How To Minimize The Unethical Abuses Of Analyzing Brain

The functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can be used to detect and locate brain activity, and even predict the brain activation patterns. This technology helps us understand better how the brain processes information and thoughts. However, there are some potential ethical problems associated with this new technology. For example, the terrorists may use it to purloin the classified information by analyzing the brain activities of officials in charge; cracksman may use it to read the password of customers’ account; commercial spies may steal information with the help of this technology to undergo illegal trades.

All of the above will cause panic of the public if this technology is out of control. Therefore, how can we reduce the unethical abuses of the technology of analyzing brain? In terms of the technology itself, we can develop a kind of software within the system that requires the permit of the one being analyzed by entering password or scanning the fingerprint or retina. Otherwise, we can also develop the system so that it must be operated with the cooperation of the one being analyzed, for example, certain kinds of concentration in mind. In addition, in terms of avoiding improper and unethical use, we should have a strict regulation of the manufacture, development and transportation. Any kind of research or usage of this technology should be approved by related legislature. This will somehow decrease the risk of the abuse of brain analysis.

The possible solutions proposed above should be adjusted along with the development of this technology. At the present level, analysis of brain activity is still in the basic stage, that is, prediction of some concrete images; the equipment used to practice this technology is still not convenient for unethical abuses discussed above. However, with the deeper research and development of the technology of reading and mapping brain, more possible abuses may occur. Scientists that head into brain analysis should consider the ethical issues and develop possible feasible solutions at the same time.

Difficulties in English writing in Engineering

When I am doing writing in my engineering classes, I often encounter difficulties with regard to English. They arise from, for example, vocabulary, sentence structure and grammar. Take MLE1101 as an example, I often don’t know how to describe the phenomenon and how to come up with the proper and accurate explanation because of the limit of my vocabulary. When I want to picture the extend of a certain reaction, I just come up with words like “great””light” or “mild”; I cannot distinguish the minor differences between different reactions under various conditions. The second problem is about the sentence structure. When I am doing the engineering writing, I always focus on the technical problem. Together with the problem of lack of vocabulary, I often write quite long sentences, which makes my writing verbose and inaccurate. This also makes my writing loses my point. These problems appear more obvious in my study of MLE1101, which needs a large amount of technical vocabulary of material science and abundant explanations. I have kept reading the textbook and jot down the new key words to memorize them, so I can easily grasp them when I do my writing. Through the large amount of reading, I have also learnt how to write in a more professional way. In addition, when I review the lecture notes and interpret the graphs, I also try my best to think out the answer in my own words and in complete sentences rather than fragments of phrases or words. This, meanwhile, helps me comprehend the concepts deeper and better. Other than the methods mentioned above, I think I need more effective and efficient solutions to these problems. For example, I should try to apply what I have learnt in EG1471 in the writing of MLE1101 instead of just focusing on the newly-encountered concepts and equations.
Total words: 305