The device will effectively ‘meld’ human and machine together, according to Arnav Kapur, who is leading the development team at MIT’s Media Lab. Electrodes pick up subtle neuromuscular signals that are triggered when a person verbalises internally.
Described as an “intelligence-augmentation” or IA device it’s worn around the jaw and chin, and then clipped to the ear.
When someone says words inside their head, artificial intelligence within the device can match particular signals to particular words, feeding them into a computer that uses a bone conduction speaker to play sounds into the user’s ear.
The idea is to create an outwardly silent computer interface that only the wearer can speak to and hear.
Great technology, or something to fear? If it’s commercialised it could have a profound impact on the way in which people interact with technology.
For high noise environments it could prove a real bonus. Likewise, anywhere that normal speech can be a problem.
With the boundaries between science fiction and reality continuing to blur and while this technology could benefit people’s lives, is there a risk that it could provide those with less altruistic intent with an opportunity to access our thoughts and manipulate them? Big brother or a big opportunity?
Or a storm in a teacup? Simply taking this device back to basics and focusing on the design of the product, are we simply looking at another wearable device that will, in all likelihood, end up going the same way as Google Glasses?
