Figure 3 Development of a cyber world using “brain language” and XR technologiesFigure 4 The new cyber world may potentially bring about a cognitive augmentation revolution.build an extensive brain activity database and study brain activity patterns specic to the type of information perceived. Brain activity is usually measured using fMRI. However, this technique restricts the movement of human subjects in the MRI machine, making it impos-sible to measure brain activity under natural conditions. To resolve this problem, we plan to measure brain activity from many people stay-ing in a virtual environment created using XR technologies. We also intend to measure brain activity under unconstrained conditions using several different methods―including EEG to record brain waves and ECoG to record elec-trical activity from the cerebral cortex―in col-laboration with medical institutions. Because “brain language” varies between individuals, brain activity measurements need to take var-ious personal differences into account (e.g., age, gender, living environment, interests, oc-cupation, DNA pattern, cultural background, nationality and race) in order to link “brain language” to specic personal traits. One of our interests is to separate common and unique personal characteristics as a clue to understand the formation of personality and character. Un-derstanding “brain language,” which may con-tain personality-related information, through labor-intensive brain activity measurements requires enormous amounts of human resourc-es, time and research funding. We believe that indicators of “brain language” can be found in the vast volume of information exchanged on social networking sites. We collect “brain lan-guage” data associated with unique personal characteristics by taking a combined approach of analyzing information on SNS and measur-ing brain activity from human subjects. We are also considering conducting large-scale “brain language” R&D in collaboration with a NICT center with expertise in analyzing information on SNS. Some companies, such as Neuralink and Facebook, have launched brain science R&D using ICTs. We expect that the use of ICTs in brain science will be a global trend.■Generative hyperreal worldWould it be possible to create a cyber world using “brain language” and XR technologies? It is not practical to continuously collect “brain language” data by measuring brain activity for continuous operation of the cyber world. Our plan is to collect a large amount of “brain lan-guage” data associated with unique personal characteristics and compile it into a database. We will then translate “brain language” into a different form of language workable in the cyber world. To achieve this, we envision de-veloping a computer system capable of read-ing and interpreting “brain language” data collected in advance, thereby eliminating the need for repeatedly measuring human brain activity. We then plan to develop a new cy-ber world (i.e., generative hyperreal world)—a “brain language” data sharing network. “Brain language” data must be handled carefully and ethically, and the user community needs to set rules to ensure its proper use. We intend to ad-dress these issues thoughtfully with the Osaka University Research Center on Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (ELSI Center) (Figure 3).What type of social change can “brain lan-guage” and an XR-based cyber world bring about? During the evolutionary history of hu-mans, we acquired language ability and cre-ativity through cultural, genetic and epigenetic changes, enabling us to develop a human soci-ety, which is fundamentally different from the social structures of other animals. This might sound like a bold statement, but I have high expectations for the new cyber world we are envisioning to develop using advanced tech-nology as a trigger for a cognitive augmenta-tion revolution. This system is expected to en-courage people to interact with a greater sense of empathy, facilitate the sharing of the types of skills that are difcult to transfer to others using words and images, and promote deeper understanding of the world and the discovery of new forms of creativity (Figure 4). I also believe that this system, which functions as an information carrier through the use of both conventional and brain languages, will pro-vide users with opportunities to expand their knowledge, better understand the perspec-tives of others, interact with a larger number of people and share emotions (e.g., happiness, distress and hope). This system may even pro-mote the sharing of creative ideas leading to innovation. Traditionally, public infrastructure investment has been mainly focused on ful-lling industrial and public needs. However, after the establishment of the new cyber world, investment focus may shift to promoting the well-being of humanity.The development of the cyber world we proposed will require an interdisciplinary ap-proach to researching information in the brain using a variety of ICTs involving not only NICT researchers but also a wide range of ex-ternal organizations. Practical implementation of the cyber world will require the cooperation of many companies relevant to this project. We are actively developing an open innova-tion system.I wish to thank several associate research-ers for helping me prepare this manuscript. They are the members of the NTT Data In-stitute of Management Consulting, the Uni-versity of Tokyo Virtual Reality Educational Research Center, the Osaka University ELSI Center, and CiNet.11NICT NEWS 2020 No.6
元のページ ../index.html#13