Project

Elio Caccavale and David Muth, with Kevin Warwick, Ben J. Whalley, Slawomir J. Nasuto, Mark W. Hammond, Julia H. Downes, Dimitris Xydas, School of Pharmacy and Cybernetics, School of Systems Engineering, University of Reading

Neuroscope provides an interface for a user to interact with a culture of brain cells which are cared for in a distant laboratory. An interface allows the virtual cells to be “touched”, resulting in electrical signals sent to the actual neurons in the laboratory. The cells then respond with changes in activity that may result in the formation of new connections. The user experiences this visually in real time, enabling interaction between the user and cell culture as part of a closed loop of interaction. The project proposes a novel relationship between 
the laboratory and the home, locating complex scientific processes within everyday life. In this context, a new generation of interactive devices such as Neuroscope emerge, which blur the boundaries between consumer products and biological systems.