Getting Into Our Heads

This new invention sounds astonishing, no joke intended. Inventor Eldwood "Woody" Norris--who also built the air scooter featured recently on a 60 Minutes segment about flying cards--has won a half-million dollar award for his Hypersonic Sound system. According to the story, "It works by sending a focused beam of sound above the range of human hearing. When it lands on you, it seems like sound is coming from inside your head."

Norris contemplates the technology being used in places like cars and in the airport as well as at home. "Imagine your wife wants to watch television and you want to read a book, like the intellectual you are," he says. "Imagine you are a lifeguard or a coach and you want to yell at someone, he'll be the only one to hear you."

The story does not mention the possible sinister uses of this invention--like people pointing it at you to put unwanted commands and other messages into your head. The possibilities are many, and undoubtedly will frighten some people. I'll definitely be following the news about this technology. I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more about it--no joke intended.

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