"Our study represents an important but very early stage step towards eventually building a machine that can track a person's consciousness on a second-by-second basis.… [But] we are still a long way off from developing a universal mind-reading machine.”
--Dr John-Dylan Haynes, University College London Institute of Neurology. Dr. Haynes’ team and one at UCLA believe that they have finally proved definitively that they can monitor people's thoughts via brain scans.
What teases... I want my MRM now! I really was thinking that it would be the perfect gift this holiday season for friends and family who would surely derive hours of entertainment perusing the delightful thoughts that go on in my head.
Look, I realize that these kinds of breakthroughs will allow people who are completely paralyzed to communicate and therapists to better understand their patients.
But why do I just know that most of the applications will be far less altruistic?
Says Haynes, "One day, someone will come up with a machine in a baseball cap. Then it really could be helpful in everyday applications." Of course.
Yes, and right about then, I’ll start sporting my own fashionable Reynold’s Wrap headgear.
You're on a roll, dear Wiserblog! Not only are you substantively correct, as always, but your writing is sharp, witty and funny too. Keep it up!
Posted by: Meg | Aug 10, 2005 at 09:18 AM