Things have been busy for the last couple of weeks, but I had to come out of my self-imposed silence for this one.

According to the BBC neuroscientists have developed a software which, when combined with neural electrodes, can literally let your brain do the talking.

After a car crash that locked Eric Ramsey in a conscious but paralyzed state eight years ago, scientists began researching his brain. They started looking at the areas of his brain involved in speech and attempting to interpret the impulses into literal words. They think they've found the formula, and for the next few weeks they're going to try to coax his brain into having conversations, which would be a huge leap forward in our understanding of how the brain functions.

This is still a ways from literally reading minds. It's similar to Christopher Reeves' using his muscles to create speech - only in this case, the brain is the muscle. That means Eric will be in control of what words he shares with the community and what he keeps to himself (though he still had better not let his internal monologue get too vivid).

It is also unidirectional. That is, the words can come out, but he still has to use his ears and eyes to understand other people's words. Keep checking back though - eventually they have to come up with the technology to replace this human shell entirely.

Labels: brain, computer, convergence, mind control, technology