Scientists prep mind reading device

Posted on November 15, 2007 by Mark Baard

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Screaming to be heard: Boston University claims its mind-reading device can get inside the heads of paralyzed patients.

by Mark Baard

New Scientist magazine, cited by the Beeb in this report (link and excerpt, below), often exaggerates the nature of scientific findings and discoveries.

That’s why I am just a bit dubious of the claim that electrodes implanted in the brain of a speechless man are unlocking his thoughts, and relaying them to a voice synthesizer.

But if the scientists at Boston University can indeed guess the guy’s thoughts accurately 80 percent of the time, that would be impressive.

Once they take this technology wireless, calling our thoughts our own might prove impossible.

news.bbc.co.uk
Scientists say they may be on the brink of translating the thoughts of a man who can no longer speak into words after a pioneering experiment.

Electrodes have been implanted in the brain of Eric Ramsay, who has been “locked in” - conscious but paralysed - since a car crash eight years ago.

These have been recording pulses in the areas of the brain involved in speech.

Now, New Scientist magazine reports, they are to use the signals he generates to create speech software.

Although the data is still being analysed, researchers at Boston University believe they can correctly identify the sound Mr Ramsay’s brain is imagining some 80% of the time
In the next few weeks, a computer will start the task of translating his thoughts into sounds.
“It’s very exciting that we are starting to be able to translate some basic thoughts, but we are lot further away from a universal mind reading machine than some people hoped - or feared - we may be five years ago.”

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3 Responses to “Scientists prep mind reading device”

  1. baboeska, on November 16th, 2007 at 6:09 pm Said:

    The potential for a new form of weaponry to truly destroy all of our freedoms exist.
    Whether or not you personally believe in this technology, you must agree that any use or discovery of applicable versions of this at any future point would be abhorrent to the values of the New Zealand/Aotearoan people, and people world wide, and should be declared illegal world wide.

    It is as abhorrent to destroy a mind as to destroy a human.

    The largest disinformation project of modern times has been the reach for mind control weaponry.
    The casualties left in psychiatric wards across the developed world are probably higher than the total number of American’s dead in all wars since the start of this century.
    Both America and Russia use these techniques, while they have been made illegal in France and Italy.

    To join, search for “Make Mind Control Illegal” on Facebook.

    (EDITED FOR LENGTH–MB)

  2. Steven, on November 19th, 2007 at 2:52 pm Said:

    The big push in the computer world for a while has been virtualization and abstraction — run any software on any hardware. I see the day where human brains are considered just another hardware platform.

    If they’re going to take over our minds and the privacy of our thoughts, I hope at least that they don’t put Windows on us. I can’t afford to crash 2-3 times a day.

  3. ati, on February 1st, 2008 at 8:55 am Said:

    I would really appriciate if you dont mention anything about this matter if you decide toe-mail me back.I just need your tel nunber so i can contact you.My housbands family somehow got their hands on one of the mind reading devices,and to make a long story short they are using it on me to drive me supposetly crazy.I need help,and i need to talk to some one who knows about this devices,and how i can get help.Mr baard please if you can call me at my cell31o-666-4012 and leave your no so i can call you back.thanks a mill

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