Humans may soon be able to communicate while in complete silence if a company's new 'brain augmentation' technology becomes a reality.

A 'brain-computer interface' could mean people communicate telepathically - and are able to solve complex problems in as little as a few seconds.

Implanting a microchip into your brain may sound like the plot from a science fiction blockbuster, but some claim this technology could be a reality within 15 years.

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A 'brain-computer interface' could mean people communicate telepathically - and could solve complex problems in as little as a few seconds, an expert has claimed (stock image)

CURRENT USES FOR BRAIN CHIPS Kernel is currently working on prototypes of a brain implant device for medical use in humans. The firm has started to conduct tests with epilepsy patients in hospitals. Speaking to IEEE Spectrum, Dr Berger said: 'We're testing it in humans now, and getting good initial results. 'We're going to go forward with the goal of commercialising this prosthesis.' But before being developed for healthy people, the firm hopes that the device will be used to improve memory in people with degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's. Speaking to New Scientist, Mr Johnson said: 'The idea is that if you have loss of memory function, then you could build a prosthetic for the hippocampus that would help restore the circuitry, and restore memory. 'The first super-humans are those who have deficits to start with.' Advertisement

The chips will allow people to buy and delete memories, and will soon be as popular as smartphones, according to Bryan Johnson, an expert working on such a device.

Speaking at Web Summit in Lisbon last month, Mr Johnson, who is the founder of Kernel, a start-up developing brain microchips, said that unlocking the potential of the mind is the 'single greatest thing' humanity can achieve.

'I would expect in around 15-20 years we will have a sufficiently robust set of tools for the brain that we could pose any question we wanted.

'For example, could I have a perfect memory? Could I delete my memories? Could I increase my rate of learning, could I have brain to brain communication?' he said.

He said he considers this new technology a 'necessity' for the future of humanity.

'I consider myself to be cognitively impaired because I am limited by my biases, by my blind spots. I don't want the limitations, I don't want those constraints, I want to break open', he said.

An in-depth feature by Katie Collins on Cnet suggests that this will also allow humans to communicate via telepathy.

While you might think that such a device would be reserved for the rich, Mr Johnson believes that microchips will become 'democratised, like smartphones.'

'Imagine a scenario where I say 'I want to know what it's like to be a cowboy in the American west in the 1800s?' and someone creates that experience mentally.

'I'm able to take that and purchase that from that person and experience that.'

He said: 'The bigger question on this is: 'Is working on this a luxury or a necessity?'

'I don't understand what we are so scared of losing?

Kernel is currently working on prototypes of a brain implant device for medical use in humans. The firm has started to conduct tests with epilepsy patients in hospitals (stock image)

'I don't know why it would not be the singular focus of the human race because everything we do stems from our brain.'

Kernel is currently working on prototypes of a brain implant device for medical use in humans.

The firm has started to conduct tests with epilepsy patients in hospitals.

Speaking to IEEE Spectrum, Dr Berger said: 'We're testing it in humans now, and getting good initial results.

'We're going to go forward with the goal of commercialising this prosthesis.'

But before being developed for healthy people, the firm hopes that the device will be used to improve memory in people with degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's.

Speaking to New Scientist, Mr Johnson said: 'The idea is that if you have loss of memory function, then you could build a prosthetic for the hippocampus that would help restore the circuitry, and restore memory.

'The first super-humans are those who have deficits to start with.'