Is science going too far?

[Captain Morgan]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081211/sc_afp/sciencejapanbrainoffbeat_081211052641

TOKYO (AFP) – A Japanese research team has revealed it had created a technology that could eventually display on a computer screen what people have on their minds, such as dreams.

Researchers at the ATR Computational Neuroscience Laboratories succeeded in processing and displaying images directly from the human brain, they said in a study unveiled ahead of publication in the US magazine Neuron.

While the team for now has managed to reproduce only simple images from the brain, they said the technology could eventually be used to figure out dreams and other secrets inside people's minds.

"It was the first time in the world that it was possible to visualise what people see directly from the brain activity," the private institute said in a statement.

"By applying this technology, it may become possible to record and replay subjective images that people perceive like dreams."

When people look at an object, the eye's retina recognises an image that is converted into electrical signals which go into the brain's visual cortex.

The team, led by chief researcher Yukiyasu Kamitani, succeeded in catching the signals and then reconstructing what people see.

In their experiment, the researchers showed people the six letters in the word "neuron" and then succeeded in reconstructing the letters on a computer screen by measuring their brain activity.

The team said that it first figured out people's individual brain patterns by showing them some 400 different still images.



If they read my mind, they'll mostly just see porn.

[Hondahugger]

Sounds like one of the Batman movies!

[AquaPython]

why is it going too far?

[Amorok]

Aside from making the ultimate invasion of privacy possible and all the abuses the government can wet dream up for it, do you really want to know what other people are thinking? Imagine if the veil of politeness were ripped away from your marriage and every sarcastic or disparaging thought your wife had about you was suddenly available for your perusal? A 50% divorce rate would be a dream.

"We're science. We're all about the coulda, not the shoulda!"

[Rider]

Holy shit, I'd be fired at work for sure. Possibly even jailed for some of my thoughts. :panic:

[Captain Morgan]

Holy shit, I'd be fired at work for sure. Possibly even jailed for some of my thoughts. :panic:

Same here! I wouldn't be a bit surprised if I were committed due to some of the odd thoughts that run through my head when I'm not thinking about sex. And some of the ones that run through my head while I AM thinking about sex. :lol:

[azoomm]

Aside from making the ultimate invasion of privacy possible and all the abuses the government can wet dream up for it, do you really want to know what other people are thinking? Imagine if the veil of politeness were ripped away from your marriage and every sarcastic or disparaging thought your wife had about you was suddenly available for your perusal? A 50% divorce rate would be a dream.

"We're science. We're all about the coulda, not the shoulda!"

The interesting part is how do you *prove* it?

[HurricaneHeather]

"In their experiment, the researchers showed people the six letters in the word "neuron" and then succeeded in reconstructing the letters on a computer screen by measuring their brain activity."

So was the image in the same font as the word they were showed? :lol:

[Amorok]

The interesting part is how do you *prove* it?

Same way they prove a polygraph, I guess. They'll believe the machine over you, of course you're going to lie about dreaming of murdering someone. We'll just go ahead and throw you in jail to prevent that crime. Minority Report 2!

[smileyman]

You don't wann go in there buddy!!!!:diitb::ps::hss::eatatthey::bash::screwy: :yum::wtf::rofl::damn::cry::bunny::ladysman::pickl e::sex::Gas Man::drewpy::blowup::hug::shotgun:

[azoomm]

Same way they prove a polygraph, I guess. They'll believe the machine over you, of course you're going to lie about dreaming of murdering someone. We'll just go ahead and throw you in jail to prevent that crime. Minority Report 2!

That's the creepy part - to be held accountable for what something says is in your subconscious mind :panic:

[Papa_Complex]

But polygraphs are not generally accepted as evidence in court.

With any discovery comes both positive and negative potential. With the discovery of nuclear energy came the potential for both limitless and cheap electrical energy, and destruction of all life on Earth. Imagine what this sort of thing could eventually do for people who are hospitalized and incapable of speech, in a coma, autistic.....

[Captain Morgan]

But polygraphs are not generally accepted as evidence in court.

With any discovery comes both positive and negative potential. With the discovery of nuclear energy came the potential for both limitless and cheap electrical energy, and destruction of all life on Earth. Imagine what this sort of thing could eventually do for people who are hospitalized and incapable of speech, in a coma, autistic.....

Maybe I'm glass is half-empty, or I simply don't trust people and the government in general...

[rogue]

Maybe I'm glass is half-empty, or I simply don't trust people and the government in general...

:withstupid:

I can see the potentional, but I can also see that the abuse of it far outweighs it.

[Rider]

But polygraphs are not generally accepted as evidence in court.

With any discovery comes both positive and negative potential. With the discovery of nuclear energy came the potential for both limitless and cheap electrical energy, and destruction of all life on Earth. Imagine what this sort of thing could eventually do for people who are hospitalized and incapable of speech, in a coma, autistic.....

While I do see some benefits, I think the potential to cause harm much greater.

Edit: Ah.. Rogue you read my mind. LOL

[Papa_Complex]

Maybe I'm glass is half-empty, or I simply don't trust people and the government in general...

Nor I, but we've managed to continue living for 63 years since the first A-bomb was dropped.

[rogue]

While I do see some benefits, I think the potential to cause harm much greater.

Edit: Ah.. Rogue you read my mind. LOL


:dthumb:

You just put it in better words than I did. :lol:

[Rsv1000R]

You can't put the Genie back in the bottle, Nor can you hide the bottle so no one else will open it.

IMO I think the best you can do is be as public as possible, so more of it takes place in the light of day and not in dark backrooms.

[Flexin]

While I do see some benefits, I think the potential to cause harm much greater.

Edit: Ah.. Rogue you read my mind. LOL

But why is it ok that she can read your mind and not the White House?

James

[Flexin]

But polygraphs are not generally accepted as evidence in court.

With any discovery comes both positive and negative potential. With the discovery of nuclear energy came the potential for both limitless and cheap electrical energy, and destruction of all life on Earth. Imagine what this sort of thing could eventually do for people who are hospitalized and incapable of speech, in a coma, autistic.....

I agree. I feel that the positives (without over thinking it with my tired mind) outweight the negative. Even thought BG's tinfoil crew thinks different.

James

[AquaPython]

maybe this device is the catalyst that causes humans to eventually evolve to have little or no mouths and larger brains to demonstrate better and bigger images as we all wear portable versions on our heads. eventually the brain power is increased to the point where everyone has ESP and the device is no longer needed. at the point our bodies have shrunk and become frail because there is no need for large muscular bodies. our skin becomes gray from hiding under a polluted layer of clouds, and spending our lives indoors where it is safe.
then, you look in the mirror and you get....
http://alienshift.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/gray_alien_50yrs_of_denial.jpg

[Captain Morgan]

maybe this device is the catalyst that causes humans to eventually evolve to have little or no mouths and larger brains to demonstrate better and bigger images as we all wear portable versions on our heads. eventually the brain power is increased to the point where everyone has ESP and the device is no longer needed. at the point our bodies have shrunk and become frail because there is no need for large muscular bodies. our skin becomes gray from hiding under a polluted layer of clouds, and spending our lives indoors where it is safe.
then, you look in the mirror and you get....
http://alienshift.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/gray_alien_50yrs_of_denial.jpg


Epic post.

[Papa_Complex]

♫"In the year 2525....."♫

[Homeslice]

You can't put the Genie back in the bottle, Nor can you hide the bottle so no one else will open it.

IMO I think the best you can do is be as public as possible, so more of it takes place in the light of day and not in dark backrooms.

plus one

[Ducati Diva]

OMG how scary!!!! People really don't want to know what I'm thinking :rofl:

[fatbuckRTO]

I think this is a lot like cloning: it has the potential to scare some people shitless but it's not really what you see in the movies. I get the impression those people in the trials had to really focus and work with the computer. If there is ever a machine invented that can just rip your brain like a CD, can you imagine what kind of worthless chaotic crap it would copy? Human brains are not hard drives.

[Adeptus_Minor]

I think this is a lot like cloning: it has the potential to scare some people shitless but it's not really what you see in the movies. I get the impression those people in the trials had to really focus and work with the computer. If there is ever a machine invented that can just rip your brain like a CD, can you imagine what kind of worthless chaotic crap it would copy? Human brains are not hard drives.

:dthumb:

[Archren]

I think this is a lot like cloning: it has the potential to scare some people shitless but it's not really what you see in the movies. I get the impression those people in the trials had to really focus and work with the computer. If there is ever a machine invented that can just rip your brain like a CD, can you imagine what kind of worthless chaotic crap it would copy? Human brains are not hard drives.

Excellent response. :dthumb:

[Particle Man]

stay the fuck out of my head, it's a scary place.

[Flexin]

http://seoblackhat.com/upimage/tinfoilhat.jpg

James