according to Xinhua.
Neuralink was founded by Musk in 2016. The company focuses on brain-computer interface technology which is used to connect the brain to a digital network. It is developing devices for the treatment of patients with neurological disorders(神经障碍). In other words, the company aims to create links between mind and machine, according to Psychology Today.
So how do brain-computer interfaces work? Computers designed to learn the patterns of neural activity are used to take out information from human brains. For example, if a person imagines picking up a book, the computer would then learn to identify how the brain gives that command. Next, the computer would send the signal to the machine, which would then move a robotic arm to reach for the book.
Uploading a brain is only part of Musk’s plan. He revealed to Insider that his goal is to download human mindset into robots. Just like how our memories are stored in mobile phones through pictures and videos, Musk imagines that our brains—not only how we think, but also our personalities and habits—can be diverted into robots. In this way, even after our bodies decay(腐朽), our brains are preserved. Some experts believe that this could be achievable one day, but the timeline is unclear, “The most wildly optimistic predictions place mind uploading within a few decades, but I would not be surprised if it took centuries,” wrote Michael S. A. Graziano, a professor at Princeton University, in a Wall Street Journal essay.
12. What does Neuralink focus on?
A.Helping people live forever. |
B.Revealing secrets concerning brains. |
C.Offering a new means of communication. |
D.Studying how to connect the brain to computers. |
13. What do we know about the brain-computer interface technology?
A.It allows users to move objects with their minds. |
B.It was inspired by a tough question posted on Twitter. |
C.It will soon be able to download human consciousness into robots. |
D.It has been widely used in the treatment of patients with neurological disorders. |
14. What does the underlined word “diverted” in the last paragraph mean?
A.Divided. | B.Changed. | C.Sent. | D.Expanded. |
15. What is the text mainly about?
A.An advanced technology. | B.An outstanding inventor. |
C.A touching news story. | D.A scientific investigation. |