Warning-Warning

     I enjoy Apple’s touch screen iPhone and have fun with Nintendo’s motion-sensing Wii. However, I recently read about a new product called the Epoc headset in BusinessWeek. The Epoc headset detects your thoughts and feelings, displaying your emotions instantly onto the computer screen.

     Is it just me, or does the thought of this mind-reading-head-set totally scream Stephen King?

     Think back to 1999 and the fuzzy gremlin looking toy everyone fell in love with. Do you remember Furby? This plaything was banned from several intelligence agencies because this cute little doll had advanced audio and sensory capabilities. Oh, how quickly we forget.

     Now we have the psychic Epoc headset launching later this year. It got my attention and I wanted to know more.

     I discovered that the Epoc headset is designed by the San Francisco based firm Emotiv. This headset has sixteen sensors that reads electrical impulses or neural activity within the brain. You can use the Epoc headset to play computer games or you can arrange your personal photo’s without the use of your hands.

     This intuitive headset can detect over thirty distinctive expressions, actions and emotions. It knows when you smile or wink, if you’re delighted or shocked. It also reads basic lift and drop thoughts.

     Nevertheless, I still have unanswered questions.

     Will I get a good sensor-connection with this headset when my hair is stiff with gel? What if I have ADHD? Heavens, even now I accidently delete items or misplace files. What happens if I’m wearing the Epoc headset and have one of my sneezing fits?

     Inquiring minds want to know.

     Here is a quote taken from Emotiv’s mission statement. “….Emotiv has created technologies that allow machines to take both conscious and non-conscious inputs directly from your mind”.

     Should that remark comfort me?

     Tan Le, the president of Emotiv said, “If you laughed or felt happy after killing a character in a game then your virtual buddy could admonish you for being callous.”

     What if this headset-reading-machine reveals that my child is a calculated killer? Can I expect a knock at my door? Will the government want to recruit him or lock him up?

     Do you think the FBI/CIA will allow any of their high security ‘peeps’ to play with the information sucking headset? Again, remember the myth about Furby.

     You think I’m paranoid? Hey, I’m just sayin’… You’ve been warned!

~Pamela Vanden Bos, Mom Writer’s Literary Magazine

Comments

[Alyssa]

Is that thing real? Creppy!

[cory]

Lets find one those Chucky dolls and hook it up!

[Ella Jean]

Sounds amazing, but very spin-chilling. Great information. Wonder what would happen with a baby's brain.