2020-2021学年度第4期总第803期
Linking brains to machines (P6)
山东省烟台第二中学 孔洁

Activity 1

Do you like to use AI in your daily life?

Nowadays, AI such as Xiaoai, Xiaodu and TMALL elves can be found in many households. They have brought great convenience to us. Have you ever thought about a more convenient way that doesn't even involve opening your mouth?

In a livestream demonstration, Musk showed a pig named Gertrude that had a coin-sized chip implanted in her brain two months ago.  
Activity 2

Brainstorming

What will be included when introducing a new technology or invention?

Activity 3
Read the passage quickly and figure out what new technology it is and how is the passage developed.   

Activity 4
Read the passage in detail and answer the following questions.   
•1. How does the brain implant work?
•2. What’s the benefit of the brain implant?
•3. What are the possible problems of the brain implant?

•1. How does the brain implant work?
•With over 3,000 electrodes attached to flexible threads, the chip can monitor about 1,000 neurons. It can collect neural signals from an area of Gertrude’s brain and transmit those signals wirelessly to nearby computers, according to MSN. In this way, Gertrude’s brain activity can be monitored in real time.

•2. What’s the benefit of the brain implant?
•It may be a blessing for humans. If the device can be applied to humans, it could restore limb function, resolve issues with eyesight and hearing, and help with diseases like Parkinson’s.

•3. What are the possible problems of the brain implant?
•Technological problems: Currently, the chip can transmit signals from about 500 neurons in the pig’s brain. Compared to 80 billion neurons in a human brain, this number is tiny. Also, the electrodes need to be much smaller if the whole human brain should be covered.
•Ethical concerns: Some worry that this type of technology could allow others to access people’s thoughts, moods and motivations.
Activity 5
What’s your opinion about the brain implant? Is it a blessing for humans or a possible disaster?

Activity 6  Language focus

Paraphraze the following sentences.

•1. Would you consider having a chip implanted in your brain that allows you to control digital devices with your mind?
•2. Though tiny, the chip has over 3,000 electrodes attached to flexible threads, which can monitor about 1,000 neurons.
•3. We do need to think ahead about who will control this data and what it might be used for, to guard against possible harmful uses.

•1. Would you consider having a chip implanted in your brain that allows you to control digital devices with your mind?
•Are you willing to implant a chip in your brain? This chip allows you to control digital devices with your mind.

•2. Though tiny, the chip has over 3,000 electrodes attached to flexible threads, which can monitor about 1,000 neurons.
•The chip is tiny, but it has over 3000 electrodes linked to flexible threads. It can monitor about 1000 neurons.

•3. We do need to think ahead about who will control this data and what it might be used for, to guard against possible harmful uses.
•To stop possible harmful uses, we need to consider who will control this data and what it might be used for in advance.

Figure out the meaning of the following expressions.

• have a chip implanted
• a livestream demonstration
• be attached to
• be applied to
• aim to do sth
• hook up to sth
• in principle
• guard against possible harmful uses