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Mind-Controlled Wheelchair

Posted by michael on from the road-rage dept.

carnun writes "New Scientist is reporting on the design of a new skull cap control mechanism that could lead to the supplanting of implanted electrodes for controlling wheel chairs. The new non-invasive method has been used to control a simple wheeled robots and could have lots of psychological benefits for quadruplegics."

14 of 50 comments (clear)

  1. First tinfoil hat post! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny
    Mind control wheelchairs! First, there were ID cards, then biometrics, then chip implants. Now, wheelchairs that control your mind!

    ~~~

  2. Timmah! by floydigus · · Score: 3, Funny

    timmah. Timmah!

    --

    All things in moderation; including moderation

  3. This sounds horrible... by jolshefsky · · Score: 0, Funny

    It's bad enough that someone is in the circumstance of not being able to move, but to force upon them some crazy wheelchair commanding them through mind control is just unconscionable.

    --
    --- Jason Olshefsky

    Karma: Poser (mostly affected by adding this line long after everyone else did)

  4. Help - I want to get off by henrygb · · Score: 5, Funny
    At the moment the user can choose between three different commands: for example, "turn left", "turn right" and "move forward".

    "Stop" might be a useful upgrade.

    1. Re:Help - I want to get off by Patrik_AKA_RedX · · Score: 2, Funny
      If you don't think, it don't go.
      Hmmm, how about implenting this technology in the next generation browsers/email clients? That would make trolling a lot tougher.
    2. Re:Help - I want to get off by Verne · · Score: 2, Funny

      ooo... kinda like the pink elephant game?

      "ok... whatever you do, DON'T THINK ABOUT GOING FORWARD"

      yeah, like that'll work...

      --


      There are only two things in this world that smell like fish. And one of them's fish...
  5. this is great, but make sure... by DrEasy · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... you don't drink and drive!

    --
    "In our tactical decisions, we are operating contrary to our strategic interest."
    1. Re:this is great, but make sure... by IIRCAFAIKIANAL · · Score: 2, Funny

      Operating a motorized wheelchair while impaired is actually against the law (at least in Canada). People can and have been arrested for it.

      Course, it would probably be worst in a wheelchair controlled by your mind. You'd think about vomitting and the wheelchair would tip forward and vomit you into the street. :]

      --
      Robots are everywhere, and they eat old people's medicine for fuel.
  6. Bah, that's nothing. by DeadVulcan · · Score: 4, Funny

    Why don't people work on making more of Stephen Hawking's exoskeleton?

    --
    Accountability on the heads of the powerful.
    Power in the hands of the accountable.
  7. Re:Hmmmmm..... by TheWanderingHermit · · Score: 2, Funny

    men thinking of sex every xx minutes

    Actually, it's every 7 seconds, on average.

  8. Firefox and Otaku dreams by MagikSlinger · · Score: 3, Funny

    In the novel that the movie was based on, the Firefox was developed from a project to create a mind-controllable wheelchair. So how long before we get jet fighters we can control with our minds?

    Then it can advance to jet fighters that transform and can only be controlled by mind-control and a giant mega-fortress with a really annoying J-Pop singer.

    THEN, we can have giant Evangellion robot warriors that you synch with that has a 1 in 10 chance of killing you (or driving you insane) just in time for the Second Impact!!

    *Phew*

    I think I'll go lie down now... :-}

    --
    The bitter lessons of a veteran coder: http://bitterprogrammer.blogspot.com
  9. Re:Hmmmmm..... by TheWanderingHermit · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm sorry, what were you saying? I was busy thinking about that woman I met at the gym today...

  10. Re:Obligatory Trek Reference by Verne · · Score: 3, Funny

    or is it once for "no," and twice for "yes?).

    Don't worry. I'm sure it's one of the two. You could always ask it "is it twice for yes?" and it'll blink twice. :)

    --


    There are only two things in this world that smell like fish. And one of them's fish...
  11. Re:Hmmmmm..... by IIRCAFAIKIANAL · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think of Australian beer every seven seconds.

    Fun IIRCAFAIKIANAL Fact: I live in an apartment above an "Australian" bar in Calgary, AB.

    I really should check it out. I'd rather a Mexican bar, but what can you do?

    --
    Robots are everywhere, and they eat old people's medicine for fuel.