Facebook Drops Brain for Wrist Research

Project Steno, a joint research venture of Facebook University of California San Francisco’s Chang Lab, was founded to create a brain-computer-interface (BCI). And, it appears, Project Steno was making significant process. That is, until a recent pivot away from the human brain and to another highly useful body part a little lower down.

Having aimed to develop a device capable of translating brain activity into words, with research showing the potential to use such tech to aid individuals with impaired speech, Project Steno remains connected to its original purpose even if it has now left the brain alone. Facebook’s commitment to developing a fluid, naturalistic interface for use with AR content has moved from the head to the hand. Or, more accurately, the wrist.

The wrist: one of our bodies’ most active joints and the location of nerves crucial to interfacing the human body and external technologies. Those fervent fans of virtual porn already finding themselves a little concerned over Facebook’s data collection and advertising practices and their effect on VR use may consider a wrist-mounted electromyograph to be a clear step over the line. “Analyze my stroke style so you can market to me accordingly, huh? I don’t think so!”

Your Hands, Your Porn

As is so often the case, any porno fan not willing to at least investigate a new technology making its way into adult entertainment risks missing out on a lot more than a novel way to wank. Feel like detaching yourself from your usual masturbation routine? Why not allow your wrist sensor to guide a robotic massage tool from a few inches away – that’s almost another hand! How about a (finally) perfected teledildonic experience where you accurately apply pleasurable sensations to your remote lover’s body?

As AR content both improves in quality and becomes more available, such devices as Facebook’s wrist-reader will provide the most fluid way to interact with AR elements without resorting to unnatural controllers that occupy your hands and fingers. Leaving your hands totally free to type, navigate menus, and control or influence AR elements, such a device would be an absolute godsend to any eager AR porn fan.

It’s not all political propaganda and media-bubble-reinforcement at Facebook, and if some virtual porn fans can get over the psychological hurdle of hunkering down with Zuck and Co., they’ll likely find their “private, personal time” is somehow both a little less private and a little more individually tailored – and perfect.