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Computer-Aided ESP Transmits Binary Numbers, Slowly

Posted by timothy on from the can't-be-sensory-and-extra-sensory dept.

High-C writes "Dr. Christopher James of the University of Southampton has demonstrated what is being termed 'Brain to Brain' communication. In binary, no less. In essence, one person imagined a binary number, which was picked up by an EEG and transmitted via the net to another PC. The received signal was displayed on LEDs flashing at two different frequencies. The receiver's EEG correctly deciphered the string, resulting in a 1:1 transmission of binary data via thought. The throughput isn't great so far, at .14 bits per second, but it's an incredibly geeky proof-of-concept all the same."

6 of 148 comments (clear)

  1. NOT BRAIN TO BRAIN by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    There's a friggin LED in the middle.

    1. Re:NOT BRAIN TO BRAIN by Joce640k · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Sombody is failing to understand the "Extra Sensory" part of "ESP", ie. you're not allowed to use any of the five senses.

      Besides ... if you have a radio link then why not just give them bluetooth headsets and let them talk to each other?

      --
      No sig today...
  2. Mind-Machine Interfaces by selven · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Just imagine how useful these could be to disabled people.

    1. Re:Mind-Machine Interfaces by Hurricane78 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I just read your comment as:

      Just imagine how useful these could be to disable people.

      ...and there we have the evil flipside of the coin.

      Sorry...

      --
      Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
  3. bah, that's nothing by jipn4 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    and transmits them to the second user's brain through flashing an LED lamp

    Bah, that's nothing. When I talk to my wife, I transmit my brain impulses through air, simply by flapping my tongue, and it is transmitted to her brain via vibrations in thin air! Isn't it amazing? ESP and all?

  4. Re:Useless. by soren202 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    God also knows that new technology never stretches beyond it's original setup as it matures in age.