Sony patents sensory perception beam

We're not going to read too much into it right now (namely because there are a lot of patents out there that have no true correlation to reality) but a Sony researcher by the name of Thomas Dawson filed patent on Sony's behalf for a "transcranial magnetic stimulation" device that would beam sensory input to a person's brain via ultrasonic pulses. Sony was quick to note that no experiments had been conducted with the technology—so it's not much more than theory right now. Thanks, Sony, for making us wonder if we're all really just brains in jars in Sir Howard Stringer's office compound.

[Iambic @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

> A Sony Electronics spokeswoman told the magazine that no experiments had been conducted, and that the patent "was based on an inspiration that this may someday be the direction that technology will take us."


So in other words, "We haven't actually done this, but we're going to patent it anyway so we can still make money off of it when someone else figures it out."

[Gabe @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Sweet BRAINSTORM visual. Nice work. That movie still gives me thge shakes.
g

[Bend @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Actually, TMS is an accepted and thoroughly tested technique used in clinical neurophysiology. It allows precise, non-invasive stimulation of the cortex. In this case there's a clear and proven basis in reality.

[Tom Harpel @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

I always thought Brainstorm contained a scenario so realistic and compelling--despite the ending--that the realization of the helmet was inevitable. Maybe Sony is closer than we think?

[fuzzer @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Great... a high tech mood helmet. Next Sony will patent a bluetooth pet rock.

[Dave @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

I second Bend: TMS is well-accepted in the scientific community. Right now it's main use is to temporarily (on the order of tenths of a second) disable part of the brain, so the scientist can have the subject try something they could normally do, and if the TMS'd part of the brain is responsible for that function they will be unable to (gross simplification but...). It's a relatively new technique as things go, though, so they are still finding new uses for it. Supposedly it can help with depression, for example.

[JD @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Hahaha I knew Sony would crumble under Sir Howard, goddamn.

[Thomas Dawson @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Actually my invention does not use TMS at all. It uses pulsed ultrasonics. The original article was comparing this technology with TMS. The patent I developed does not use TMS. The patents are available on-line at the USPTO if anyone cares to look. There a new one on a technique to improve the resolution of the perceived image.

Regards,
Thomas Dawson
Sony Electronics

[Taury @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Heh. Does anyone remember when the PS2 first came out, Sony had a commercial for the "PS9". It was this orb thing that sent little particles of some sort into your brain and you could play games in your own head or something. Freaky...

[Niko @ Dec 19th 2005 12:53AM]

Thomas Dawson,
I am curious, is Sony interested in this technology, in the hopes that it can be used as a form of entertainment? Or are they looking at developing medical devices? (or both)
I've read the patent information, and although much of it is beond me, it seems Sony is interested in the medical uses.
But they can't deny that this also has serious potential as a new form of gaming. Can it really be perfected enough to where it can be used in that format?

And so far, this is all just theory, right? Since no tests have been done? How soon do you expect that tests will be preformed?

Niko