No, I’m not talking about the supposed return of Jesus Christ, which was scheduled to happen this past Saturday. I’m talking about the development of a silicon chip that is the equivalent of digital crystal meth. If it comes to pass, civilization will end. I promise.

Your cell phone has a number of interesting chips in it, sensors really, which help determine the phone’s orientation, direction, and location on the planet.

New sensors are being planned for cell phones of the future, including an altimeter, heart monitor, and even mood sensors. It’s those mood sensors that has me concerned.

Here’s the quote from an article on MacRumors about potential new chips coming to the iPhone:

Other possibilities include heart monitors, perspiration/mood sensors, and temperature/humidity sensors. The new sensors could even be used in games to determine excitement or emotion during game play.

I’m not a psychologist, but I have a minor on Psychology. I’ve seen the films where the monkey dies because he’s whacking a bar to try and get a machine to poop out an M&M. That same type of addictive behavior is more than evident in humans. Just visit a casino and look at the rows of victims sitting at slot machines.

Game. Set. Match.

An emotional sensor built into a game would detect when you’re bummed and when you’re happy. The game’s programming could then change to elicit more happy responses from you, once it figures out what makes you elated. Like the monkey at the M&M switch, you will continue to play the game so that you can obtain those feel-good moment.

I’m not oversimplifying here: Addiction is a powerful force, and your brain is designed to succumb.

Imagine a time in the future when people just obsessively and constantly play those games that key into their deep emotions. Once the developer figures out which events trigger your happy button, you’re hooked. There is a potential that playing the game and getting that feel-good emotion will be so strong for some people that they won’t even eat.

If you think I’m making that up, then you really need to see those monkey experiments.

This type of scenario was illustrated in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation titled “The Game.” In that episode, everyone becomes addicted to a video game that produced great pleasure. The game itself was a Trojan Horse type of mind control, and eventually Wesley Crusher found a purpose and saved the day.

Star Trek was science fiction, but could the story “The Game” be coming true? Will the emotion chip become the digital version of crystal meth?

Most importantly, will you be able to resist?