Butrfly's Wonderings

Interesting concept described in this article.

Sony Invention Beams Sights, Sounds Into Brain

The U.S. patent, granted to Sony researcher Thomas Dawson, describes a technique for aiming ultrasonic pulses at specific areas of the brain to induce "sensory experiences" such as smells, sounds and images.

The technique could one day be used to create videogames in which you can smell, taste, and touch, or to help people who are blind or deaf.

"The pulsed ultrasonic signal alters the neural timing in the cortex," the patent states. "No invasive surgery is needed to assist a person, such as a blind person, to view live and/or recorded images or hear sounds."

This whole thing has so many aspects to consider, not the least of which is brainwashing. We went through this once before with the entertainment industry's attempt to use of subliminal advertising to sell products.

Sony says they have not done any experimental testing of the technique, they just want to have a patent in place should they get inspired to make use of it. Yeah...right.

I'll admit it has some interesting possibilities for the blind, and for finally creating the long-awaited "Smellavision." But the ease in which such a thing can be abused frightens me.


It will be interesting to watch the debate over this and compare it to the debate over stem cell research. My prediction is that those opposed to stem cell research and cloning will be gung ho for this brainwashing technique.

What better advertisement for the concept then a replay of Ronald Reagan's final tribute to the Challenger astronauts as he says "We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved good-bye and slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God." Who wouldn't want to feel the touch of God upon their own face?