Facebook announced on Wednesday a project to develop a “mind reading” system that would allow people to communicate via thought and “hear” through their skin.
The social network giant has its eyes set on developing optical sensors to allow people to type at speeds of 100 words per minute with their mind. It is also developing a radical touch interface that can transmit information by vibrations on the skin.
“What if you could type directly from your brain? It sounds impossible, but it’s closer than you might realise,” Facebook executive and former DARPA director Regina Dugan told a packed audience at the Silicon Valley event.
Dugan highlighted a “silent typing” system which could put an end to constantly checking our phones.
“It [The phone] has allowed us to connect to people far away from us too often at the expense of people sitting right next to us,” she added.
According to Dugan the system would allow users to “text a friend without taking out your phone, or send an email without leaving the party.”
Although, such an advance in technology may lead users to feel as if their privacy is being infringed – having a major social application being able to know your thoughts could lead to a wealth of regulatory problems.
“To be clear,” she added. “We are not talking about decoding your random thoughts.”
“You take many photos, you choose to share some of them”
“Similarly, you have many thoughts, you choose to share some of them […] we are talking about thoughts you want to share. Words you have decided to send to the speech centre of the brain.”
Such brain-computer interface technology currently exists. People suffering from certain neurodegenerative diseases can use their mind to move a cursor on a computer screen, or type words. But this technology involves implanting electrodes into the user.
Instead, Facebook wants to use optical imaging to eliminate the need to surgically intrude on brains.
The Building 8 group is also working on sensors that will allow people to “hear” through their skin, with what they feel being converted into words in a variation on how the ear turns vibrations into comprehensible sounds, according to AFP.
“Our brains have the ability to construct language from components,” Dugan said.
“I suggest that one day, not so far away, it may be possible for me to think in Mandarin and for you to feel it instantly in Spanish.”
Such technology is thought to remains only years away.
