Atari founder and serial entrepreneur Nolan Bushnell has predicted that in the next decade, wetware – computer technology in which the brain is linked to artificial systems – will be commonplace in society.

Bushnell, who recently launched new cutting-edge virtual reality company Modal, exclusively spoke to Attractions Management, talking about the future of virtual and augmented realities.

“In 10 years I think it’s going to be normal for people to have some kind of a brain implant,” said Bushnell. “You'll be able to augment your memory, communicate with each other and do other things like that. This will be done by combining wetware, not just hardware.”

Chiefly a term drawn from science fiction, wetware uses a model for artificial systems based on biochemical processes. The technology would create messages manifested through chemical and electrical influences that spread across the body, based on the concept of human brain cells acting as computer systems.

According to Bushnell, as wetware technology is developed, it will advance quickly, and he has bold predictions for 30 years from now.

“Once you start having those interfaces into your brain and into your nervous system then hijacking that for entertainment is going to be easy,” he said. “If you’re talking about 30 years from now I think it’s going to be possible to jack into the system à la The Matrix.”

Discussing Modal – which uses standing sensors combined with a full body-tracking suit and VR headset – Bushnell said its success would be based on appealing to all customers, not just enthusiasts.

“Any time you have a new technology you can start out really simple,” he said. “There’s some standard gameplay mechanics that start out over and over and those are good places to start. For example we recreated Pong in VR, with the player acting as the bat – there’s nothing simpler.”

Modal – which primarily will act as a VR platform to be built upon – has had significant interest from a number of sectors.

“We’ve got people who want to do something in a mall or FEC. We’ve also been contacted by a lot of museums, even football teams who want to run plays in virtual space,” said Bushnell.

“Another person is doing an exercise module where you can get a good workout by doing weird things in a simulated environment – almost like a military bootcamp. It’s a crazy athletic construct.

“Some of the stuff that’s coming down has been truly remarkable.”