21–30 of 44 posts
What they're doing is a high-resolution fMRI scan of V1 (primary visual cortex), a region of the brain that shows a "retinotopic map" of the visual field. It's been known for a while that it's possible to reconstruct an image from V1 activation. What this research shows is that fMRI imaging is now detailed enough to do this non-invasively. Also, something cool about this research, and also a bit scary, is that it's a…
On one hand, this is great. It will lead to new technology which will inevitably lead to better video games. On the other hand, this provides the opportunity for total loss of privacy. Forget freedom of speech, people might start to attack the freedom to think certain thoughts. In other news, China and Iran are thrilled at this new science.
"Oh shit- now nothing is private."
Don't get me wrong- it's amazing stuff, and I'm all for the advancements it can bring. But the mind really is the last bastion of privacy in our increasingly policed world.
Think about it:
1) When you make a call, it can be logged and recorded.
2) When you walk into a bank (or a million other locations), your actions are on camera.
3) When you visit a site, your IP address, as well as other information, is logged.
Almost everything is monitored.
Granted the advancement of technology has brought FAR more benefits than costs, but sometimes I wonder what it would be like to live in the 1800s, when you could do something and not have to worry about your actions being "logged" to some eternal database.
Of course, it's fairly easy to control actions. Don't send really personal stuff via email, don't scratch your crotch in front of a security camera. But when it comes to thoughts, it's a different story. Try not thinking about something, and you'll find you can't do it.
I'm sure every single person in this world has had thoughts he/she would not want to reveal.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. It will probably be a while before we have to seriously worry about the implications of this technology.
I think if I could see any invention in my lifetime, I'd want to see that knowledge-uploader thing from 'The Matrix'. Imagine how much you could learn! Especially before you were too old to use it...
On one hand, this is great. It will lead to new technology which will inevitably lead to better video games. On the other hand, this provides the opportunity for total loss of privacy. Forget freedom of speech, people might start to attack the freedom to think certain thoughts. In other news, China and Iran are thrilled at this new science.
Then we'll have to encrypt our thoughts.
My big question would be whether the patterns that they're detecting in the brain are similar for different people? For example, if I imagine an apple, do my "brain patterns" resemble someone else's when they also think of an apple? If not, seems like training this device would be a pain in the ass, because you'd have to do it for each person. But if so...imagine a huge resource of patterns for different thoughts, fe…
In general the patterns are the same and the brain areas involved are the same but there is definitely individual variability, too. There is probably much less individual variability in visual cortex than, say, language representation areas (consider English speakers vs Spanish speakers) but there is likely enough that they have to retrain their algorithms for each individual to achieve optimum discrimination.
Also, I suspect that variation increases with abstractness, so it will almost certainly be impossible to extract high level thought without extensive cooperation.
For example, the brain state that the word 'conciousness' invokes in me is going to be entirely different from you because I have different associations, examples, knowledge, and general representation.
Now try to extract an entire sentence without training first. Have fun!
What they're doing is a high-resolution fMRI scan of V1 (primary visual cortex), a region of the brain that shows a "retinotopic map" of the visual field. It's been known for a while that it's possible to reconstruct an image from V1 activation. What this research shows is that fMRI imaging is now detailed enough to do this non-invasively. Also, something cool about this research, and also a bit scary, is that it's a…
On one hand, this is great. It will lead to new technology which will inevitably lead to better video games. On the other hand, this provides the opportunity for total loss of privacy. Forget freedom of speech, people might start to attack the freedom to think certain thoughts. In other news, China and Iran are thrilled at this new science.
The first thing I thought when I saw this was: "Oh shit- now nothing is private." Don't get me wrong- it's amazing stuff, and I'm all for the advancements it can bring. But the mind really is the last bastion of privacy in our increasingly policed world. Think about it: 1) When you make a call, it can be logged and recorded. 2) When you walk into a bank (or a million other locations), your actions are on camera. 3) W…
People say this, but I find it's not true. Just think of something else. Works most of the time.
On one hand, this is great. It will lead to new technology which will inevitably lead to better video games. On the other hand, this provides the opportunity for total loss of privacy. Forget freedom of speech, people might start to attack the freedom to think certain thoughts. In other news, China and Iran are thrilled at this new science.
In the long term technology like this will end privacy for those who want to participate in the modern economy. But you shouldn't assume it will happen in a 'top down' way that will benefit totalitarian governments. Totalitarian governments require secrecy to do their evil deeds. Look at the spread of mobile cameras (mostly in phones). These have allowed many an injustice to be exposed. The police no longer feel like…
I guess how you think and act, then, will be a measure of whether you want to be thought of as moral or interesting. ;)