Real life gets a little closer to hard science fiction: NASA scientists have developed a system that
responds to subvocalised commands; i.e., sentences you "speak" in your head. It does this by analysing nerve commands to the throat using sensors. It can only recognise a small fixed number of words, so it's of no use for silently talking on the phone to someone, at least not until they make it drive a speech synthesiser. (via bOING bOING)
I thought up this idea about a year ago. True. Took NASA to do all the hard work, of course.