Computer Control Implants for the Paralyzed

unassimilatible writes: "The Boston Globe is reporting that Cyberkinetics Inc. is about to ask federal regulators for permission to start testing a device that would enable paralyzed people to control computers directly with their brains or possibly help them move their limbs. Initially, the device, implanted into the brains of paralyzed people, will help them control a cursor on a screen or play video games. Researchers believe the technology could one day enable paralyzed people to type, control lights and heating controls, maneuver wheelchairs, or even manipulate robotic arms. I, for one, look forward to playing Stephen Hawking in Unreal Tournament 2004."

Comments

I, for one...

[Anonymous Coward]

I, for one, welcome our new cybernetic paraplegic overlords.

Re:Stephen Hawking...

[ashkar]

I always wanted to see him matched against Christopher Reeves in Celebrity Deathmatch.

Hawking can already kick your ass in Quake and GTA

[Rayonic]

As is chonicled in his MP3 archive. So I quoteth the bard:

The Mighty Stephen Hawking is a fucking Quake god,
got my finger on the trigger and my eye on the quad.
I know it's just a game, but I didn't come to play,
the Hawkman cometh and he's bringing Doomsday.
You say, "impressive", I already know it,
I'm a hardcore player and I'm not afraid to show it.
I got a Phd in pain and a masters in disaster,
the mighty Stephen Hawking is a fucking QuakeMaster.

Serious predictions

[heironymouscoward]

It will happen....

It will be used for porn...

It will be used as a drug...

It will be used for gaming...

Finally, it will be used in business.... ...but it will never be used to help the disabled.

They just don't have any economic power.

Duke University

[falconed]

This tech works -- this article talks about a team of researchers at Duke that were able to connect sensors to a monkey's brain and then use the brain patters to drive a robot arm. As the monkey reached for food, so would the arm. The cool part is that the arm was located in a lab 950km away.

My coworker (a Duke alum) told me that the researchers then tied down the monkey's arm and asked it to reach for the food again. The monkey's arm didn't move, but the robotic arm did. I can't find any articles on that, but here's one about some monkey's playing video games just by thinking it. Cool stuff.

Re:Animal Testing

[dowobeha]

Yes, this has been tested. A week or so ago I heard a story on NPR where researchers connected a monkey's brain to a computer. The monkey had a joystick in its hands which controlled a robotic arm. Eventually, the monkey figured out that it could set down the joystick and continue to control the robotic arm using nothing but its brain.