Telepathy-like Communication Is Coming

In the future, even your thoughts may not be private. As of 2018, researchers at MIT have created a gadget called AlterEgo which detects words you think, but don't actually say out loud. The device doesn't read your mind (it is not connected to the brain), and unlike alternative devices it doesn't need you to mouth words out (no muscle movement is required). Instead, it determines your internal verbalizations by detecting physical correlates, specifically neuromuscular signals in the user's face. It then converts them to associated words. Basically you need to speak in your head (like you're doing while you read this). In order to work properly the device first has to be trained for each specific user similar to how voice controlled softwares usually need to be trained. While it's supported vocabulary is currently extremely limited, tests so far have been quite accurate (around the same as speech recognition software). Clearly the human face gives away more than most of us realize. A scary thought in world where privacy is invaded ever deeper.

This particular device is intended to allow the wearer to silently interact with a computer assistant (think Google Home, Alexa, Cortana, etc), and receive responses to their query silently in return through bone conduction. Bone conduction is the transfer of sound to the ear using skull bones. You may have seen this technology before in toothbrushes which allow you to hear music while you brush your teeth, or in some hearing aids. These technologies paired together could lead to development of devices which allow humans to communicate in a whole new way. Suddenly it's not a stretch to imagine a future where people can have telepathy-like conversations in which no audible words are ever spoken.

Of course, mass adoptions of such technologies would have consequences. What new medical conditions might arise from frequent usage of bone conduction? If the majority of peoples' conversations become non-audible will our voice-boxes atrophy to such a point that human language is affected? Will new laws be created to protect our thoughts? What privacy concerns will arise? Imagine installing an app on your phone, and seeing it request access to "your thoughts" in a permissions request.

Authors:James Daniel Marrs Ritchey
License:Ritchey Permissive License v7

Ritchey Permissive License v7:

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