Sony Patents a Brain Wave

Sony has been reported to have acquired a patent for an idea to transmit data directly into the brain, with the goal of enabling a person to see movies and play video games in which they smell, taste and perhaps even feel things. According to the report, the patent is based only on a theory, but not on any invention that marks the first step towards a real-life Matrix.

The patent describes a device that fires ultrasound pulses at the head to modify the firing patterns of neurons in targeted parts of the brain. Aiming to create sensory experiences ranging from moving images to tastes and sounds.

The report also states that it was denied an interview with the inventor, who is based at a Sony office in San Diego, California. Though Sony Electronics spokeswoman Elizabeth Boukis, said the work was a prophetic invention and no experiments at all had been done on it. She added that it was based on an inspiration which may someday be the direction that technology will take us.

The technique would be entirely non-invasive and will not use brain implants or other surgery. Experts said that they did not dismiss the idea out of hand, though they also expressed concern about the proposed method’s long-term safety. This technology hopes to open up a new dimension to users of Playstation consoles making game play even more immersive.
http://www.techtree.com/techtree/jsp/showstory.jsp?storyid=66882

Patents can be found here and here.

p2pnet.net News:- http://p2pnet.net/story/4459
The technique, “describes a device that fires pulses of ultrasound at the head to modify firing patterns in targeted parts of the brain, creating ‘sensory experiences’ ranging from moving images to tastes and sounds,” says New Scientist.

But don’t get to excited just yet because touchy-feelies aren’t exactly on the horizon.
"There were not any experiments done," Sony Electronics spokeswoman Elizabeth Boukis is quoted as saying.

"This particular patent was a prophetic invention. It was based on an inspiration that this may someday be the direction that technology will take us."


Pioneering brain surgeon Wilder Penfield was way ahead of Sony, although his technique is ‘invasive’ which is to say physical contact is involved..


In the 1940s he mapped the brain’s motor cortex by using mild electric currents to stimulate it and, “Since the patients were awake during the operations, they could tell Penfield what they were experiencing. Probing some areas triggered whole memory sequences,” says PBS.org.

“For one patient, Penfield triggered a familiar song that sounded so clear, the patient thought it was being played in the operating room.”