[sudo-discuss] Nyms & Brains: was Re: Power: nyms, part 1: improper nouns.

Rachel & Yo's- This is _really_ interesting: "Further discussion of names might be informed through reference to neuroscience, as our name is encoded pretty deeply in the brain, and we respond to it with a unique signature even in sleep." Consider that in light of the evolution of Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs), which have lately become inexpensive enough to qualify as "consumer electronics." Today BCIs require skin-contact electrodes, but the evolution of EEG technology is leading to the point where they will be able to pick up usable signals from a few feet away, possibly more. See also the P300 "evoked potential" EEG signal, which is usable as a "guilty knowledge" test, and even today is being brought into the courtroom for that purpose. So: Bob Roybob is sitting at his computer at work. A quiet little voice from the speaker calls his name, and then "AFL-CIO" briefly flashes on his screen, so fast that all he sees is a blink. While this is going on, the BCI in his computer takes a quick snapshot and uploads it to Google Mind. It gets checked against his Facebook Thoughtline profile, correlated with snippets data-mined from his iThink or BrainDroid, and compiled into the quarterly "union sympathizer risk report" for his boss. Before long, Bob finds that his job performance ratings have declined to the point where (as a quick online search discloses) he should probably "start looking." When he goes to the local internet cafe, expecting to pay cash and anonymously vent his frustrations with the world, the BCI there also picks up his EEG pattern and relays it to Google Mind. Another subtle voice from the speaker or flash on the screen confirms his identity: "Bob Roybob!" it says, and triggers the involuntary recognition pattern. His anonymity is broken, and the keywords in his dissident rant are added to his dossier, something he'll never be able to challenge because fighting "the cloud" is like doing battle with ghosts. Before long, Bob finds his credit rating is also declining, and the interest rate on his 70-year mortgage has been jacked up again. At home, his advertising feed starts showing fewer ads for new cars and getaway cruises, and more ads for Viagra, Prozac, and cheap Florida real estate: "Act now!, and in ten years it'll be a gorgeous beach-front vacation spot!" the ads chirp, suggesting that climate change has now become a "water feature." As a character in one of my unpublished fiction pieces once said: "Why put a person in prison, when you can put the prison in the person?" -G. ====== On 13-05-04-Sat 11:04 AM, rachel lyra hospodar wrote: