Cognotechnology

Cognotechnology is an emerging field that is technology applied to the cognitive domain, and is the result of a convergence of nanotechnology, biotechnology and information technology, according to Gerald Yonas, vice president and principal scientist at Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico (U.S. Department of Energy).

While only a nascent field, the director of the prestigious US National Science Foundation, Rita Colwell, stated in 2003 that "the interface between nano, bio, info and cognotechnology is where the exciting discoveries are occurring."

Potential applications
According to Yonas, nanotechnology makes it feasible to use brain implants to moderate behavior or brain functioning, allowing brains with disorders or brains that have been damaged to function normally.

Another developing field of cognotechnology focuses on remote sensing brain function. Sensed brain function will include the intention to commit deception, and according to Yonas, is likely to be used for more efficient identifying of potential terrorists at, for example, airports.

Some fields of cognotechnology have the potential to be used in possibly controversial ways, such as modifying the behavior of criminals or pacifying enemy combatants.

Yonas gave an address on cognotechnology and these areas currently being researched at a 2001 daylong symposium sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the world’s largest general science organization and the publisher of the prestigious academic journal Science.