Mark Zuckerberg ’s dream of gadgets that let world read each other ’s opinion and communicate with brain waves may be moving closer to reality .
A secretive hardware research division that Facebook created last twelvemonth is developing " brain - computer user interface " technology that sounds a lot like the mind reading and telepathy of science fiction movies .
Several recent Book of Job postings listed by Facebook ’s Building 8 radical describe a hardware project involving " neuroimaging " and " electrophysiological data " to make a " communicating platform of the hereafter . "
Regina DuganAllThingsD/Asa Mathat
Anopen positionfor a mentality - computer interface technologist seeks a PhD in neuroscience who can help with a touch on project from " inception to product " over a two - class period . Another itemization seeks an engineer who can " develop audio signaling processing algorithms " for the platform .
Facebook declined to elaborate on the task listings , buta 2015 input from CEO Zuckerbergsuggests that the company could indeed be working on some kind of brain - controlled , telepathic communication gimmick .
“ One day , I conceive we ’ll be able to send out full plentiful thought to each other straight using technology , " Zuckerberg pronounce during a June 2015 Q&A. " You ’ll just be able to think of something and your friends will at once be able to experience it too if you ’d like . "
" Non - invasive techniques "
Other listings assay railroad engineer whocan develop"novel non - invasive neuroimaging technologies"and create"realistic and immersive haptics experiences . " Neuroimaging is an advanced field of scientific discipline that use various techniques to scan and understand what ’s pass off in the human brain , while tactile engineering simulates a good sense of touch with computers .
Facebook already looks like convey in natural endowment to map the brain . Mark Chevillet , a former platform manager of put on neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University , joined Facebook in September as a " technical project lead , " according to his LinkedIn profile .
It ’s unclear what form of technology might ultimately allow for Facebook to agnize this vision . In the past , companies have tried using headbands pack with extra sensors to measure certain brain signals , and it ’s possible that Facebook could take a similar approach .
Such a Cartesian product , although likely a long ways off , would represent a major saltation onward in computing and would put Facebook , the humanity ’s tumid social connection , at the forefront of the intersection of technology and skill .
Alphabet , the parent caller of Google , has initiate the ambitious " moonshot " projects to reinvent everything from cars to health care . But Facebook is ramping up its efforts , poaching Google ’s Regina Duganin April 2016 to spearhead the new Building 8 squad .
Building Facebook ’s own DARPA
Little is publicly known about Building 8 , other than its broad mission to develop consumer hardware merchandise that advance Facebook ’s deputation of " connecting the humanity . "
When Dugan was hired , Facebook say that Dugan would be in charge of building " technologies that fluidly blend physical and digital earthly concern . "
Regina DuganAllThingsD / Asa Mathat
Before Google , Dugan was the director for the U.S government ’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency , or DARPA . Job itemization for Building 8 describe it as a " DARPA - style " environs that mesh on " fast-growing , fix timeline , with extensive use of partnership in universities , small and big businesses . "
The two - year term limit on many progress 8 line listingssuggests that the division intendsto also work likewise to Alphabet ’s X class , which is know for developing new products within fixed clock time skeletal frame before either exclude them down or spin them out as standalone businesses .
build 8 has yet to officially foretell any products , but these job listings betoken that it ’s start up to ramp up national projects . In December , Facebookannounced a partnershipbetween edifice 8 and 17 university to collaborate on scientific enquiry .
Do you know more about what ’s go on in Building 8 ? connect with the generator firmly ( and discreetly ) via aheath@businessinsider , Twitter verbatim subject matter , or " alexeheath " on Telegram .
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Read the original clause onTech Insider . right of first publication 2017 .
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