Facebook reveals ‘brain-reading computer’ that could know EXACTLY what words you’re thinking of
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FACEBOOK has given an update on its plans to create a brain reading computer interface that could become a noninvasive thought-typing system.
Facebook Reality Labs-backed scientists have just published the results of their latest experiment, which involved inserting electrodes into people's heads and using these to quickly decode whole words and phrases that the participants were thinking.
The research team from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) conducted the experiment by inserting highly invasive implants into patients who were being prepared for epilepsy surgery.
These patients had to listen to multiple choice questions and voice their answers out loud while the electrodes recorded brain activity in the region associated with speech so any connections between words and brain patterns could be observed.
The system predicted when a question was being processed, when it was being answered and the content of both events with a 61-76% accuracy.
Lead author of the study and UCSF neurosurgery professor Edward Chang said: "Here we show the value of decoding both sides of a conversation — both the questions someone hears and what they say in response."
A 61-76% accuracy may not seem very high but it is when compared to the 7-20% accuracy that could be expected from pure chance.
However, Facebook is still along way from creating its dream thought-typing system as even Chang noted that the tech used in the latest experiment only recognised a limited amount of words as participants were only asked nine questions with a total of 24 answer options.
Other limits include that participants still had to use speech rather than just thinking their answers and that the system used was very invasive, which is likely to be extremely unpopular to a mass market.
Back in 2017, Facebook proposed a non-invasive brain reading cap that would let people type 100 words per minute with thoughts alone and has also been working on a headset that reads brain activity with near-infrared light.
Facebook has said that its virtual and augmented reality glasses could one day use brain reading technology.
A Reality Labs post explained: "Being able to decode even just a handful of imagined words — like ‘select’ or ‘delete’ — would provide entirely new ways of interacting with today’s VR systems and tomorrow’s AR glasses."
This kind of technology is sure to have its opposition from people who don't want their thoughts read by companies like Facebook but it could also be life changing for patients with speech issues.
This study has been published in the journal .
Virtual Reality v.s. Augmented Reality – what's the difference?
Here's what you need to know...
- Virtual reality involves using a headset to simulate a virtual world
- In a VR world, everything you see will be computer-generated
- Popular VR headsets include the HTC Vive and Facebook's Oculus Rift
- Augmented reality lets you see the real world, but "augments" (or adds on) computer-generated elements
- This means you'll be able to see computer images overlaid onto your real-world view
- For instance, you could wear glasses that overlay directions onto the road in front of you
- Popular AR headsets include Microsoft's HoloLens and the Google Glass spectacles
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Would you wear a brain reading device? Let us know in the comments!
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