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I was reading the latest edition of the economist and came across an article about mind reading. It was basically talking about three papers written about some mind reading experiments using MRI scanners and computers. They also took the question one step further and said we may in the future be able to read minds and communicate that way. It went on to talk about.the.implications of it. You would know when someone was lying or decieving you.

Iam pretty sure these advancements will not take place during my life time if they ever do. But what would the implication be to magic if people knew what you where.thinking. Would it be the end of magical entertainment?

I don't think so. Some magic like mentalism probably would come to an end but when you hold a deck of cards and offer to show them something amazing most people know straight away you're lying and decieving them, they just don't know how and where, and there in lies (no pun intended) the entertainment

Yes. The same way publicly available magic books, the masked magician, and youtube have killed magic.

Well whatever the future technologies hold, I don't think we need to be worrying about creating anti mind reading magic just yet.

If mind reading became common place (especially amongst polititians and the military powers), I'd imagine that magic would be the least of anyone's concern; I rather suspect it'd be more a case of the end of everything - magic included

Certainly mean an increase in divorces.

Jobasha wrote:Certainly mean an increase in divorces.

And one-night stands!

There's a report this week in New Scientist detailing work that could lead to reading dreams as they happen, like in the Prisoner episode "A, B and C".

It would simply mean adding a new layer to the art.
You'd need to train your mind to deceive that way too. Not only misdirect with looking, body language and patter, but with your thoughts too. Got to think about what you want the spectators to see while you allow your subconscious to do the trick for you.

COMPLETELY agree with MagicRob - nothing more terrifying than governments being able to read your thoughts.
Can anyone honestly say they believe for even half a seconds that they wouldn't immediately set up a "thought police" force and lock us up for anything they didn't like?

I may start a firm selling helmets made of lead...... might make a few quid....

I suggest you buy indemnity insurance against wrecked necks before you go to market with them.

The wise magician would invent a gimmicked MRI scanner that would make the spectators think they are reading the magician's mind but actually aren't.

Or alternatively don't book any gigs inside MRI scanners.

magicrob wrote:If mind reading became common place (especially amongst polititians and the military powers), I'd imagine that magic would be the least of anyone's concern; I rather suspect it'd be more a case of the end of everything - magic included

You really know how to cheer the place up eh?!

Alec Kobain wrote:You really know how to cheer the place up eh?!

You know me, Alec - always looking on the bright side