5th e-Post

Topic : Should institute or government regulate the use of computational modeling?

Government should not regulate : Wei Ling , Yi Xiang

Government should regulate : Liu Min, Phyllicia, Ei Hong

Moderator - Lance

Computational modeling in brain study, detecting and mapping of brain activity, has provided the world a clearer understanding of how the human process information. Despite the promising advantages it will bring about in the future, many feel that there's a need for government regulate this technology.

Government should not regulate the use of computational modeling because:

1) there are many advantages brought by this technology such as detecting the causes of mental illnesses, which allow the executions of a more suitable treatment for the patients. This technology also provides communication and control to people who are totally paralyzed by transmitting their brain waves to the external motional devices. Hence this restores motion to paralysis.

2) regulation may impede the development of such technology since there are more constraints, limiting the areas of research. Hence, this may lead to fewer discoveries improvements made.

Government should regulate the use of computational modeling because:

1) The accuracy of the result of computational modeling is questionable, so it should not be widely use. Hence, the result of this technology cannot be used as substantial evidence in the court. Also, there is a possibility of the people to out win the technology. Thance the result may not be reliable.

2) The ethical issues involved in the use of computational modeling. The intrusion of privacy of the technology is the main concern for the majority since the neuroscientics will be able to decipher the thoughts of the subject.

3) Regulation is required to prevent any form of abuse of such technology. This brings us to ponder the controversy of the use of computational modeling as a lie detector. The US actually has used the lie detector during interrogation on the terrorist suspects to see if they are lying. Unlike those subjects who voluntarily participated in the research, these suspects were forced to undergo such brain scan. The result may be used as an excuse to justify the abuse of the detainee.

Conclusion

Hence, computational modeling should be regulated by government and should only be used for therapeutic purpose.