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Northrop Grumman To Develop Brain-Wave Binoculars

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the second-sight dept.

An anonymous reader writes "An AP wire reports that DARPA has granted a $6.7 million contract to Northrop Grumman to develop 'brainwave binoculars'. The binoculars will be built into a helmet, which will include EEG electrodes that will monitor the wearer's brain activity for patterns consistent with object identification/recognition. From what I can gather, the idea is that when you look at a far-off or partially obscured object without noticing it, your subconscious probably did notice it and tried, unsuccessfully, to identify it. The EEG in these binoculars would pick up on that kind of subconscious activity and draw the wearer's attention to the object in question. The goal is that these binoculars would be able to pick up on any object anywhere in the wearer's field of view, where a person can only pick up on things that he focuses both his eyes and his attention on. This delves into some very interesting territory: it would be an electronic device that uses human eyes to collect data, and even uses a human brain to partially process the data. Since it also passes its results back to the human providing the data and initial processing, it essentially adds a second processing loop in parallel to the wearer's visual system."

5 of 149 comments (clear)

  1. Future press release. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Servicemen reprimanded for zooming in on young women's breasts. One of the servicemen was quoted as saying, "It's the damn sub-conscious link! I can't do anything about it!" Defense department reevaluating binoculars.

    1. Re:Future press release. by edwebdev · · Score: 5, Funny

      This tactic would work even without subconscious binoculars!

  2. Re:Sounds Just Like ... by Shotgun · · Score: 5, Funny

    What do you want to bet that the only thing these binoculars register is 'tits'.

    And how would that be a waste of money?

    --
    Aah, change is good. -- Rafiki
    Yeah, but it ain't easy. -- Simba
  3. Re:I think the question on every ./er's mind is... by bsDaemon · · Score: 5, Funny

    So long as you don't try and reformat with ReiserFS -- I hear that's a little dangerous.

  4. Recursion issues abound by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Guy wearing binoculars notices some object
    Binoculars sense this and draw attention to object by putting some kind of HUD symbol on screen
    Guy wearing binoculars notices HUD display object
    Binoculars sense this and draw attention to object by putting some kind of HUD symbol on screen
    Guy wearing binoculars notices HUD display object
    Binoculars sense this and draw attention to object by putting some kind of HUD symbol on screen
    Guy wearing binoculars notices HUD display object
    Binoculars sense this and draw attention to object by putting some kind of HUD symbol on screen
    ...
    Binoculars and/or Guy's brain explodes
    ???
    Profit