Name:

Lisa Williams, Riham Islam, Kayla Hart, Kaydence Alexis, Camilla Zambrano

Prof. Zayas

Writing for the sciences

03/09/2022

The Matrix

Introduction:
The first film in the Matrix series of films was released on March 31, 1999, in the
United States. To mention a few actors who appeared in the film: Joe Pantoliano, Hugo Weaving, Laurence Fishburne Carrie-Anne Moss, and Keanu Reeves. The Matrix is a computer-generated dream world with the goal of gaining dominion over humanity. This computer-generated environment uses the heat and electrical activity of humans to rest and soothe its occupants, allowing them to continue their virtual lives. Neo wakes up in the bed of Morpheus’s ship after telling him that Morpheus was born in The Matrix with the power to change everything in The Matrix. When “Neo,” a computer programmer, discovers this, he becomes enraged. As presented in this film, the Matrix is the future in which true, human perception is the Matrix.

Methods:
The Matrix is a science fiction action film. Therefore, we are bound to experience
science in this movie. The whole movie revolves around science. The story begins as humans create artificial intelligence to automate their life. Over time the artificial intelligence developed consciousness and war broke out between humans and machines. The war was both technological and militaristic where the machines won. As a result, humans were confined to a simulated reality. The movie portrays a futuristic scenario where science has advanced to a degree so that everything is automated. Also, simulated reality is very close to reality. Humans are used as an bioelectric energy source and are trapped by the intelligent machines. There are also various advanced computers which are used to project the simulation.
All of these technological advances are related to what we have achieved in the 21st
century. Even though our advances are not to the extent of the movie, the scientific concepts explained in the movie are very related to the continuing research in the scientific world. Our computers are also advancing. Moreover, big corporations are working towards making autonomous machines and artificial intelligence. So it is very logical to assume a world similar to the matrix in the future. There were some scientific applications in the movie that were farfetch’d. For example, creating a barrier to repel the solar light to destroy the machines. This seems far from reality because humans also need sunlight for Vitamin D and for food. Therefore, in this way the world of the film is different from our world.

Results:
The science in “The Matrix” relied heavily on brain machine interfaces. Brain machine
The science of brain-machine interface is accurate and applicable to our technology
today. Many tech companies have been working on developing technology to communicate interface allows activity in the brain to be sent to or received from a computer or device. They often use sensors in implants or removable caps to read signals from the brain. In the Matrix, data was uploaded into the human brain, which allowed for increased knowledge and abilities. They were able to transport this data from the machines to the humans brain via a headjack. The headjack was a small data port located at the base of skull about 2.5 cm is diameter. A data probe about 20cm long would connect to the headjack to transport data. Data communication by the headjack was due to a mix of electrical and electromagnetic transmissions.

The science of brain- machine interface is accurate and applicable to our technology today. Many tech companies have been working on developing technology to communicate with our brain. Samsung has been working on dveloping tech that implants electrodes into the brain called implantable medical devices. This device would be able to monitor psychological and pathological states. A major tech advancement has been with the launch of neuralink funded by Elon Musk. Neuralink is a tech company that is working on developing the next generation Brain machine inteface that can solve many brain related issues. This new piece of tech was described by the company as a chip measuring 4 by 4 millimeters and features 1,024 electrodes. This chip, called N1 could enable a paralyzed individual to control a smartphone, computer, and even prosthetics with their mind. Elon musk believes that this brain chip implant has amazing capabilities and that this chip can one day solve other brain issues such as restoring limb functionality, solving memory loss, even cure issues like depression and addiction.
The Matrix was released in 1999, a year where technology had just started taking off.
The internet had just started taking off, the first occurrence of file sharing was developed as well as the now popular multi billion dollar search engine, Google was launched. The first bluetooth devices were also launched in 1999, there were also new software released by windows 2000 and the last of classic apple macs were released in late october that year.

Discussion:
When watching this film for the first time, the concept may seem a bit strange and
difficult to grasp right away. In the movie, they highlight the advancement of technology, and how the use of it can affect humanity. However, the ideologies behind “The Matrix” are meant to illuminate the choice of fate vs. free will. In the beginning, Neo is offered the choice of a red and blue pill, which essentially represents this choice. The blue pill represents staying in the matrix and following your fate, while the red pill represents free will by exposing one to the “real world.” The Matrix is an artificial world where fate rules, due to the fact that it’s been created with a set of rules already in place. When one is “awoken” and introduced to the real world, it is different from the Matrix in that it is where free will rules. Individuals are faced with a harsh reality where they can make their own decisions without having to abide by preconstructed rules. It also highlights how much humanity can depend on technology or artificial intelligence to survive. We see this in the way everyone born in the “real world,” are grown by machines, and they are able to learn concepts by using technology to download whatever they want ot learn into their brains. Science fiction is used to convey this message because it was very relatable; at the time technology was taking off and advancing more than ever. The fiction aspect of it softens the serious topics that involve all of us, humans. Through this movie, one can learn the importance of choice, and our free will and how much technology has an impact on our lives.

Conclusion:

To conclude, there is a lot to learn from the matrix about humanity and choice. Even though this movie was made for entertainment purposes, there are many parallels between the world of the Matrix and our own. AI has been one of the most important advancements humankind has made within the past few decades. Even though the Matrix is an exaggeration of what could be, it doesn’t hurt to think about the future of artificial intelligent and its effects on the human race and the already gaping disparities that exist in out society.

References:

https://www.zdnet.com/article/1999-2009-the-tech-decade-in-perspective/ https://matrix.fandom.com/wiki/Headjack https://drdianehamilton.com/brain-implants-is-the-matrix-becoming-reality/