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Microsoft Wants To Read Your Brain

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the wetware-blue-screen dept.

Simon Night writes "Microsoft has entered the realm of brain machine interfaces, attempting to patent a method of classifying brain states from EEG input. 'Human beings are often poor reporters of their own actions,' the patent application notes, so reading directly from your brain is a preferred option."

5 of 162 comments (clear)

  1. Prior Art? by hostguy2004 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I didn't see any "references" in the application. There is numerous patents relating to EEG technology. I work with Quantitative EEG technology as part of my day job. There is definitely prior art for "de-artifacting" EEG data.

    --
    In Soviet Russia ^H^H^H America, The bank finances YOU!
  2. Re:Boy, this doesn't make me feel concerned by pembo13 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    So what happens, you think of Linux, piracy, or boobies and you get a shock through the Windows Genuine Advantage Testicle Electrodes, aka MS Testitrodes(tm)? By 2010, the technology will be available. By 2015, you will get a discount if you accept it. By 2025, you will not be allowed to use a computer without it.
    --
    "Thanks for all the money you paid to us. We've used it to buy off ISO among other things" -Microsoft
  3. DoubleThink by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    So, uh, the Thought Police are coming! The Thought Police are coming!

    No, I wasn't thinking that Microsoft should die in a fire! PLEASE! NOT ROOM 101! PLEASE! I'LL RAT OUT MY KID! I'LL TATTLE ON MY WIFE! PLEASE! I DIDN'T MEAN IT!

    *ahem*

    Reading nineteen eighty-four, and it seemed pretty Big Brother-ish of Microsoft, is all.

  4. This opens up sooo many grey areas by Stu101 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    For example, you harbor thoughts of harm towards someone. You know in your own mind you would never do it. Does the computer know that. Would it report it? If so to whom. Could you incrimate yourself by your thoughts?

    Suppose your a terrorist sympathiser, having done no bad stuff yourself, just understanding why they did it, you bet your ass the FBI would be knocking.

    Ok this isn't exactly what we are saying, but this is the thin end of the wedge. Feature creap. You are telling me MS will not slip in a reporting feature in exchange for an easy ride from the DOJ?

    --
    http://www.writeitfor.us - Writing IT for the IT generation.
  5. Missing the point by orkybash · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I think most of you are missing the point - I got the impression from the article that this is only being done in the context of usability studies so that Microsoft's interface designers can improve the quality of their feedback. Traditionally in usability studies users are asked to "think out loud", which gives good data as long as the users remember to talk/aren't distracted by having to talk. I guess Microsoft is developing this as an alternative, hoping it will give them more accurate data as to what the user is trying to do and how they respond to the interface. So no, no one's going to read your mind unless you're in Microsoft's usability lab and sign a release form!!