Computer Program Reconstructs Heard Words From Brain Scans

[DamianTV]

http://science.slashdot.org/story/12/02/01/0041213/computer-program-reconstructs-heard-words-from-brain-scans


"In a new study, neuroscientists connected a network of electrodes to the hearing centers of 15 patients' brains and recorded the brain activity while they listened to words like 'jazz' or 'Waldo.' They saw that each word generated its own unique pattern in the brain. So they developed two different computer programs that could reconstruct the words a patient heard just by analyzing his or her brain activity. Reconstructions from the better of the two programs were good enough that the researchers could accurately decipher the mystery word 80% to 90% percent of the time. Because there's evidence that the words we hear and the words we recall or imagine trigger similar brain processes, the study suggests scientists may one day be able to tune in to the words you're thinking."

Once they get unlimited access to your brain pan, you can rest assured it will all be for sale to the lowest bidder. And, you'll never see a dime from the profits they make.

[noxagol]

hahaha, the tinfoil hatters were right!

[DamianTV]

hahaha, the tinfoil hatters were right!

Just a few years off. So was George Orwell...

But think past the tinfoil hat conspiracy. What is the most popular electronic device in the world after the light bulb? The Cell Phone. Already GPS tracked, conversations monitored even when no call is being made, personal habits (profitable for selling to advertisers) recorded, and depending on your brand of cell, recording your GPS position every 60 seconds. And with many cells come the little bluetooth thing you put on your ear, and usually leave there.

The Govt doesnt need to chip us, we will chip ourselves.

(Cell phone technology in and of itself is NOT inheritly evil. Nor is it good. It is all in how it is used. Now consider that Good and Evil are Subjective Terms.)

edit

Well. Look at THIS (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2093930/Pilots-soon-monitored-remote-mind-reading-helmets.html).

[Gary4Liberty]

http://science.slashdot.org/story/12/02/01/0041213/computer-program-reconstructs-heard-words-from-brain-scans



Once they get unlimited access to your brain pan, you can rest assured it will all be for sale to the lowest bidder. And, you'll never see a dime from the profits they make.

More pseudoscience that prosecutors can use to put innocent people away.

[DamianTV]

More pseudoscience that prosecutors can use to put innocent people away.

But but but look judge! This guy THOUGHT the word BOMB! (when in fact he didnt)

[Zippyjuan]

One- they had an implant in people's heads to try to read the brain activity. And two- from what I gather (I am no neuro expert) different people's brains can process and organize information differently from each other. Trying to be able to read the thougt of anybody on the planet will be extremely difficult.

Bit longer article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/jan/31/mind-reading-program-brain-words

The remarkable feat has given researchers fresh insight into how the brain processes language, and raises the tantalising prospect of devices that can return speech to the speechless.

Though in its infancy, the work paves the way for brain implants that could monitor a person's thoughts and speak words and sentences as they imagine them.

Such devices could transform the lives of thousands of people who lose the ability to speak as a result of a stroke or other medical conditions.



The prospect of reading minds has led to ethical concerns that the technology could be used covertly or to interrogate criminals and terrorists.

Knight said that is in the realm of science fiction. "To reproduce what we did, you would have to open up someone's skull and they would have to co-operate." Making a device to help people speak will not be easy. Brain signals that encode imagined words could be harder to decipher and the device must be small and operate wirelessly. Another potential headache is distinguishing between words a person wants to say and thoughts they would rather keep private.

[newbitech]

One- they had an implant in people's heads to try to read the brain activity. And two- from what I gather (I am no neuro expert) different people's brains can process and organize information differently from each other. Trying to be able to read the thougt of anybody on the planet will be extremely difficult.

Bit longer article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/jan/31/mind-reading-program-brain-words

I suspect that process will be similar to deciphering encryption via brute force. In the case of the human brain, the encryption key is any word in the dictionary. So once a reliable pattern is found between spoken, heard, and thought words the encryption is broken.

[DamianTV]

I think it depends on how the technology is promoted.

If you had a headset device that allowed you to control your mouse or your computer by thinking a command, the first step would probably be that you have to train the software to recognize your types of brain patterns. Once those types of brain patters are recognized, then they could comprimise the private thoughts in ones head. Persuade the people themselves to fill in the blanks for you. Tracking technology is older than Social Networking for example. Well, in terms of global popularity. Social Networking allows people to fill in the blanks that tracking has a more difficult time with. Same thing would happen with brain scanning technology. That is assuming that this technology is real and not some sci fi bullshit straight from Outer Limits or Twilight Zone.