'Electric Phrenology' as a security device.

October 4, 2001 8:03 PM

'Electric Phrenology' as a security device. One of Infoseek's founders wants to sell the world's airports on a mind-reading scheme. Worse, a Pentagon think-tank is taking advice from Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, ex-lead guitarist from the Doobie brothers. His advice: psychological warfare with drugs, music, and nanomachines that make you love America. [towards bottom]
posted by skallas (5 comments total)

If irony is dead, then common sense died long ago.
posted by skallas at 8:13 PM on October 4, 2001

drugs, music, and nanomachines

I think I saw that written on a crumpled-up piece of paper left over after the meeting where they came up with "sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll." Good work, guys.
posted by MonkeyMeat at 8:42 PM on October 4, 2001

Even if it wasn't bogus, and it had a 100% success rate, employing it would be a blatant violation of the fifth amendment protection against self incrimination.
posted by NortonDC at 9:33 PM on October 4, 2001

caffeine, The Monkys(sic-spellthankgod), and holding hands. This will defeat any foe. (you think im kiddin)
posted by newnameintown at 11:58 AM on October 5, 2001

Actually, the "brain fingerprinting" bit sounds really similar to the recent brain wave and and reaction time based "lie detectors" discussed in this article from New Scientist (technically a reprint, since you can't gt to NS archives without being a subscriber).

It might be a mistake to dismiss it out of hand instead of thoroughly considering the potential for serious abuse.
posted by blissbat at 4:07 PM on October 5, 2001