Microsoft exposes a patent that sounds like a sci-fi movie: Take advantage of Internet users’ brainwaves to … mine cryptocurrency

According to the Independent, Microsoft has proposed a special method to generate virtual currencies by monitoring the brain activity and biometric data of Internet users themselves. This is information that has just been released by the World Intellectual Property Organization in the last month of March, after Microsoft submitted a new patent to the organization.

Called the “virtual currency system that uses data from the activity of the human body,” the Microsoft patent describes how an Internet user will attach sensors to his body to ‘mine cryptocurrency’. .

Microsoft wants to create virtual money by tracking brain activity and biometric data of Internet users

In the simplest terms, the mining of some common virtual currencies like Bitcoin can be considered as the process of solving complex mathematical equations. When users finish the prize, they will receive ‘rewards’ which will be coins. However, this process also requires users to own special hardware systems, with strong computing power to be able to ‘decode’.

Meanwhile, the method of ‘mining money’ under the Microsoft patent is completely different. When you do any thing on the Internet, biometric sensors record the biological changes in your body.

It is these data that will be used to ‘mine’. In other words, every time you surf the web, post on social media or watch an advertisement, Microsoft’s virtual currency system will ‘reward’ you with a coin.

A virtual money digging system with huge computing power from thousands of graphics cards combined

” The brainwave or body heat emitted from a user to perform actions provided by the operator, such as viewing ads or using a certain Internet service, can be utilized to facilitate the process. mining, ‘ explains Microsoft patent.

” Instead of using systems with huge computing power to mine virtual currencies, data generated from the activity in a user’s body can become a proof-of-work algorithm .”

It is known that Microsoft’s virtual currency system will use a device directly connected to the sensors mounted on the human body, including MRI scanners, thermal cameras, heart rate sensors and infrared sensors. In addition to brainwaves and body temperature, a number of other ‘indicators’ will also be measured by sensors including ‘activity and movement of internal organs’ as well as ‘circulation of body fluids’. .

It is unclear what type of cryptocurrency the Microsoft system will be used to mine, as well as how the system works in detail. Most likely, an entirely new virtual currency will be launched, accompanied by a special blockchain network specifically designed for Microsoft systems.

According to the Independent, Microsoft declined to comment when asked about the newly revealed patent.

Refer to Independent