Science fiction writer Ray Bradbury and I attended Los Angeles High School separated by 15 years. He once spoke there and quelled the rumor he failed English: “I got a C!”
His writings extend beyond the realm of reality into a dimension of creativity and even hope. Oftentimes, we think mankind has reached the limits of understanding, but in reality there are things we don’t know regarding the eternity of outer space, the depths of the ocean, and the distant reaches of the human mind.
As a doctor and scientist, dealing with deficits of the human mind from memory and mobility disorders has been a medical challenge. I am seeing progress as science slowly moves forward.
Utilizing technology will one day cure dementia, paralysis, and movement problems improving quality of life especially as we age. This will impact society by personally lengthening life expectancy and allowing extended contributions to one’s family and community.
A piece of technology that is on the horizon is a lie detector. We all know the polygraph test, but a new detector will use an fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging). What is this? Most of us know an MRI takes a photo of the brain (or other body part). An fMRI takes a video of the brain while functioning.
It is now being used as a lie detector in California, but results cannot yet be introduced as evidence in court because it is only 90% accurate. This is better though than the polygraph which has lower accuracy.
Simultaneously combining the polygraph and fMRI could bring the accuracy closer to 100%. Of course understandably, there are a lot of politicians who would want to slow this progress down!
Right now, the cost to use this technology is expensive, but possibly with time the price might decrease.
If I could use a combined fMRI/polygraph in my medical office, no patient could exaggerate their pain, smoking, drinking, drug use, exercising, or binging on donuts!
Socially, criminals could be effectively and easily held accountable. Courts and lawyers would be almost non-existent. Corrupt business people might have to actually work for a living, and the IRS would have a field day.
Fake news might disappear, and yes, how about those politicians? They would be the last to want to undergo this testing. Bring it on!
An effective lie detector is a threat to those in our society who lie, and an asset to those who don’t. Up and down our social fabric, we will regain a foothold on our morality and ethics.
SciFi enhances creativity and hope, while lies keep us from moving forward. Thank you Ray Bradbury!
Gene Dorio, M.D.
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I am not going to lie, I really like the idea of harnessing this technology! ;o))