http://www.technologyreview.com/new...rain-computer-interfaces-to-control-feelings/
And I sez to myself, "Take this to TL15 and put it on an oppressive world."
And I sez to myself, "Take this to TL15 and put it on an oppressive world."
Mind control of the near future
- Thread starter Carlobrand
- Start date
BlackBat242
SOC-14 1K
Just like several other "exceptional cases only/last resort treatment" therapies, which have become the default/first option.
Initially it will be driven by patients/patient families who don't want to go through the long process - but want to jump right to the guaranteed solution.
Eventually courts and politicians (and the public) will push it as "the most cost-effective option".
Makes me think of Julian May's "Docilators".
Or Zhodani Thought Police.
I wonder what would happen if it got hacked.
Or Zhodani Thought Police.
I wonder what would happen if it got hacked.
Ooooooooh! Push-button riots! :devil:
Certainly at Tech 15, this sort of thing would be pretty easy to implement on a planetary scale. Even at tech 12 it's not going to be impossible, depending on how you're doing it. I figure the reason we don't see entire planets of drones is that (1) it makes for very poor adventure material in general and (2) that something like 'planet-wide mind control' probably comes under one of those few areas that the Imperium - regardless of it's stated policies - won't put up with. Sure, you can institute such a program and within a few months your program fails in a catastrophic fashion due to 'unforeseen elements' that also emphasize to everyone on the newsnet what a terrible idea that had been in the first place.
The series written by Iain M. Banks, which admittedly puts the Culture at above the TL20 point, has members fitted with something like a bioware interface to allow for more generalised comms with each other and the AIs that look after stuff (Stuff!) for them.
Would a device like this be subject to interference from the sort of EMP weapon that would blind a sophont that used Awareness rather than vision as a sense? Ref T5 B3 pp209 & 225 (notes below the Hit Effects table)
Would a device like this be subject to interference from the sort of EMP weapon that would blind a sophont that used Awareness rather than vision as a sense? Ref T5 B3 pp209 & 225 (notes below the Hit Effects table)
This technology could also lead to "electronic drugs", like the pleasure-center stimulating device appearing in various Larry Niven stories. Just plug the electrodes in teh right place, and you can experience any emotion you want. The narcotic potential of this is enormous.
Discovery science channel, I think its on some of Morgan Freeman's 'Through the Wormhole' shows, there are scientists who have working computers that can read thoughts.
The computer reads surface electrical signals of a human brain. It tries to match words and pictures in its library to what the human is looking at on the screen. I don't remember the percentage of accuracy.
Beetles as the new drones. Their pleasure centers are used to steer them. Left, right, takeoff, land, forward. They wear tiny cameras. Doesn't need high tech level to do this to humans as the pleasure center is already located in humans.
The computer reads surface electrical signals of a human brain. It tries to match words and pictures in its library to what the human is looking at on the screen. I don't remember the percentage of accuracy.
Beetles as the new drones. Their pleasure centers are used to steer them. Left, right, takeoff, land, forward. They wear tiny cameras. Doesn't need high tech level to do this to humans as the pleasure center is already located in humans.
