Alter Ego is a device that will allow users to
communicate with their computer and other devices somewhat telepathically. You
wear a device that is attached to your face, and it detects the micro movements
your face makes when you read things in your head, or even just when you think
something. It is known as silent speech, or subvocalization. When you read, or
think things, you ‘hear’ it in your head. The muscles in your face, jaw, and
larynx move imperceptibly so that you can ‘hear’ what it is you are reading or
thinking. The device attaches behind the ear and under the lip with sensors in
certain areas of the cheeks, jaw, and chin. It does not go into your ear, so it
does not interrupt your hearing or any conversations. The device can decipher
your thoughts based on these micro movements with 92% accuracy. All you would
need to do is think, and whatever you thought is transmitted to the computer it
is connected to.
Not only can you send thoughts to your computer,
but the device can also answer you. The device has bone-conduction headphones,
which according to MIT news,
“Transmit[s] vibrations through the bones of the
face to the inner ear. Because they do not obstruct the ear canal, the
headphones enable the system to convey information to the user without
interrupting conversation or otherwise interfering with the user’s auditory
experience.”
Essentially,
you can hear the device ‘in your head’ like it were your own thoughts, although
it would not have the voice you normally hear, it would be an artificial
intelligence voice, like hearing Siri or Alexa. You can watch a video on how
this works here.
I
think this device would have a huge impact on social media. Not only is the
device completely hands free, it is silent. You would not need to have your
phone to be connected to all of your different forms of social media. All you
would have to do is think what you wanted to post, and it could be done
instantly without you having to even move. I think it could be very helpful for
certain demographics such as people who are paralyzed. They could be more
involved with a device like this because they would be able to use it to be
engaged on social media without needing to move.
While
I think this device could have a huge impact and be beneficial, it also is a
little creepy that you and your computer are talking to each other in your
head. Also, with all of the security breaches happening with Facebook and other
‘secure’ places of information, it would make me nervous attaching a computer
to my thoughts.
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