Apple’s Siri a Game-changer?

Were you excited for the iPhone 5 to be released, only to then feel disappointment about a confusing "4S"? James Allworth argues that Apple's addition of the Siri voice-control feature is as revolutionary as the Mac itself. The 4S is more of an advancement than many thought, and will change the way mobile devices are used. Speech is a natural form of human communication, and the ability to talk to your phone like it's a person unlocks new opportunities for interactive experiences.

Robert Scoble knew Siri would be major last year, and predicts it could be major move in Apple's competition with Google. The mobile device and app market has been a fierce one, but Siri could be the new edge everyone else has to compete with. Google and anyone else intending to have a presence in the market need to come up with an answer, and fast.

Apple's website makes the claim that Siri knows what you mean, and that it goes beyond voice-recognition. If you asked about a good place to find a burger, and then asked about tacos, Siri knows you're still talking about finding restaurants. Siri will also ask you questions for the sake of being proactive.The site goes on to state that Siri uses the majority of the built in apps on the iPhone 4S. There may be little left we need to use the keyboard for when we can now have so many functions at the command of our voice. I’m starting to see what Mr. Allworth meant by Siri being just as revolutionary as Apple itself.

Will Siri be the future of artificial technology? There is a concern about how much Siri knows and can do, and if we need to regulate Artificial Intelligence. In the constant drive to release new technology it is easy to overlook the long-term effects of current actions, and only time will tell if more planning should have been involved with the release of Siri before being made available to the public.

Brain Scans Using Smart Phones

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A personal EEG system was previously released by Emotiv for researchers and developers. Emotiv's EPOCH acts as a revolutionary interface for human and computer interaction, and already has a considerable community using its developer kit.

Now scientists at the Technological University of Denmark have hooked up Emotiv's system with a Nokia N900 smart phone. Individuals can now monitor brain states in a natural environment, as opposed to in a laboratory setting where one would typically find brain scanning devices. The mobility aspect may also help patients with neurological disorders be treated and monitored at home.

One possible use of the device would be to diagnose seizures at their onset. Continuous monitoring is made easier with a mobile device, which would then allow specific mental states to be studied in relation to possible triggering stimuli.

The EPOCH has also been used to make calls with a smart phone. The technology allows you to think of a phone number, and then it can be "dialed" through concentration. It could also function as a typing assistant for paralyzed individuals.

An interesting feature I would like to see someday is the ability to monitor brain states during deep sleep and dreams. If brain impulses during dreams could be mapped into visual data, then theoretically it would be possible to create video footage of what is dreamed during sleep.

I also wonder if brain stimuli could be created with a smart phone and inputted to the brain. Could a frequency be sent to the brain before a seizure to cause the brain to stabilize in epileptic patients? Brain states could be altered with digital precision rather than with pharmaceuticals as is currently done for people experiencing depression, bi-poloar disorder, etc. I think this technology is a ways into the future, but the fact that we are already able to map our brain activity on smart phones shows we are well on our way to new experiences and opportunities for self-knowledge.