Uma KarmarkarDec 11, 2022

Nature has an article on the growing number of abandoned people with neural implants from companies that have gone out of business or pivoted.

Reading Flowers for Algernon as a teenager devastated me, and I still get related nightmares. I cannot imagine what this situation must be like to live through.

h/t @pheras for the link

https://www.nature.com/immersive/d41586-022-03810-5/index.html

Abandoned: the human cost of neurotechnology failure

When the makers of electronic implants abandon their projects, people who rely on the devices have everything to lose.

Show threadMerage Ghane, PhDDec 11, 2022
@uma_karma @pheras such a sad reality… another reason why open source/transparent data, models, methods are impt. Perhaps should be required of businesses as they shut down so that others can understand how to operate, build, and repair the tech. I understand the value of proprietary products, especially when a company is active, but potential for harm just seems too great as doors close.
Show threadUma Karmarkar
@MerageG @pheras conceptually I could agree, but if one could get such legislation to pass, it would remove a lot of the corporate incentives, and risk blunting the opportunities for advancement
Dec 11, 2022 at 8:47pmWeb
Show threadDisco SexualDec 12, 2022

@uma_karma @MerageG @pheras even if the legislation were for something like: a written exit strategy in the case that implants are reaching end of life with no intended replacement?

These things are toothless enough as it is. Company pays a fine for violating their contract, but still gets to put a nice shiny "seal of commitment" or whatever on their sales site.

Show threadUma KarmarkarDec 12, 2022
@bezorp @MerageG OH - that's so smart! I hadn't been thinking expansively enough - that approach does seem very useful.