Posted on 09/17/2008 10:24:50 AM PDT by BGHater
Soldiers barking orders at each other is so 20th Century. That's why the U.S. Army has just awarded a $4 million contract to begin developing "thought helmets" that would harness silent brain waves for secure communication among troops. Ultimately, the Army hopes the project will "lead to direct mental control of military systems by thought alone."
If this sounds insane, it would have been as recently as a few years ago. But improvements in computing power and a better understanding of how the brain works have scientists busy hunting for the distinctive neural fingerprints that flash through a brain when a person is talking to himself. The Army's initial goal is to capture those brain waves with incredibly sophisticated software that then translates the waves into audible radio messages for other troops in the field. "It'd be radio without a microphone, " says Dr. Elmar Schmeisser, the Army neuroscientist overseeing the program. "Because soldiers are already trained to talk in clean, clear and formulaic ways, it would be a very small step to have them think that way."
B-movie buffs may recall that Clint Eastwood used similar "brain-computer interface" technology in 1982's Firefox, named for the Soviet fighter plane whose weapons were controlled by the pilot's thoughts. (Clint was sent to steal the plane, natch.) Yet it's not as far-fetched as you might think: video gamers are eagerly awaiting a crude commercial version of brain wave technology — a $299 headset from San Francisco-based Emotiv Systems — in summer 2009.
(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...
Anyone want to take a bet that soon commercial airspace will be sold to be broadcast in those helmets?
I have known a lot of soldiers. Their thought activity often focuses on one general subject. I know soldiers are supposed to be different now, but does the system include filters?
So how does the helmet respond to “Holy $#*+!”?
Sounds like something the global corporate behemoth Massive Dynamics will produce on an episode of Fringe.
That sounds like a nightmare...What if all day long the radio waves were covered up with “Did I leave the coffee on?” “when’s that new World of Warcraft coming out” or worse “my wife is such a base bunny, should have listened to my mother”
Do we really want to broadcast thought?
By implication I suppose you would then experience your buddys thoughts. I don’t particuarly wish to have someones dying thoughts or panic in my head. This experiment could have some very nasty outcomes.
Wait! I know, build an aircraft helmet that, when worn by a pilot, will allow the pilot to control the complete functions of an aircraft-one that can fly so fast that it responds even to thoughts;it can manage weapon systems, everything.., ....
Oh wait....
AFN commercials?
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