Recently announced is the new social and marketing wave of the 21st century, brain scanning for fun and profit. Scientist have found that certain receptors in the brain light up when a person is ready to buy. This breakthrough has social gadflies and marketers alike frothing at the mouth while visions of the possibilities dance around their heads. Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to witness the birth of an industry.
The introductory phase of use
The first leg of industry's growth depends on how fast companies can begin to produce dependable brain scan technology for big business. The first wave of receptor detectors will be used as tools to enhance the employee pool for company compliance. Human resource personnel will conduct interviews of potential job candidates with devices blended into ceiling tiles overhead. By orchestrating the interview process one will be able to weed out potential problem employees like the possible sexual harasser, the breaktime abuser, the double dipper, the know it all, etc. The employer with the right interview program will also be able to detect the highly motivated from the never been motivated as well as the team player and the player. All in all the devices could save companies millions of dollar a year by assisting them with assembling the prefect workforce molded for their business.
Phase 2 and the customer
Retail layout design will be made to manipulate customers under strategically placed brain scan mechanism at the points of ready to buy. This will not only serve in increasing sales, but also raising the profit margin by reducing the sales force. The salesperson will no longer be required to stick to a customer like a wedgie in their underwear. Instead, the presence will be maximized by going directly to the right customer at the right time. There are other benefits as well. The commission based salesperson will receive larger paychecks. The "I'm just browsing customer can happily have the space they need. Unfortunately for the all talk no action customer, they will be left muttering to themselves.
Phase 3 for the love challenged
The brain scan as it becomes more affordable and the science of reading receptors evolves will become a tool of the mate hunting set. More than likely, "Speed Dating" will be replaced by the new rage, "Scan Dating." This will, of course, be reformatted for the internet giving birth to new companies such as Match Scan.com, Yahoo Personal Scan.com, True Scan.com, and EScanemy.com. This will breed brain scaning wand for home computer use. Keeping step, there will be the obligatory pirate programs to circumvent the scan. I can imagine a match made through scans of cats and dogs.
Phase 4 for the politician
Politicians will no longer rely on polls to evaluate the impact of points made within a speech and perform spin tactics at a later date. Detecting of soft or unacceptable platforms can be done on the spot. Mass brain scan devices can be strategically placed in a hall before a speaking event. The speaker will have in front of him several ways to digress at important points according how the instant scan monitors registers. The idea is to train the politician on how to present their point and pause as the communication control team evaluations the brain scan data. Orchestrating speeches on the fly to the mentality of the crowd replaces aftermath spin control. A point would be relayed in this manner, "I would like to support "blankety blank." The speaker takes a strategic breath the response results are received via an earpiece. By scanning his or her cue cards, the adjustment is made on the spot. "But I know you would not like that so I won't because you are who I represent." There will not be a problem of having to keep track of the diversions. Politicians rarely do anyway.
Phase 5 - the voter strikes back
The lodges, arenas and indoor venues of places where a politician will speak will be outfitted with a brain scan device over the podium. The data collected doubles as a funding resource for volunteer organizations that rely on outside contributions to operate. The results of a scanned speech are recorded to be sold to the highest bidder. This would be reminiscent of the days when tabloid news bid against one another for inside tell all scandal stories and interviews. You might say a politician's credibility may be bought and sold, but that would be ambiguous. A problem may arise in getting a proper scan. Remember, these are brains scans and not echo scans.
Brain scans and card games.
The question is he bluffing or is he not? An outlawed black market version of the brain scan device would be smuggled into high stake poker and other games. Readings would be relayed by a series of mini-vibrators. One placed in the left sock. Another in the right sock. You get the idea. Casinos would be forced to equip themselves with jamming devices. Better yet, trigger devices that set off all the vibrators at once. This way you could easily detect a cheat.
Could there be more?
I am sure I only scratched the surface of possibility with the usage of brain scan technology. I did not touch on the deeper sociological impact of the devices. The least of which would be the introduction of scan related smack talk. I could see a WWF wrestler scowling at another screaming "You have to have one to scan one" in a commercial. I guess you might see a new match up called "The Ultimate ScanDown."
Every technology will have its left wing detractors. Economically, that could be a good thing. It could create off shoot industries. I can imagine a new breed of fashion like aluminum weave hats to ward off scanning. That would be followed by new full body lines of competing designer sportswear by Alcoa and Reynolds Wrap endorsed by Tiger and MJ. The possibilities are never ending.
