Once, your mind was
a place that only you could go.
But now,
anyone can drop in
and hear your thoughts.
Mind-to-mind communication
has finally arrived.
"I'm gonna read your thoughts."
Telepathy is real.
No, not that type of telepathy.
I’m talking about scientifically
created telepathy
that uses electroencephalography,
or EEG.
Brain-to-brain communication
first happened in 2014,
during an experiment conducted by
Starlab, Axilum Robotics,
and Harvard Medical School.
But participants were only able
to send and receive simple messages.
And they had to use binary codes
to spell out each word.
It was slow.
It could take up to 70 minutes
to send and receive a four letter message.
It was more like Morse code
than real telepathy.
But in the future,
could there be fully functional
telepathy equipment?
We have a long way to go
before we can share our thoughts
seamlessly with someone else.
But it’s not impossible.
The 2014 study had to use binary codes
to send messages because
scientists don’t know how the brain
codes electrical signals.
But if we can decode our brains' language,
we would unlock our full
telepathic potential.
We’d also need to create wearable tech.
This is definitely not fashionable.
Instead,
you’d have smaller EEG readers
that look slicker and cooler.
Eventually,
you could have the option of having the
EEG reader permanently
installed under your skin.
But that could leave you vulnerable to hacking.
I'll have more on that later.
The EEG reader would allow you to
send thoughts as an electrical code.
But you’d also need something to
receive code from other people.
This is where magnets come in.
A magnetic receiver would
take electrical signals,
translate them,
and then send currents
through your brain tissue.
And we’re not just talking about words here,
but images and feelings too.
In the 2014 study,
scientists used a magnetic receiver
to activate a part of the visual cortex,
which triggered light flashes
called phosphenes.
If scientists unlock how the brain works,
different parts of your brain could be
triggered for different types of communication.
But this is where we get into some sticky areas,
because what if you don’t want
someone reading your thoughts?
To protect people from invasive mind readers,
the telepathy technology
would need strong protection
Memories, dreams, fears,
your passwords,
there are some things you don’t want other people to know.
If you were to have a removable EEG reader,
you could put it on
only when you want to use it.
But an implanted EEG reader
would need some sort of off button.
Otherwise,
you’d be vulnerable to mind reading
hackers accessing all of your thoughts.
And you’d also have to practice
focusing your mind.
Once that communication channel is open,
anything could be sent through it.
Even those snippets of daydreams
that you don’t want anyone else
to hear or see.
With widespread telepathy,
our world would change drastically.
You’d see team sports where the
players are linked up together,
moving in synchronized motion,
and complex game plays.
Creators and innovators would be
able to share their ideas easier.
Instead of trying to put thoughts
that are hard to communicate into words,
you could simply share your thoughts with others.
In the meantime, I use Trends.co
to learn and collaborate with entrepreneurs, founders,
and the movers and shakers of the world.
It might not be telepathy,
but I get to dive deep into the minds of leaders from every industry.
I can also share my ideas,
get feedback,
and grow a community that helps me
get ahead of the newest craze.
And with articles like "The Future of Media & Pop Culture,"
I can see how other media brands and creators
are growing their audiences.
I love hearing from all sorts of innovators
in Trend’s biweekly newsletter,
highlighting stories from around the community.
Trends.co is not just the ultimate
knowledge hub from The Hustle
It's also a place where like-minded people
can build and create together.
And hey,
someday you might be able to link up telepathically,
and get even greater insight into
the brightest business minds.
But for now,
you’ll have to be content with using a good old phone,
tablet, or computer to access inspiring insights.
And right now,
you can get your first seven days for just one dollar.
Go to Trends dot C - O slash WHATIF
for your seven day, one dollar trial.
And when you can access other people's thoughts,
and they're accessing yours,
you'd need a way to disconnect.
Your brain would be pretty cluttered if
people could just send you thoughts
all day and night long.
And sometimes,
you might not want to know
what another person is thinking.
Privacy would become more rare,
and new mental health issues could arise
from extended use of telepathy.
If scientists could truly unlock
the mysteries of the brain,
then the possibilities are endless.
Virtual reality simulations
could be sent right into your mind.
You could record your dreams.
And maybe,
you could even upload fake memories.
But that’s a story for another What If.