“From then on, when anything went wrong with a computer, we said it had bugs in it.”
-Grace Murray Hopper (American Computer programmer and Inventor of COBOL)
One of the things that fascinated me a decade ago was a computer program that can read the mind. This was the David Copperfield card trick. Watch the video and I challenge you to figure out the trick employed. The original version of this program was in Powerpoint. I was really amazed the first time I saw it. It seemed to me the computer knew what’s inside my mind. I dissected and analyzed each slide to unveil the mystery. After deciphering the enigma, I felt so stupid, but enlightened. I excitedly showed-off the computer magic trick to my friends, family and to every bored kid in the neighborhood. As expected, everyone was amazed, baffled, blown away and fooled. Some of my geek friends would suspect a stealth microphone or a hidden camera. I can’t help myself, I blurted out the secret and spoiled their sense of wonder.
Just last year, I adapted the same card trick idea for a school project. I created “The Virtual Illusionist”, an interactive program that performs the same feat and reveals the secret in the end. My point is to establish with the audience that the human mind has some sort of a bug or a glitch. Through the ages, this flaw in the mind was exploited by many, and we are not even aware of it. These questions arise…
– Is it possible to hack the mind ?
– Can we override freewill using mind control techniques ?
– Is it possible to tamper human memory ?
I was interested learning more about this phenomena and how it applies to my profession as an Interactive Multimedia Developer. Imagine, if I can only create some sort of a sophisticated computer magician that would baffle and entertain many, what a fantastic multimedia application would that be.
During the winter break, I started doing a little research to gain a better understanding about the human mind. I spent most of my spare time reading books about psychology, neuroscience, mind control, hypnosis, cognitive science and the like. YouTube also provided tons of good information directly from experts and reputable institutions. According to the scientists who studied Strong Artificial Intelligence, the chunk of slimy meat between our ears, the brain, is literally a computer. The mind – our thoughts, our perception of reality – are only products of electrical activity in our brain. This is not Morpheus lecturing Neo about batteries, this is neuroscience.
Going back to the question about the possibility of hacking the mind, I would say yes, the mind could be hacked. Mindhacking is not a new technology. It’s been there since man learned how to use speech to transmit information. Mindhacking is mind control using deception, dissimulation, misinformation and manipulation with a touch of creativity. This may sound evil, but deception and misinformation to gain advantage is prevalent among organisms. Deception is a strategy for survival. We use deception in our everyday lives to adapt in this treacherous social world. Putting that make-up on, wearing a fake smile, colouring that hair, wearing those signature clothes and jewelries, spraying that perfume – are forms of deception and misinformation. Deceit is natural and it’s hard-wired into our brain. We don’t need science to prove this. Can you imagine the chances of survival of a chameleon without the camouflage? Evolutionary psychologists believed that deception and counter-deception (detection) played a significant role in shaping the human intelligence. Life, as what they say, is like a game of poker. Deception and detection are essential. If you fall for a bluff, you’re screwed. Deception can be destructive to those who can’t detect.
In today’s overstimulated world, countless things slip beneath our conscious radar everyday. Corporate giants are now exploiting the power of subliminal advertising to influence your buying decisions. This covert mindhacking technique is only the tip of the iceberg and you will be shocked what Mindhackers.net will uncover.
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