NASA's subvocal speech system

A bunch of scientists at NASA's Ames Research Center in California are working on a way for people to talk without making a sound or opening their mouths (we know you're secretly going to miss all those people chattering away on their cellies during movies and meals). Basically it's a new subvocal speech system that uses sensors attached to the neck that measure nerve signals used to control your vocal chords and other muscles used for speech. The sensors pick up the activity of neurons which fire whether or not you're actually verbalizing something, so essentially you can just think what you want to say and the system will translate that into words. It's all in the early prototype stages—so far the system can only recognize about twenty words, and is just now being taught how to suss out vowels and consonants—but they're already figuring out how to get the technology onto cellphones and into firefighter gear and have successfully tested with a person who lost the use of their larynx. So how long until someone builds a shotgun sensor that can read your thoughts from 50 feet away?

[Captain Kirk @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

This is making me horny.
Lower baby!

[Simon X @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

"You must think in Russian"

[Jay @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

Hmm how long till we can secretly subvocalize to advanced computers, like in Speaker for the Dead....

http://www.techbyteens.blogspot.com

[matt @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

JANE!!

[James @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

I, for one, would be mortified if all of my thoughts were automatically vocalized for me!

[Phenostar @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

Straight out of the works of William Gibson. Crazy stuff, it's going to be interesting when you're talking to somebody you don't particularly like, and end up saying exactly what you're thinking. Lets hope this thing gives you feedback so you know what you're "saying".

[Jon @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

you can attach a microphone to your neck and talk without opening your mouth. this sound can be very easily understood by someone listening to a speaker with the incoming signal, but no one else can understand. and this technology costs almost nothing. :P

[Allan L. @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

This is soooo Metal Gear Solid. Bring it on!

[Venkat @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

Sounds like the communication system in "Ghost in the Shell" Anime