ISD Editorial Board

Imagine the following scenario: you’re sitting in one of those boring 50-minute lectures that always puts you to sleep. To pass the time, you decide to update your Twitter or Facebook status to let your friends know what’s on your mind.

You soon recall, however, that the professor does not allow cell phones or laptops to be used during class.

So, instead of trying to strategically hide your cell phone while sending a text message so the professor can’t see, or discreetly turning on your laptop and hoping you turned the volume off the last time you used it, you decide you’ll just send your update from your mind.

That’s right, you read it correctly. Mind-reading Twitter updates. The technology now exists that can give you that ability.

Well… sort of, at least.

According to a recent article on CNN.com, Adam Wilson, a doctoral student in biomedical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has developed a way to send updates to Twitter using his mind. The process essentially works with the help of a cap with built-in electrodes that monitor brain activity, a computer that flashes letters across its screen, and a little bit of concentration.

While the process that uses the technology software is still very much in its infancy, it is still obvious that huge strides have been made, as Wilson has successfully posted multiple Twitter messages just using his mind and with the help of the necessary equipment.

According to Wilson in the same CNN.com article, the Twitter updates were successfully achieved by “concentrating on the letters he wanted to ‘type,’ then focusing on the word ‘twit’ at the bottom of the screen to post the message.”

This new and exciting technology has also gotten a lot of attention due to belief that it could be used to help those suffering from debilitating diseases or injuries — such as Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and “locked-in syndrome” — that have left them paralyzed and unable to speak.

While we as a society have not yet reached the point where we can simply send updates from our minds to Twitter or Facebook pages while sitting in class, we are still intrigued by the idea.

A little intimidated by the possibilities and capabilities that technology continues to bring, no doubt, but intrigued.

We encourage more ideas like that of Adam Wilson and like the idea that popular social media Web sites, like Facebook and Twitter, can be used not only for mere entertainment, but also for creating new, life-changing communication possibilities for all members of our society.