Technology is becoming more immersive, and now we are ready to voice the text, if only it was not in public. Researchers at the MIT Media Lab have come up with the perfect device for you. It looks like Bane's mask crossed with an octopus. Or, if you remember the movie Aliens, it resembles a monster that grabs your head before digging into your jaw.
Scientists presented their work at the International Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces (yes, it happens) in March in Tokyo.
It works like this. When you think about words, they quietly, imperceptibly pass into your mouth, pour into your mouth. Or more specifically, signals are sent to the muscles that control your mouth. And these signals will not go unnoticed by a sensitive computer.
Scientists have named their device AlterEgo. There are seven electrodes around the mouth that pick up the signals you want. The data from the electrodes is picked up in several rounds of processing before being transmitted wirelessly to a device that is waiting for instructions nearby. Also included are transcranial headphones so that the device can respond.
Scientists tested their prototype on several people, who trained the software to recognize data corresponding to different commands (“challenge”, “answer”, “add”), and then on several more to understand how accurately the system works. The results were promising, but the device isn't quite ready for mass production.
The closest comparison to this system is a device that can be accessed using ordinary speech, like Siri or Alexa. But, horribly, this is far from the first attempt by scientists to create a direct way of transmitting our thoughts to computers. Most of the early versions relied directly on signals from the brain (and electrodes were superimposed on or implanted directly into the brain, which is not very convenient).
According to scientists, AlterEgo has the following advantages:
Promotional video:
- It is not invasive
- It is 92% accurate (roughly on par with Siri or Alexa)
- It's portable (and cute)
Unlike direct reading of brain signals, it cannot read your personal thoughts (except those that you quietly whisper to yourself)
In some situations, this device can definitely be useful. Individual movements can tell your phone to play music, open a calculator, or text a friend. With it, you can control your "smart home", turn off the oven or turn on the coffee machine. In ten years it will be possible to type a text with the power of thought. This is great for people with movement or vision problems.
But. There is a big but. There are several points that can call into question the ideality of AlterEgo. The electrodes must not be moved when a person is using them, or all readings will go to waste. It is hard to imagine that a person would be comfortable wearing such a device on half his face. And there is no information on how the system will behave in real conditions - scientists have yet to verify this. And, of course, there is the problem of superimposed signals, when thoughts are confused, and the device already perceives and develops them. What if you hack the device? Who will speak for you then?
Scary to think.
Ilya Khel
