Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: cheryl j on 05/03/2013 15:50:09

Title: Will the Government be allowed to read peoples minds?
Post by: cheryl j on 05/03/2013 15:50:09
Two recent science news articles both interested me but also creeped me out a bit. One was about electronically connecting two rats brains so that puzzle solving skills learned by one rat transferred to another rat. The other article was about researchers who could tell who a person was thinking about based on an MRI. Is this the beginning of the end of the last bastion of privacy - the mind?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130228093823.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130305091000.htm
Title: Re: Will the Government be allowed to read peoples minds?
Post by: CliffordK on 05/03/2013 18:46:28
I don't foresee the ability to read fine details in people's minds in the future.  But, one could likely determine if a person is paying attention, or thinking about his girlfriend.

There is, however, work at improving lie detectors, such as using EEG as part of lie detectors. (http://rdn-consulting.com/blog/2008/09/17/eeg-based-lie-detector-convicts-murder-suspect-in-india/)

And the military, of course, has their eye on this technology. (http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1841108,00.html)

One could imagine military applications for actual brain implants, but I think we are quite far from that.  Perhaps a memory implant chip.  Imagine instant access to a terabyte or larger database of information.
Title: Re: Will the Government be allowed to read peoples minds?
Post by: Don_1 on 06/03/2013 16:43:20
Will they ever need to?

I should think they all know, deep down inside, we hate them with a vengence; liars, cheats, thieves, layabouts............
Title: Re: Will the Government be allowed to read peoples minds?
Post by: grizelda on 12/03/2013 10:44:40
With the prevalence of WiFi, small devices could be secreted in your dwelling that could pick up signals from your communication devices. For example, each web site could have a signal piggybacked on it that produced a pattern of static from your monitor that lets the WiFi device know which sites you're visiting. Ditto for T.V. channels, shows, ads, etc. Deviate from the norm and you might get a visit from your friendly neighborhood drone.
Title: Re: Will the Government be allowed to read peoples minds?
Post by: Minerva on 12/03/2013 13:28:59
I'd be getting a visit from men in white coats if anyone watched me at home [;D].  I talk to myself, I talk to the cats, I dance like a loon and sing at the top of my voice and when I'm studying I walk around talking like I'm trying to teach someone else the subject (it helps me learn).  Bring it on - if the government has a burning urge to see me in all my looney glory then good luck to them...... [;)]
Title: Re: Will the Government be allowed to read peoples minds?
Post by: Lmnre on 13/03/2013 14:15:13
I think everyone would find reading people's minds an egregious* violation of one's privacy. Dare I say that everyone would rate reading people's minds similar to using a nuclear weapon as to its abhorrence.

Having said that, Kim Jong-un might use it, and it would make for a great reality TV show.


* I always wanted to use this word.
Title: Re: Will the Government be allowed to read peoples minds?
Post by: CliffordK on 13/03/2013 16:36:57
I noted here (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=47197.0) that the government is actively researching controlling the minds of bugs.

I suppose it is not quite the same as reading the minds of people, but may be one step closer to having implantable electronics. 

Apparently there is also a direct brain interface for controlling prosthetics. (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=44227.0)
Title: Re: Will the Government be allowed to read peoples minds?
Post by: majorminor on 05/04/2013 19:19:54
I would say politicians would be against the idea incase the technology was ever to be used on them.  Imagine a world were we could see whats inside the mind of any candidate for political power. Maybe the correct people would finally  get elected rather than power hungry egos or sponsored puppets.
Title: Re: Will the Government be allowed to read peoples minds?
Post by: CliffordK on 06/04/2013 03:46:43
I would say politicians would be against the idea incase the technology was ever to be used on them.  Imagine a world were we could see whats inside the mind of any candidate for political power. Maybe the correct people would finally  get elected rather than power hungry egos or sponsored puppets.
No doubt, the politicians would also invest in the development of a voter amnesia drug that could be distributed in the water supplies.

The USA had decided to invest heavily in the Human Brain Initiative (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-m-gentile/brain-initiative_b_3002835.html).  So, what is the Government's goal?