Jan

Brain waves to unlock doors and get access to bank accounts

The idea is that everyone brainwave pattern is different, even when we think about the think or the same way, we have all our distinct brain waves signature.
Therefore, it is theorically possible to build unique passwords or pass-thoughts based on this finding, this technique will be better than textual password that can be stolen or guessed (they are programs out there to make dictionary attack on your password files), it is also better than a smart card that can be stolen, damaged or replicated , now there is biometric system such as iris scan, they are fine, but an iris scanner has a rather expensive cost especially for home users, such as Internet shoppers.

But, how to build such a device to make pass-thoughts possible, according to Julie Thorpe a scientist working on this project in Canada (Ottawa University), Brain-computer interface (BCI), will be the solution, she wrote in a report:

The main goal of BCI research is to provide an alternative
communication and control channel that does not depend
on the brain’s normal output pathway of peripheral nerves
and muscles [58]. The driving application for BCI research
is the communication and control of prosthetic devices for
disabled patients. BCIs have been a hot topic for the past
few years, making notable progress such as using a paralyzed
patient’s thoughts to control a robotic arm [19], and
allowing paralyzed patients to communicate (albeit slowly)
[5]. In general, these BCIs work by observing a brain signal
S, extracting its features F, and then translating or classifying
these features into some recognizable command C
through the use of signal processing and machine learning
techniques. While BCI technology is still very immature,
current efforts have demonstrated that the electrical signals
generated by our brains can be recorded and interpreted by
man-made sensors.

In a not too distant future, some firms, hope to use pass-thoughts for commercial use. Just the remembering of your favorite melody will be enough to open doors, get bank accounts access and much more.

Technorati Tags: brain waves, biometric, pass-thoughts, bci, brain computer interface, brainwave