US Army To Develop "Thought Helmets" 226
Hugh Pickens writes "Time Magazine reports on a $4 million US Army contract to begin developing 'thought helmets' to harness silent brain waves for secure communication among troops that the Army hopes will 'lead to direct mental control of military systems by thought alone.' The Army's initial goal is to capture brain waves with software that translates the waves into audible radio messages for other troops in the field. 'It'd be radio without a microphone,' says Dr. Elmar Schmeisser, the Army neuroscientist overseeing the program. 'Because soldiers are already trained to talk in clean, clear and formulaic ways, it would be a very small step to have them think that way.' The key challenge will be to develop software able to pinpoint speech-related brain waves and pick them up with a 128-sensor array that ultimately will be buried inside a helmet. Scientists deny charges that they're messing with soldiers' minds. 'A lot of people interpret wires coming out of the head as some sort of mind reading,' says Dr. Mike D'Zmura. 'But there's no way you can get there from here.' One potential civilian spin-off: a Bluetooth Helmet so people nearby can't hear you when you talk on your cell phone."
US Army Chief of Staff To Develop "Thought" (Score:5, Funny)
US Army Chief of Staff To Develop "Thought"
TEMPEST... (Score:5, Funny)
One problem with this is any electrical activity on the brain detected is then amplified. This makes TEMPEST attacks on the thoughts of the soldier much easier as the attacker already has an amplifier attached to the soldier. Solution? Every US Army soldier needs to wear a tin foil hat!
Firefox: But they MUST think in Russian (Score:1, Funny)
But they MUST think in Russian!!!
Seriously, $4 million is pocket change in the military budget.
I can see it now... (Score:5, Funny)
(All thought, of course)
"Private Jenkins, Cover me!"
"Sir, Yes, Sir!....man, sarge is so cool and he has such a great ass! He can cov-er-me-an-e-time-he-likes, tee-hee!"
"Uhh...private Jenkins?!"
"Uhh uhh yes, sarge?"
"...I think I love you, too"
And then they'd get shot or something. Anyway, the moral of the story is...well...I forget, what were we thinking about, again?
You know, helmets are so uncomfortable... (Score:4, Funny)
They should really look into other ways to deploy something like this. Maybe something that could be injected into a person. Perhaps nanotechnology?
Re:Prior to the filter? (Score:1, Funny)
On the other hand, it quite possibly *would* catch thoughts which you would normally say only under your breath or when the mic is off.
Wow, this guy's hot!
Obligatory "Military Intelligence" Joke (Score:4, Funny)
Backspace? (Score:5, Funny)
Thought : "Roger, Air Force One. Approach terminal Whisky-one"
Transmit (to Roger) : "Terminate Air Force with Whiskey"
Dear aunt, (Score:3, Funny)
let's set so double the killer select all.
Re:You know, helmets are so uncomfortable... (Score:2, Funny)
...Perhaps this is meant for in-the-rear commo vice while out on patrol...
Jesus! You mean this thing gets rectally inserted? Oh, wait... that would mean it would be near the soldier's brain then... good idea!
Re:US Army Chief of Staff To Develop "Thought" (Score:5, Funny)
Re:TEMPEST... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:I can see it now... (Score:2, Funny)
"Lerrrrroooyyy Jenkins!!!!!!!"
What happens when... (Score:4, Funny)
...one of the soldiers gets a tune stuck in his head?
All the rest of the soldiers will hear his mental rendition of "Never gonna give you up" by Rick Astley.
Not a pretty sight. Do we really want to live in a world where you can be MENTALLY Rick-rolled?
I don't think so.
Re:Prior to the filter? (Score:5, Funny)
Recruits: Sir, yes sir.
Helmet: What a dickhead.
Re:Prior to the filter? (Score:2, Funny)
Nifty... I can see guys getting in real trouble with this. "Man that captain is hot, I wonder how she..."
*Stern look from the Captain*
"Uh umm..." *takes off helm*
Re:Prior to the filter? (Score:3, Funny)
Don't ask, don't tell, don't think.
+1 sad.
Re:Web Development Be Damned. (Score:3, Funny)
Honestly, isn't stuff like this why we all went into computer science
I went into computer science for the girls........
Re:US Army Chief of Staff To Develop "Thought" (Score:1, Funny)
Better than "shock" and "awe".
Re:US Army Chief of Staff To Develop "Thought" (Score:1, Funny)
superseeded
I for one welcome our new hope and change farmer overlords.