Round Table Discussion

The topic of our Round Table Discussion was "In recent years,collaborative research has evolved into more common institutional practice. For instance, recent research by Mitchell and Just(2008) utilized computational modeling in brain studies which yielded a much clearer understanding of how human brain processes information and thoughts. While such research has positive effects on society, it poses potential adverse effects. Should institutions or governments regulate the use of this or other technologies? why or why not?"

Supporting this topic were Angela and Alicia(believe that government should regulate computational modeling), whereas Jian Feng, Shuai Xiang and Jia Ru were against it. 'Ain was the moderator.

Due to misunderstanding of the topic, Jian Feng, Shuai Xiang and Jia Ru supported the topic. Hence, the discussion was filled with many supporting reasons.

For centuries, the concept of mind readers was strictly the domain of folklore and science fiction. But according to new research published today in the journal Science scientists are closer to knowing how specific thoughts activate our brains. The findings demonstrate the power of computational modeling to improve our understanding of how the brain processes information and thoughts.

Angela believed that computational modeling could be used for crime investigations. Using this technology, criminals could be detected by scanning their brains. Therefore, government should regulate this technology, police investigators should not be allowed to scan the suspect's brain without his/her permission because the suspect might not be a criminal but being charged due to misreading or inaccuracy of this technology. This technology has not been guaranteed to be accurate. It is still not ready for public use.

Alicia stated that medical areas will benefit most from this technology.
According to "Ethics and Mapping the Brain", Emerging technologies that map the brain are bringing us closer to a world where blindness is overcome with visual prostheses and Alzheimer's disease is understood, but it may not be a place where we want to live. With this technology, more cures for diseases will be discovered.

Without the regulation the doctors could scan anyone's brain without their permission, this could lead to intrusion of privacy said Jia Ru. She believes that government should regulation the use of this technology by having rules.

Jian Feng shared an article on the possibility of others reading people's mind and getting their personal information or thoughts exposed without the regulation of this technology. Therefore, government should regulate this technology, identify and allow only certain groups of people to use this technology.

Shuai Xiang talked about parents using this technology to detect their child's strengths and weaknesses. This could lead to a grave consequences if the technology is inaccurate. Therefore, this technology is not yet stable for public or common use.