A Mind-Reading Computer

Computer-assisted functional magnetic resonance imaging has allowed scientists to reveal the intentions of subjects before they actually acted. This new method may be able to help paralysed patients in the future.

Read more at Science Daily

I'm thinking of the cooler gaming technologies that would come to mind (pun intended).

This is the kind of technology I'd trust some European governments to ban due to ethical issues.

After the first failed democratic revolution in Germany in the 19th century, a song called «Die Gedanken sind frei» (the thoughts are free) was written; it is still well-known today. This freedom of thought that could not be suppressed back then is very elementary - I doubt the slightest possibility of loss is likely to be allowed.

We are not considering thoughts here, but intentions. Can you imagine sitting in your car and having it turn left, not because you turn the steering wheel, but because you intend to turn left? And this is only a small example.

So, hopefully, Orwell's thought-police won't mingle with this new technology.

same difference.

Said By free::zombie

same difference.

I disagree. Thoughts and intentions are two different things. Thoughts can be completely abstract, as well as incredibly complex. I don't think an algorhythm can be designed to totally read toughts and represent them in a clear, understandable manner.

How about when you need to swerve to avoid the oncoming car? Can it react as quickly as you can? That nano-second it takes to go from thought to action might get ya squashed.

I would expect that the system would be designed to react quickly in emergency situations, like braking or swerving abruptly. All safety aspects would need to be considered before you actually commercialise such technology.

Quote

I disagree. Thoughts and intentions are two different things. Thoughts can be completely abstract, as well as incredibly complex. I don't think an algorhythm can be designed to totally read toughts and represent them in a clear, understandable manner.

do not expect politicians to make this distinctions. Apart from that, "I don't think.... can be designed" is a dangerous pronouncement if you regard, to make a conservative choice of date, human progress since the French revolution. As an example for something no one then would have dreamt of: Live organ transplants

Said By free::zombie

do not expect politicians to make this distinctions. Apart from that, "I don't think.... can be designed" is a dangerous pronouncement if you regard, to make a conservative choice of date, human progress since the French revolution. As an example for something no one then would have dreamt of: Live organ transplants

Here, I agree. First, we'll need tougher ethics committees to control what is being done with this technology (or any other that may potentially endanger our personal freedom), and not simply leave it to politicians. Second, when I say "I think", I express a personal opinion, which may not necessarily be right -- I just happen to think that it most probably is, but hey, it's only me! I merely expressed my feelings that thoughts are so complex that they are unlikely to be mapped accurately. Then again, you never know what will happen in the future, distant or not.

So I think you were right to correct me. Thanks!

There we have the problem of who should form the ethics committee ? The German government has ethical advisers, but who decides what's ethical ? and who knows ?

Also, I'm not too sure there's a great difference between thoughts and intentions: Both are basically moving electrons, ions and molecules in and among nerve cells. One might be more complex, and thus easier to detect, though.

These ethics committees should contain a panel of scientists and philosophers specialised in various disciplines. Humans are moral animals, but some of us have studied those issues more in depth and we hopefully should be able to rely on those experts. And the final decision should be unanimous.

Ethics. Such a funny word to associate with ANY government entity. And if you have a panel from all disicplines, who picks the people to be on the panel?

Said By Melizzy

And if you have a panel from all disicplines, who picks the people to be on the panel?

Probably the same way that the experts who award Nobel prizes are selected. By picking people who have a proven and outstanding track record of expertise in their field. Of course, you'll never eliminate human error.