At Facebook’s developer conference, the company announced it was developing a brain-machine interface capable of replacing a keyboard.
“What if you could write directly with your brain?” “. The introduction of Regina Dugan, one of the heads of Facebook, is puzzling. At the F8 conference, which brought together the developers of the American company in San José, California, on April 18 and 19, she presented one of the Building 8 projects.
This working group on innovative communication materials is considering a brain-machine interface, which would allow the user to put the keyboard away in the cupboard. He could then control his computer, tablet or smartphone by thought. Regina Dugan says that the tool on which the developers of the American firm are working would eventually type 100 words per minute, five times more than the average writing speed on mobile. “It sounds impossible, but we’re closer than you might think,” she enthused.
Keyboard, mouse, and instant translator
“Even something as simple as giving a yes or no answer that would turn the brain into a mouse would be a huge change,” she added. In my opinion, one day not so long ago, it will be possible that I think in Mandarin, and that you listen to me in Spanish ”. Thanks to the 60 people working on the project, in association with John Hopkins University, the interface would already be able to correctly identify eight words per minute.
Brain-machine tools already exist, especially for prosthetic arms, and work by interpreting brain waves to translate them into commands. But these devices currently require complex equipment, and surgery to implant the electrodes in the brain. Facebook relies on non-invasive systems to appeal to as many people as possible. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of the social network, said he wanted “wearable technology that can be produced on a large scale.”
Between feasibility and drifts
In addition to the technological obstacle, such developments, while they leave the most connected dreamers and open up many possibilities, nevertheless raise ethical questions, in particular on privacy. How to ensure that Facebook, very fond of personal information, does not take the opportunity to feast on a feast of more or less conscious thoughts for commercial purposes? “There is no question of decoding your thoughts at random,” assured Ms. Dugan. That would be knowing a lot more than most of us want. These are thoughts that you will want to share, words that you have decided to send to the language center of your brain. »Not necessarily reassuring …
Building 8 has given itself two years to complete the project. A deadline that seems short, given the task at hand. But with the digital giants, who have some of the brightest brains and almost limitless financial resources, nothing really seems unlikely.
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