March 2003 Sony Corporation

Introduction

- Download Main Document (660 KB)

About ten years ago we were visiting a laboratory in Europe which does a lot of work in the field of bioelectromagnetism. We asked whether they were aware of any experimental work in this area where unconsenting human subjects were subjected to altered states of consciousness via remote electronic means. The scientist we asked replied with the following anecdote.

Some years earlier he had attended a conference in San Diego, CA which offered an optional tour of a leading electronics laboratory in the area. He elected to take this tour and at one point the group was asked if any of them would like to play some computer games under development. A friend of his accepted the laboratory's offer. When his friend returned to the group some time later he was in a state of disbelief. He thought as the game progressed that his emotions were being altered to reflect the action displayed on the monitor, but he wasn't really ready to accept that this was possible. Of course, persons in the ECCS at that time were being subjected to emotional and psychological and physical alterations on a daily basis as their lives progressed!

United States Patent 6,536,440 concerns a "Method and system for generating sensory data onto the human neural cortex". It is a non-invasive system, overcoming the drawbacks of surgical implants. Essentially, Sony claims that by targeting certain locations of the brain with ultrasonic energy, pulsed at a low frequency, they can create hallucinations of visual, aural, olfactory and somatosensory sensations, as well as those of taste.

Certainly, some people enjoy sensory hallucinations or they would not consume the drugs which produce them. Of course, the United States has declared those drugs to be controlled substances and trafficking in them results in long prison sentences. Do we want Sony Corporation building hallucinations into computer games played by children, adolescents and young adults? Do we want the Central Intelligence Agency and the American military torturing peaceful citizens by remote electronic means into suicide or violent crimes they would never otherwise have committed? Why aren't these questions being asked?

- Download Main Document (660 KB)

© ICOMW 2006