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Brain Controlled Computing a Reality

pchernyakov writes "Cyberkinetics Neurotechnology Systems told attendees at the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation annual conference that a 25-year-old quadriplegic with wires run from 100 tiny sensors implanted in his brain and out to a computer can use his thoughts to control a computer well enough to operate a TV, open e-mail and play Pong with 70% accuracy."

299 comments

  1. What does Captain Pike think? by DeezyChee · · Score: 5, Funny

    *blink* *blink*

    1. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by networkBoy · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Do I have to be disabled to get this?

      I've long held that if someone were to come to me with the offer to wire up a fibre interface to my brain I would be one of the first in line to get wetware / hybrid / augmented computing / whatever installed in my head.

      -nB

      --
      whois gawk date unzip strip find touch finger mount join nice man top fsck grep eject more yes exit umount sleep dump
    2. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Uh, whatever dude. Meet me at midnight in the parking lot behind the stadium. Bring a screwdriver, pickax, some cat5, a coupla ICs and $10000 cash. I'll give you your "wetware implant".

    3. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by savagedome · · Score: 1

      *blink* *blink*

      Like this!

    4. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by Mysticalfruit · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I think I'd be a late adopter after all the kinks have been worked out of the wetware/software interface. You know, the terrible seizures, adware/spyware being uploaded into your ceriberal cortex so your driving along and suddenly you get a big popup right in your field of vision and you crash your car, etc.

      --
      Yes Francis, the world has gone crazy.
    5. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by rts008 · · Score: 1

      DON'T use Windoze & it should be okay

      --
      Down With Slashdot BETA!!! I've been around the corner and seen the oliphant; you can only abuse me from your perspecti
    6. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by cynic10508 · · Score: 1

      Well, one of the largest problems is the granularity of the sensors. It only has a 70% effectiveness because the sensors are too big to read all the neural activity. So we need smaller sensors.

    7. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by teromajusa · · Score: 2, Informative

      Did you read the article? Each sensor monitors the activiation of 1 neuron. But the state of 100 neurons (the limit of the current device) is not sufficient to guage what the brain is trying to do. We don't need smaller sensors, we need alot more of them.

    8. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by TheKidWho · · Score: 2, Insightful

      More like DON'T use IE. I use Windows xp, and I have zero spyware on my computer, at least thats what ad aware says every time I run it. The secret is using Firefox ;-)

    9. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by hugesmile · · Score: 1
      ...that a 25-year-old quadriplegic...

      My first thought... "so that's how you spell 'quadriplegic'."

      Quite scary that I am learning to spell on Slashdot! (it IS spelled right!)

      Now, according to today's news, there won't be any quadriplegics, if we put the Johns in the oval office.

    10. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by Profane+MuthaFucka · · Score: 4, Funny

      No, we need to have larger neurons, and fewer of them. I bet a leech could work this thing really well.

      --
      Fascism trolls keeping me up every night. When I starts a preachin', he HITS ME WITH HIS REICH!
    11. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by moldor.the.flatulent · · Score: 1

      In line behind me !!! Only thing I'd insist on is some damn good anti-virus protection..:-) Hmmm.... Leads me to think of actually answering emails in this way - you'd have to be careful not to tven THINK about spamming someone..!!

    12. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by ElBorba · · Score: 1

      Oh man, once again Microsoft is leading the way. I remember several years ago seeing this article in the Seattle Weekly that was a real eye-opener. This kid, some scruffy dweeb from the hills, gets to be Bill Gates' brain-child prodigy! They discovered him after he built a neural television remote control for his crippled granny. Be sure to check the date on the article... Cute kid, though.

      --
      "The Borba"
    13. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by binarybum · · Score: 1
      --
      ôó
    14. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by HalfFlat · · Score: 1

      According to one of those links, it was a doctored quote. Which was then accompanied by doctored video footage on FOX. Amazing!

      For a country obsessed about bringing democracy to the world, it would be nice if they considered giving it a go at home.

    15. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by davidsyes · · Score: 1

      Spock, move your left index finger if you can understand me...(Spock's Brain)

      So, if we hook this thing to bush's brain and packet sniffed (after sneezing a couple hundred times...) the waves, would we say, "Fetch boy! C'mon Rove(r), FETCH!"?

      "Good Boy! Come to dah-dee... Sit. Scratch your balls... now your ass... Lick your ass, BOY! Wipe your eye with at dirty paw, PAH! Allriiiide. Now we can call you "Shig", for shigelosis!"

      I am sure the world would be in a HELL of a lot more chaos if bush's or ronald dumbsfeld's brains were hooked to the "World Machine-Brain-Interface". Hell it would be in chaos if even MY brain were hooked up, mainly becuase I'd be rackin' up a shitload of clock cycles doing a corrupt-politician-purge (CPP666 of sorts). Of course, I'd be using a Linux M-BI/B-MI and a hepta-tetra-quad of CPUs. The whole damned thing would have to use the Earth's CORE as a heat sink just to keep curious george and ronald D at bay.

      Maybe if we hooked all of congress' brains up in concert with bush's brain, then there truly might BE PROGress out of CONgress! In the end, they'd all be burned out and maybe be can rebuild our government. Spontaneous combustion would leave them all interred in chairs, charred like Crispy-Chris, with LED's blinkin' away. Maybe we could stack all their asses up on the White House lawn during Christma...ahem, winter holiday and point one of those satellites down on them. The feed's viewership would eclipse the Olympics, the elections, and Titanic combined.

      (Things WILL get worse, MUCH worse, before they get better. Count on it.)

      --
      Previously: "Linux... Toward the Sunrise..." Now: "Linux... Toward the-- No, now, part of Every Sunrise"
    16. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by ZhuLien · · Score: 1

      just think, if US pilots had this technology now, they could increase their accuracy to about 70% and kill less civilians in IRAQ!

    17. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by Mirddes · · Score: 0

      that only works when everyone using the computer uses firefox. As long as some one uses IE, spyware gets installed.

    18. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by figurewmeat · · Score: 4, Informative

      Working out the kinks is a critical step indeed. I interned at a bioengineering lab this summer, and a huge problem was just keeping channels active. The brain sloshes around inside the skull quite a bit, and to have a stiff electrode intrude on this can be problematic to say the least (if a jet pilot with an implant were to pull a few Gs I imagine some sort of self lobotomy).

      Next are immune reactions to foreign objects in the body. Coatings over the electrodes can help, but are not a guarantee.

      Finally, these electrode arrays are pretty large. Technology can improve this, but imagine invasive brain surgery every time you need to upgrade, or being stuck with the 1st generation mind-link ipod for life.

      I'm waiting for nanomachines to solve many of these problems. When (and if) I make it to grad school perhaps they'll have it set for me... or maybe I'll volunteer as I'm never going to fly a jet.

    19. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by Lt_M0nk · · Score: 1

      Yea, nothing like waking up earlier in the morning due to improper frequency programing on your wi-fi automated coffee maker, causing packet traffic to be louder than your wet-ware "wake-on" bois setting.

      Or for that matter, a signal from your neighbors tv remote causing you to change the subject all the sudden.

    20. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by NanoGator · · Score: 1

      "DON'T use Windoze & it should be okay"

      Giggle giggle, snort. Windoze suxx0rs!

      This might be funny in a sophomoric slashdottian way if the computer was sending signals back to the brain.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    21. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by rts008 · · Score: 2

      Kinda the same here. I triple boot: W98se for some old games I can't give up, XP Pro for some new games and software I run, and Mandrake 9.0 which I LOVE!:) Being a nOOb caused some steep learning curves with *nix for me, but it gets better every day. BTW, since I switched to Firefox this summer, I seem to be fine running junk cleaners (AdAware & Spy Bot S&D) only monthly instead of DAILY (IE) and have only had ONE peice of junk come aboard. That one was my stepdaughter using my pc to "chat" once (she got to Yahoo with IE). Before with IE, my daily cleanings averaged around 25-30 malware programs. Unbeleivable!

      --
      Down With Slashdot BETA!!! I've been around the corner and seen the oliphant; you can only abuse me from your perspecti
    22. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by Pantero+Blanco · · Score: 1
    23. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by pyrote · · Score: 1

      ...Leads me to think of actually answering emails in this way...

      Write E-mail:
      Hello sara (bitch)^h^h^h^h^h^h^h
      Thinking of you (and your sister)^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h

      Hope to see you soon (not before mary leaves) ^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h ^h^h

      With Love (contempt)^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h

      Bob (I hope she doesn't find out about last weekend)^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h ^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h ^h^h

      --
      THE WORLD IS GOING TO END!!!! eventually.
    24. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by pyrote · · Score: 1

      Or for that matter, a signal from your neighbors tv remote causing you to change the subject all the sudden.

      No way, I've been using wet-wires for *CLICK* did you see the last debate, it was *CLICK* oh damn, I've soiled myself again.

      --
      THE WORLD IS GOING TO END!!!! eventually.
    25. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or G.W.B

    26. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by Mysticalfruit · · Score: 1

      you should create your daughter an account on the mandrake side and install "gyach" for her.

      My wife uses it and it works like a charm.

      --
      Yes Francis, the world has gone crazy.
    27. Re:What does Captain Pike think? by rts008 · · Score: 1

      Thanks for the info. Since then I built her a pc and "hid" all of the shortcuts to IE, and replaced them all with firefox. Seems to be the end of the problem. I have set up the home net so that when I run anti-malware and anti-virus scans on my box, it also scans her pc. So far, so clean!

      --
      Down With Slashdot BETA!!! I've been around the corner and seen the oliphant; you can only abuse me from your perspecti
  2. Hmm... by ZeroPost · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sounds like it's time to break out the tinfoil hat...

    1. Re:Hmm... by skadus · · Score: 1

      Doesn't aluminum cool better?

    2. Re:Hmm... by Nos. · · Score: 2, Interesting

      See I'm thinking, once we can get to the point where you can output text, I want to hook this up to some weird people while they're sleeping and leave a text editor open. We'll start the next bash.org - dreamquotes.org

    3. Re:Hmm... by KitFox · · Score: 4, Funny
      Dear ZeroPost,

      While we appreciate your interest in tinfoil hats to combat our new technology, we advise you not to try it. As indicated, this is hard-wired directly into your brain. Tinfoil hats have proven to be a problem for our mind control rays, since they are wireless, however the tinfoil has proven to be no match for a Makita to the frontal lobe.

      In closing, we recommend that you drop these silly ideas that tin or even aluminum foil will be any match for our hard-wired technology. Thank you.

      Your Future Thought Control Overlords

      --

      @Whee

    4. Re:Hmm... by bluekanoodle · · Score: 1, Funny

      I for one welcome our future thought control overlords.

    5. Re:Hmm... by Mirddes · · Score: 0

      same thing, isnt it?

    6. Re:Hmm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Imagine the drop in microsoft team moral while testing this....you have to use your mind!

  3. almost by genner · · Score: 1

    Still need to cut back on the wires and get the pong paddle moving a little faster. This isn't really anything new.

    1. Re:almost by raitchison · · Score: 1

      I've been saying for years that a neural interface will be practical, even commonplace in our lifetime. The phrase "keyboard? how quaint!" won't be a line from a movie to our kids.

      Look to Science Fiction, will we "jack in" and physically plug in to a computer/network (with our interface installed during childhood) or will computers be able to interface with a more indirect connection?

    2. Re:almost by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I can tell you whats new ! My perception of "genner" being a negative arrogant dweeb.

    3. Re:almost by genner · · Score: 1

      Nah, everyones believed that for years

  4. I, for one by unassimilatible · · Score: 3, Funny
    welcome our new wired quadriplegic overlords.

    --
    Slashdot "libertarians": Small government for me, big government for those I disagree with. -1, I disagree with you
    1. Re:I, for one by NanoGator · · Score: 1

      "I, for one, welcome our new wired quadriplegic overlords."

      What will it take to put an end of mod points being wasted on this stale joke? Maybe after SNL rids of it humor?

      --
      "Derp de derp."
  5. Porn by athakur999 · · Score: 5, Funny

    So this means I can surf with NO hands on the keyboard? Think of the possibilities.

    --
    "People that quote themselves in their signatures bother me" - athakur999
    1. Re:Porn by retro128 · · Score: 4, Funny

      That's the whole problem isn't it? Now I don't know if all the porn popups I'm getting are being caused by my new neural interface or spyware.

      --
      -R
    2. Re:Porn by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 1
      You jest, but I think this will be what brings this kind of mainstream. I mean, lets say the neural interface is well designed and functional enough that you just slip a little cap on and it can read your commands.

      Some of the easiest commands to implement will be to scroll a webpage, move the cursor, click the link, and then possibly implement some basic browser functions such as opening a new tab, going forward, or going backwards.

      The INSTANT they make a plugin that can do this, I guarantee everybody with one of these suckers will be using it for porn.

      --
      Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
    3. Re:Porn by metlin · · Score: 1

      Yes, think of the possibilities for pranks :-p

      Wire it up to a dog or something, and I'm sure you'd not exactly like what you'd be seeing ;-)

      On the other hand, if you do... I pity the people you live with.

    4. Re:Porn by Wind_Walker · · Score: 1
      Think of the possibilities

      I'd much rather NOT think of a Slashdotter doing that. But I understand some people are into that sort of thing...

    5. Re:Porn by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Yeah, you can finger your ass while you masturbate. :)

    6. Re:Porn by rts008 · · Score: 1

      Just think, after this gets working, it won't be long before the interface taps into the "pleasure center" directly, and "tactile feedback" will be available....gotta go this reminded me of sumthin I NEEDED to do.....

      --
      Down With Slashdot BETA!!! I've been around the corner and seen the oliphant; you can only abuse me from your perspecti
    7. Re:Porn by Ann+O'Nymous-Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You can do that now, you know.

      Yes, you can.

      It's called sex.

      Put the keyboard and mouse down, back away from the computer...

    8. Re:Porn by Blakey+Rat · · Score: 1

      So this means I can surf with NO hands on the keyboard? Think of the possibilities.

      Yeah! ...

      No, can't think of any...

    9. Re:Porn by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, but this'll be devastating in many situations. You know how when you try not to think about something, then all you can think about is that thing?

      Imagine you come across a link to porn while in the company of others where it would be inappropriate. Normally you'll think about what great nude pics might be on the other side of that link, but you'll resist physically clicking it and move on as if you never saw. Nobody's wiser. If you're really sly, you make a mental note of it to come back later with some vaseline when you're all alone.

      Now, with this device hooked up to your thoughts, you'll naturally think about the link, and boom! You're there. One instant you're showing your girlfriends parents how to search google for pants, the next instant you're all looking at chicks with no pants! They think you're a perve (well, we all are, but societal norms say we don't ever admit it) and you're dumped. Sucks to be you!

      I think we need to squash this evil technology before it tears the very fabric of society apart!

    10. Re:Porn by NuclearDog · · Score: 1

      Speaking of ass... what if you're ircing & browsing porn and wanking and all of a sudden someone in the IRC channel says something to remind you of goatse?

      --
      This statement is forty-five characters long.
    11. Re:Porn by NanoGator · · Score: 1

      "So this means I can surf with NO hands on the keyboard? Think of the possibilities."

      Well it'd certainly be a relief to the ladies. They won't let you shake their hands, tho.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    12. Re:Porn by NanoGator · · Score: 1

      "It's called sex.

      Put the keyboard and mouse down, back away from the computer..."
      ... and wait for the applications for sex partner to roll in?

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    13. Re:Porn by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      if you need both hands then you shouldn't have a problem anyway

    14. Re:Porn by Ann+O'Nymous-Coward · · Score: 1

      Put the keyboard and mouse down, back away from the computer..." ... and wait for the applications for sex partner to roll in?

      Well, put it this way, it couldn't hurt your chances if they see you've got two hands free to manipulate their bits, as opposed to the other sort of bits.

  6. Great! by freeze128 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Now connect it to a robot, and have a virtual human.

    1. Re:Great! by lee7guy · · Score: 1

      I think the term you are looking for is "Cyborg".

      Best case scenario: Soon your neighbourhood will be watched over by friendly Robocops.

      Worst case scenario: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097138/

      --
      Ceterum censeo Microsoftem esse delendam
    2. Re:Great! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      One step closer to One Must Fall: 2097! W00t!

  7. 70% by mark1348 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Hey that's better than yo momma!!

  8. Not so great... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I can beat this guy at pong 90% of the time!

    1. Re:Not so great... by genner · · Score: 1

      That means yourin the top 30% of people who have played him.

  9. Really? by SansTinfoilHat · · Score: 4, Funny

    and play Pong with 70% accuracy

    Damn, I can't even play Pong with 70% accuracy.

  10. Now just hook it up to some robotics and... by retro128 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Can this be much farther behind?

    --
    -R
    1. Re:Now just hook it up to some robotics and... by theparanoidcynic · · Score: 1

      Screw that. I'm waiting for Richard Nixon's head in a jar to be given a 50-foot-tall robotic body. That would, if nothing else make politics interesting.

      --
      Only in a Slashdot fantasy can a Slackware install turn into several hours of sex . . . . .
    2. Re:Now just hook it up to some robotics and... by wed128 · · Score: 1

      hmmm...kinda reminds me of a short story by vonnegut, called fortitude...check it out, lotsa thinky stuff about the morals of this sort of thing

    3. Re:Now just hook it up to some robotics and... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  11. But when... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    will the machine think back?

    1. Re:But when... by Tongo · · Score: 1

      Yea, what's the machine going to sound like in our heads? Ooohhh maybe we can "skin" the sounds. I'd like hal personally.

    2. Re:But when... by papercrane · · Score: 0

      Just think of the parental control possiblities! I'm sorry, Jimmy, I can't let you go to that website. *shock*

  12. Pong? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Talk about unethical medical experiments.

  13. The new peripheral by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    So, are quadrapalegics plug-and-play compatible? And how long until we get a linux driver?

  14. Yeah but by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    How well does he do with Halo? I don't need any more competition.

  15. I for one by sjalex · · Score: 0

    welcome our new cybernetic paraplegic overlords.

    1. Re:I for one by sjalex · · Score: 1

      or rather, quadraplegic, yeah

  16. That's just what I need... by jangobongo · · Score: 1

    ... to be permanently hard-wired to my computer.

    --

    Sig cancelled due to lack of interest
  17. The Headaches by tholomyes · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Will this make the headaches better or worse?

    --
    When did the future switch from being a promise to a threat? -C. Palahniuk
    1. Re:The Headaches by Hinhule · · Score: 0

      Imagine being connected to your computer when it suddenly gets slashdotted. I would say worse.

    2. Re:The Headaches by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not just headaches, nosebleeds too. Not to mention the government holing you up in a lab and keeping you pumped full of suppressing drugs until you daughter breaks out and burns the joint down.

  18. wonderful accomplishment! however... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Not being an expert in the field, I can only help to wonder: If brains can successfully control machinery, whats stopping machinery from controlling brains (nervous system, psychologically etc..)

    1. Re:wonderful accomplishment! however... by Kinkify · · Score: 0

      I'm no scientist, so don't quote me on this, but I think it's because brains are more complex than computers. Humans can control computers without any problem (we did build them after all) but we don't even understand everything about the human brain ourselves yet, let alone be able to teach a computer how to figure them out. I'm sure you could hard wire a brain to do certain things, such as twiching your finger or move the arm a bit, but you wouldn't be any sort of Johnny Quest-style remote controlled zombie robot. Or at least not anytime soon.

  19. Where do I sign up? by bigtangringo · · Score: 1

    The line starts here!

    --
    Yes, I am a smart ass; it's better than the alternative.
  20. Re:Amazing. by sammyo · · Score: 1

    It would be the first post if you'd had a direct connection. None of this wimpy keyboard crap, I'm getting one of those!

  21. Applications of this technology by gsasha · · Score: 1

    Are far beyond helping the disabled.
    Think driving, mouse pointing, surgery. And to top it off, computer games and [almost the same... ;) ] jet fighter pilots.

    1. Re:Applications of this technology by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Everyone separated by distance from the subject of their work is disabled, if by meters, miles, or a few inches of glass. Necessity is the mother of invention, and the needs of the conventionally disabled are driving augmentation for all of us. The resulting increased capacities might make all of us, prebionics, look roughly equally disabled.

      --

      --
      make install -not war

  22. How about.... by HBI · · Score: 4, Insightful

    wiring it up to an electric wheelchair?

    Wireless, perhaps?

    Robotic arm on said wheelchair?

    Seems they aren't plumbing the feasible current possibilities yet, and i'm not even talking about artificial legs and arms. Yet.

    --
    HBI's Law: Frequency of calling others Nazis is directly correlated with the likelihood of the accuser being Communist.
    1. Re:How about.... by UWC · · Score: 1

      I figure it would be best to test out the interactions in the relatively controlled environment of a computer, rather than sending the subject out in an electric wheelchair with a robotic arm and uncertainty of performance levels.

    2. Re:How about.... by HBI · · Score: 1

      True, but I think we've already seen the possibilities of artificial eyes run by electrodes directly implanted into the brain, for instance, and that a couple years ago. Seems like practical application of this technology is going to be another 10 years away by the speed of things, and it's sad because if it works now, it could benefit people...now.

      --
      HBI's Law: Frequency of calling others Nazis is directly correlated with the likelihood of the accuser being Communist.
    3. Re:How about.... by UWC · · Score: 1

      As you note, the progress does seem pretty slow. I have to wonder if all of these researchers are recreating the wheel with these projects. Maybe there are obvious drawbacks to each of the methods used so far and the researchers are looking for more efficient or effective or safer methods.

    4. Re:How about.... by HBI · · Score: 3, Informative

      I keep thinking that a 'human bus connector' would be a good idea, once you've identified the areas of the brain most conducive to electrode implantation for control purposes, you create a standard connector and tolerances for the controls. Identify motion axes that can be trained. Create a computer that hooks into the bus connector (mounted in the most logical place, perhaps behind the neck?) and allows the user to train using the motion axes in a therapy environment, then move them up to the vehicle that can provide mobility, a grasping hand and communications.

      The advantages of this would be that as new hardware is invented, the brain electrodes wouldn't need to be re-implanted and the new hardware could simply take advantage of the existing control interface.

      It's been a dream to regrow spinal cords. This provides a technological end run that while not 100% desirable, gives them a far more mobile and productive existence than would otherwise be possible.

      --
      HBI's Law: Frequency of calling others Nazis is directly correlated with the likelihood of the accuser being Communist.
    5. Re:How about.... by shaka999 · · Score: 5, Funny

      I think we all know the dangers of hooking up robotic octopus arms without proper failsafes in place.

      --
      One should not theorize before one has data. -Sherlock Holmes-
    6. Re:How about.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      I know it's a tremendous drain on your all-important time, but had you actually READ the ARTICLE, you would know that this amount of control isn't currently feasible.

      Even in the bloody summary it said he can only play Pong with 70% accuracy - that should be enough information to allow you to deduce that the control isn't exactly tip-top.

      Perhaps I'm expecting too much.

    7. Re:How about.... by owlstead · · Score: 1

      If it's 70 percent accurate in playing pong (70% for just up and down) I would not put in too strong a robot arm, and make pretty sure that the wheelchair cannot run into a lake or something.

      These people have enough on their mind without their wheelchair going berserk. And I would put at least 256 bit WEB encryption on the wireless connection as well, otherwise it may become a rogue access point (har har.)

    8. Re:How about.... by HBI · · Score: 1

      How good is your hit/miss ratio on games with joystick control? Over or under 70%?

      It might be good enough.

      --
      HBI's Law: Frequency of calling others Nazis is directly correlated with the likelihood of the accuser being Communist.
    9. Re:How about.... by Chandon+Seldon · · Score: 1

      Yea, but when you got HBC 0.92 beta, and the new robo-arm needs HBC 1.1 that'll be the suck. Especially if the 0.92 beta implant procedure was destructive.

      --
      -- The act of censorship is always worse than whatever is being censored. Always.
    10. Re:How about.... by insac · · Score: 1
      Beware: the "human bus connector" concept has been patented by Microsoft.

      But since we're talking about future development: how far are we from the day when we can read spinal impulses and then make "our body" react to them?

      I'm thinking about people who can't walk for spinal damages.. their impulse can be read and trasmitted to electrodes that would make their muscles move, their legs walk, their hands grab objects.

      Ok.. I must stop seeing sci-fi films :-)

      --
      This message doesn't need a sig
    11. Re:How about.... by grudy · · Score: 0
      The article does mention the future vision -- wheelchair, environmental control, etc.

      As an uncle to 2 children with CP, cousin to 2 adults with MS, and having early-onset Parkinsons, I'm keenly interested in the long-term implications in biomechanical intervention such as this. That said, I'm torn by the psyco-social implications of the rift in studies between cybernetic and purely biological solutions to the ills of human fragility. The prospect of two disparate solutions also ultimately brings about a social issue of new discriminations -- bios vs mechs...

      I do take issue, though, with the notion of "To really be useful, the technology will have to get smaller, cheaper and wireless"... I absolutely agree with the "smaller" and "cheaper", but Wireless????

      "Oh, gee, Mary. Sorry for decapitating you and spilling boiling hot coffee on Joe over there. All I wanted was to warm up my Raman noodles in the microwave"...

      To be a viable, secure, reliable solution, I don't believe wireless is an option. The social implications alone are alarming.

      I applaud the efforts that CyberKinetics is making, though the thought of a tack being shoved into my head is a less-than-pleasant image (albeit certainly better than the neural interface in the "Matrix")...

      What I REALLY want to know is what the patient's secret for 70% accuracy in Pong REALLY is! Blows away my record!!!

  23. A new level of NWS Browsing is coming by eseiat · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I can just imagine sitting in a board meeting, company VP giving some web-based presentation of company growth and stock volume, when suddenly some S&M Gay Pr0n site pops up out of nowhere, with the boss displayed for everyone to see. Oh man, this is going to be awesome!

  24. Can we say... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    That this will mean the end of repetitive motion syndrome?

    I'm all for it! Sign me up!

  25. Actually, he could use this to control his limbs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If anyone was actually thinking instead of attempting to be witty and clever with idiotic responses, you would have thoughtfully theorized this 25 year old cripple to be able to control his prosthetic legs and arms.

    Just a thought from a non-cowardly anonymous lurker.

  26. Fiction to reality.. by Gentlewhisper · · Score: 1

    Michael Crichton's "The Terminal Man"

    Eventually this guy will go nuts and start commanding things to kill people :P

    1. Re:Fiction to reality.. by NetNifty · · Score: 5, Funny

      If he is really a "terminal man", we can just telnet to him if something goes wrong.

    2. Re:Fiction to reality.. by JWW · · Score: 1

      Trying...
      telnet: Unable to connect to remote host: Connection refused

      Uh-oh. ;-)

    3. Re:Fiction to reality.. by s4m7 · · Score: 4, Funny

      we can just telnet to him if something goes wrong.

      root@terminalman# killall -s SIGKILL braind

      --
      This comment is fully compliant with RFC 527.
    4. Re:Fiction to reality.. by unixbugs · · Score: 0

      maybe, but someone might be using "brain snort" to sniff the plain text root password. then the guy is at the mercy of terrorists!

      really though, rooting someones brain is going a little far. the brain is built to learn and store information. it wont be long until the day arrives where we really can speak binary on a transparent level without physical interaction with a machine.

      who laughs last?

      --
      You are about to give someone a piece of your mind, something which you can ill afford...
  27. Original thought keyboard? by suso · · Score: 1

    Back in '98 I remember reading an article about one of the guys working on these research teams and made a headband that enabled him to type ~30 words/min. What happened to that device?

    1. Re:Original thought keyboard? by Eschatus · · Score: 3, Informative

      Are you thinking perhaps, of http://www.ibva.com/?

  28. Sweet! by ivan256 · · Score: 1

    Now all they need to do is figure out how to keep the brain alive after the body is ready to die and we can be essentially immortal! It's got to be way easier to extend the life span of just one organ when you don't have to worry about keeping the rest of your body alive, right?

    I hope that isn't the "slippery slope" they're talking about not going down.

    1. Re:Sweet! by PitaBred · · Score: 1

      Go watch Ghost in the Shell :)

    2. Re:Sweet! by pla · · Score: 3, Interesting

      It's got to be way easier to extend the life span of just one organ when you don't have to worry about keeping the rest of your body alive, right?

      Well, for any other organ, yes.

      For the brain?

      Sadly, although humans usually die of some other critical organ (ie, heart) failing, our brains still steadily deteriorate as we age.

      By about age 150, we'd all have the mental capacity of broccoli. Now, you might think, "sure, 150 beats beats 80", but consider the bigger problem - Immortal 150+ year old broccoli-controlled mech suits running around your local farmers' market. Do we really want that, for a gain of a few extra years?

      I think not.

    3. Re:Sweet! by Patrik_AKA_RedX · · Score: 1
      but consider the bigger problem - Immortal 150+ year old broccoli-controlled mech suits running around your local farmers' market.
      If they provide us with laser weapons, we could hunt them down. Common, who hasn't dreamed of shooting cyberzomies?
    4. Re:Sweet! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We grow new braincells all the time. Nothing to worry about. You are spinng an old yarn.

    5. Re:Sweet! by Tackhead · · Score: 1
      > By about age 150, we'd all have the mental capacity of broccoli. Now, you might think, "sure, 150 beats beats 80", but consider the bigger problem - Immortal 150+ year old broccoli-controlled mech suits running around your local farmers' market. Do we really want that, for a gain of a few extra years?

      I'm imagining it. And I'm liking it. Comedy gold for the spectators. Probably fun for the broccoli-heads too.

      > - Immortal 150+ year old broccoli-controlled mech suits running around your local farmers' market.

      *pause to reconsider, scratches head*

      I'm still failing to see a downside here.

  29. Re:Amazing. by BoRegardless · · Score: 1

    Hey I've got some miniature drill bits to get those extra 100 holes in your head! Got some novacaine around somewhere.

  30. Get yer Tin foil hats here! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Now it will only be a matter of time before we will figure out how to make the computer control brains...

    Of course this is already happening in Soviet Russia (where Computing Controls Brains!)

    I'm gonna add a few extra layers to my tinfoil hat and go down into my lead sealed bunker where I'll be safe...

  31. Uh oh... by g3000 · · Score: 1

    How fun would it be to deal with a virus, a worm or excessive spam...in your brain.

    1. Re:Uh oh... by KitFox · · Score: 1
      For the standard "Funny" factor...

      Now we're that much closer to having the Agent Smith virus be real!!!

      For the Serious Factor...

      It currently only deals with taking information out of the brain and using it as input. The information back into the barin is received by other senses (Visual, auditory, etc), ie, looking at the computer screen and seeing that you did, indeed, manage to open the email. We're not talking about pumping information directly through wires INTO your brain. Just getting information out.

      --

      @Whee

    2. Re:Uh oh... by ganhawk · · Score: 1

      The wires just act as any other stimilus organ like your eyes hands etc (but only with very little effectiveness due to just 100 nuron connection)

      So the spam will be equivalent to subjecting someone with lots of unpleasent visual stimuli etc. I dont think Virus applies here. Its not as if you can execute your code in the brain. But it might be possible to evoke certain emmotions (even actions perhaps, but we are very far from understanding brain at that level) based on certain stimuli.

      --
      Python script to convert photos into "artsy" portraits: http://p2pbridge.sf.net/pyPortrait/
  32. yikes! by mrpuffypants · · Score: 4, Funny

    open e-mail

    His first email? INCREASE THE SIZE OF YOUR PENIS! PLEASURE WOMEN!

    sigh. kinda makes you wish that email had never even come around...

    (Jordan, if you see this...GET BACK TO WORK! =]

    1. Re:yikes! by josh3736 · · Score: 2, Funny
      (Jordan, if you see this...GET BACK TO WORK! =]

      Actually, I just installed BO2K on your machine.

      Please stop wasting company time on Solitaire and Slashdot, then I'll get back to work.

      --Jordan.

    2. Re:yikes! by StuckInSyrup · · Score: 2, Informative

      But on the other side...some quadruplegic men are able pleasure women. It requires a number of intact nerve strings and the hormones do the rest. Howewer, they are not able to "feel" the act. And the woman has to do all the "work".

      --
      Ni.
    3. Re:yikes! by Madcapjack · · Score: 1
      Ummmm. Especially if that quadruplegic has mind control over that vibrator...right?

      /. sinks to a new low!

  33. Wikipedia by LegoEvan · · Score: 0

    Imagine the possibilities with some (shrunken) WiFi tech! Hearing things read to you in your earbud, as you request information about them in Wikipedia, or anywhere for that matter.

    Politicians will have far scarier debates, as they all find the examples they need on the spot.

    I could pass all of my 8.012 tests with Mathematica

    Nobody would need to think about stuff!

    Now, can I have the computer feed info directly into my brain? Like, say, programming my dreams? That'd be freaking sweet.

    1. Re:Wikipedia by pclminion · · Score: 1
      Nobody would need to think about stuff!

      Exactly! All that information on the Internet reproduces sexually.

  34. My childhood dream... by Andorion · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm more interested in using brain-implanted computers to shift the communication paradigm - imagine being able to instantly and wirelessly communicate with anyone, the increased bandwidth and throughput from regular spoken or written word would be phenomenal.

    1. Re:My childhood dream... by papercrane · · Score: 1, Insightful

      And we'd be like a hive-mind. Faster communication means less individuality. Look at what the TV, telephone, and Internet have done to cultural diverity.

    2. Re:My childhood dream... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah ..now get the mindless bullshit pumped directly into your brain.

    3. Re:My childhood dream... by pclminion · · Score: 1
      the increased bandwidth and throughput from regular spoken or written word would be phenomenal.

      The difficulty in keeping secrets or private thoughts would also be phenomenal. Imagine you're neuro-chatting with your girlfriend, and she asks "Does my new skirt make my ass look fat?" Immediately your brain thinks "Why, yes" and this is transmitted to your girlfriend before you can self-censor your thoughts.

      I would never "plug in" to such a device because I don't have the mental control to avoid thinking about things which I want to keep secret. And I doubt many other people do, either.

      Silly example of a very big problem. No, this is a really, really bad idea.

    4. Re:My childhood dream... by BlacKat · · Score: 1

      "I would never "plug in" to such a device because I don't have the mental control to avoid thinking about things which I want to keep secret. And I doubt many other people do, either."

      The key word you missed is... "yet".

      Once "telepathic" communication becomes instant as thought your brain WILL adjust and you WILL learn how to vet your thoughts before they go out over the wire.

      It will only take a few instances of the example you gave before your brain catches up and develops this new automatic response. ;)

    5. Re:My childhood dream... by hackwrench · · Score: 1

      You don't seem to have a problem selecting which thoughts go through your mouth, so why should you have any trouble selecting which thoughts go through this device?

    6. Re:My childhood dream... by Jason+Earl · · Score: 1

      With my luck Emacs keystrokes will be so embedded in my psyche that by the time they do get something like this my thought patterns will look something like this:

      M-x gnus m foo@bar.com C-n What's up?

      On the plus side, Emacs makes a pretty good front end for all of my digital communicatons right now.

    7. Re:My childhood dream... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      A lot of people do have trouble selecting what comes out of their mouth, though.

    8. Re:My childhood dream... by Twinbee · · Score: 1

      Even more interesting would be to see what our dreams look like. Especially the weird cool ones with surreal/good music and lots of detail.

      --
      Why OpalCalc is the best Windows calc
    9. Re:My childhood dream... by shystershep · · Score: 1
      Did you just say "shift the . . . paradigm"?

      You're fired. Go away now.

      --
      The bigotry of the nonbeliever is for me nearly as funny as the bigotry of the believer. - Albert Einstein
    10. Re:My childhood dream... by Chandon+Seldon · · Score: 1

      However much you might think your dreams have a lot of detail, it isn't true. What's really happening is that your brain uses an amazingly efficient compression technique for dreams - where only the data you're concentrating on is even being generated.

      --
      -- The act of censorship is always worse than whatever is being censored. Always.
    11. Re:My childhood dream... by Twinbee · · Score: 1

      Have you ever tried lucid dreaming? The images you see are often just as detailed as real life. Unless you're saying that 'real life' uses this compression too? That would be close to what Dr Susan Blackmore says...

      --
      Why OpalCalc is the best Windows calc
  35. Pong by centauri · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Heck, I have full use of all my limbs and I can't play Pong with 70% accuracy. Maybe I should get these implants.

    --
    Don't blame me, I voted for Durga.
  36. Captian Cyborg Coincidence? by bigtangringo · · Score: 1

    Is it just me or is it a coincidence that this was in Warwick, also the last name of Captian Cyborg.
    Read The Register for more info on Capt. Cyborg. I guess they can't make so much fun of him anymore :(

    --
    Yes, I am a smart ass; it's better than the alternative.
    1. Re:Captian Cyborg Coincidence? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why not? It's not as though this limited success makes anything he rants about any more logical or believable.

      Not to mention that he himself seems to have the technical skills of a 15-year-old to go with a 20-year-old's ego.

    2. Re:Captian Cyborg Coincidence? by 91degrees · · Score: 1

      Captain Cyborgs implant was a little more substantial than the dog chip that the register likes to make out.

      It is considerably less than the start of a new master race of cyborgs that Prof. Warwick likes to make out, but it does actually allow him to record nerve impulses. It's a useful experiment, which may provide some useful data for neural prosthesis.

  37. Long overdue use of technology by syrinje · · Score: 4, Insightful
    This combination of medical science and computer technology is long overdue in its use in improving the quality of life of people afflicted with different kinds of motor function degradation.

    One possible reason why such advances seem to take longer than for the pacific tectonic plate to move a mile is the hemlock cup with its swill of politics, corporate greed, litigation and religion. Between them, they throw up enough obstacles in the path of medical advancement - sometimes justifiable on ethical grounds - but mostly to advance to their own selfish power plays.

    Makes one wonder though what the side-effects would be though - would the procedure be safe for someone like Stephen Hawkins? Would the hundreds of electrodes somehow kill something off making time travel impossible? (oh! wait - he already reneged on that ....). But seriously, some study into the invasiveness quotient of this would surely be welcome.

    As a parting thought - is any one else surprised that Pong made it to the top 3 list of things to do?! whatever happened to pr0n!?

    Obligatory sign-off - its futile - you will be assimilated.

    --
    See that long UID - that's what you get for lurking too long
    1. Re:Long overdue use of technology by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'll make this simple:

      You're a dick.

    2. Re:Long overdue use of technology by RubberChainsaw · · Score: 1

      is any one else surprised that Pong made it to the top 3 list of things to do?! whatever happened to pr0n!?

      Maybe it was a typo.

      --
      I welcome our new 99% overlords.
  38. Use thalamus in brain. by Thinkit4 · · Score: 1

    Both our senses and our volition emerge from our thalamus. We should be going to the source, and eventually make a cyberthalamus that hosts sentience in an engineered machine.

    --
    -I am an elective eunuch.
    1. Re:Use thalamus in brain. by josh3736 · · Score: 1

      ...turning you into this.

  39. oooh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    pretty soon, you know, people will be interfacing with high tech super-computers, or alternately, Dells running the latest version of Windows XP Brain Edition!

    Think of the possibilities: spyware that actually forces you to buy the product!

  40. Birth of Cybornetics... by koa · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It is interesting, however because even though your reference was most likely meant to be humerous. I would submit that something like this would be somewhat akin to the birth of flight or even similar in many ways to SpaceShipOne in the pioneering first steps toward commercial spaceflight.

    Quite possibly even an eventual route to the elusive "fountain of youth" once machines can be manufactured to mimic human bodies. Because if you think of it- a human body is nothing more than a fantasticaly complex machine.

    --
    ....move along....nothing to see here....
    1. Re:Birth of Cybornetics... by lee7guy · · Score: 1

      Wonder why evil geniuses in many SF books have a setup similar to what you just described? Is it some primal fear of man/machine combo being exploited?

      --
      Ceterum censeo Microsoftem esse delendam
    2. Re:Birth of Cybornetics... by chinmay7 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Because if you think of it- a human body is nothing more than a fantasticaly complex machine.

      In fact, if you really think about it, the most important problem associated with aging is not the loss of physical faculties. I'd say we've got most of the physical [as opposed to mental] diseases more or less beat, if you project from life expectancy and health data, within the next few decades, humans [at least in the developed world] will routinely cross 100-120 yrs in a physically fit state.

      Neural degeneration OTOH, - whether natural or on account of a disease - is a very tough nut to crack. For on thing, we don't understand the full complexity of the brain, and more significantly, neurons have a stady rate of death, and zero regenration.

      The real fountain of youth would require tackling this problem, which the neural tap doesn't do anything about.

      Downloading the mind on silicon, on the other hand, would be something! :)

    3. Re:Birth of Cybornetics... by Neurotoxic666 · · Score: 1

      Quite possibly even an eventual route to the elusive "fountain of youth" once machines can be manufactured to mimic human bodies. Because if you think of it- a human body is nothing more than a fantasticaly complex machine.

      Actualy, I believe the "Cyberpunk" genre had it right, no matter how cliché and despised the term "cyberpunk" may be. One day, we'll voluntarily swap human parts for bio-mechanical ones. We'll crave these higher quality eyes, the stronger arms, the faster legs and the more reliable hearts.

      More than a fountain of youth that keeps us young, we'll get to upgrade ourselves. Technologies will, as usual, develop and get cheaper everyday. Then, next thing you know, Wal-Mart will sell cyber-penises by the dozen. In my opinion, it simply is the way things will happen, and this article points to the fact that the first steps are already being taken towards this (and have actualy been for quite some time).

      It may not be exactly as in the Cyberpunk RPG (which I love), but quite similar I think. "Order our new legs catalog today!" So many people take drugs, have complex surgical operations, undergo diets and train everyday to become nicer, stronger, healthier. The need is there and once the technology gets cheap enough, it'll simply become a common practice to trade artifical, upgraded body parts. "Sheetz, I broke my neck today @ teh sk8 park. Got a nu one, looks so 1337!". Hell... why not?

      --
      You are more than the sum of what you consume. Desire is not an occupation.
    4. Re:Birth of Cybornetics... by HalfFlat · · Score: 2, Informative
      [...] and more significantly, neurons have a steady rate of death, and zero regeneration.
      That's not strictly speaking true - while it was long held that the neurons you have at twenty are all you are going to get, it's been discovered that we do in fact continue to grow more neurons over time. At least, in some parts of the brain. Whether or not neurogenesis occurs in the neocortex of adult primate brains is still a matter of dispute.

      Still in the end, it appears to be a losing battle.

      In the meantime, if you want to encourage neural growth, keep stretching that brain. Learn new stuff, do new things. Don't stop. Drink alcohol, but in strict moderation. Oh, and don't smoke, and stay aerobically fit.

    5. Re:Birth of Cybornetics... by gfody · · Score: 1

      adult biomechanical bodies will replace the automobile as social status statue and penis compensation (although the penis would be part of the body?)

      some people would own more than one.. perhaps a model that is spefically designed to ski mountains and another ultra lightweight with wings designed to fly like a bird.

      getting jacked for your ride would suck.. what can you do when you're just a brain in a box. homeless people would perish very quickly without any means to consume.

      this would all have to happen before we realize that we can create even more efficient organic bodies thru DNA engineering. our vehicles would be some sort of animal that comfortably seats 4 on its back, eats waste and emits clean air and pure water.

      homes would grow from the ground plummed with bathrooms and kitchens (the toilets will be some sort of mushroom that takes your shit and piss and turns it into hydrogen).

      --

      bite my glorious golden ass.
  41. Okay... by Sophrosyne · · Score: 1

    Just let me know when they can do this without cracking my head open.

  42. I dunno... by ajservo · · Score: 1

    I smell superman 3 in all this...

  43. Imagine CS by Man+in+Spandex · · Score: 1

    Playing pong at 70% accuracy, I can't think to imagine if we hook this technology and make him play CS what the end result would be.

    Either a nonstop madness of headshots or a teamkilling madness by grenading his teammates cause he's getting "bs" from the team.
    .
    sign me up!

  44. Gamers? by thesandtiger · · Score: 1
    and play Pong with 70% accuracy

    Hope they update punkbuster.

    --
    Since I can't tell them apart, I treat all ACs as the same person.
  45. Oh, GOOD. by OccidentalSlashy · · Score: 0

    Now Slashdot can be slashdotted by geeks thinking they are going to get first post.

    --
    vicious, untreated political sewage...niche entertainment for the spiritually unattractive...worshipless pap
  46. To put it in perspective by interstellar_donkey · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    well enough to operate a TV, open e-mail and play Pong with 70% accuracy.

    So now the disabled are able to function at the exact same level as me while drunk.

    Just to be sure, get me a fifth of whiskey and a pong setup, and we'll see who wins.

    --
    The Internet is generally stupid
  47. But how many degrees of freedom? by StateOfTheUnion · · Score: 5, Insightful
    can use his thoughts to control a computer well enough to operate a TV, open e-mail and play Pong with 70% accuracy

    The quote really sounds impressive the way they wrote it, but it seems like the patient is using only three degrees of freedom in their control.

    Use the mind to make the paddle go up . . . use the mind to make the paddle go down . . .

    Use the mind to make the channel go up . . . Use the mind to make the channel go down. Use the mind to switch to volume and repeat . . .

    Use the mind to select next email . . . Use the mind to open the email . . . Use the mind to close the email.

    I count three degrees of freedom . . . This is no different than the guy that was wired up to use his mind to scroll through and select letters to write emails. It sounds good when one says he can play pong, check email and and control a TV, but the truth is that I think that using the mind to control with three degrees of freedom has been done before. This just sounds better because they framed the control in terms of some common tasks.

    1. Re:But how many degrees of freedom? by sploo22 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Do we need any more than 3 degrees of freedom? How about mouse X, mouse Y, and clicking? It works fine for Mac users.

      --
      Karma: Segmentation fault (tried to dereference a null post)
    2. Re:But how many degrees of freedom? by joNDoty · · Score: 1

      There's actually at least 5 degrees of freedom.
      According to the article, the kid can move a cursor and cause clicks by dwelling on the cursor. That means UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, and CLICK.

    3. Re:But how many degrees of freedom? by loserMcloser · · Score: 1

      Your counting seems to be a bit off -- up/down is only one degree of freedom, not two. I would submit that open/close email is also only one degree of freedom.

      I haven't RTFA, but by your examples I count only two degrees of freedom.

    4. Re:But how many degrees of freedom? by cft_128 · · Score: 1
      There's actually at least 5 degrees of freedom. According to the article, the kid can move a cursor and cause clicks by dwelling on the cursor. That means UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, and CLICK.

      As someone else pointed out, the up/down combination is only one degree of freedom, so in this case we have two degrees of freedom with almost a half of a third ("dwelling on the cursor"?).

      The six degrees of spacial freedom (I'll skip the Kevin Bacon jokes) break down into the three translational degrees of freedom (up/down, left/right and forward/backward) and the three rotational degrees of freedom (pitch, yaw and roll, each one rotating around one of the three axes).

      --

      Underloved Movies and Pub Quiz: donotquestionme.org

    5. Re:But how many degrees of freedom? by ShadowFacts · · Score: 1

      I think the degrees would look more like: Move up, hey stop moving that way, just hold still for a second, move down...
      and then the left/right/click that someone else mentioned

    6. Re:But how many degrees of freedom? by Chandon+Seldon · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It looked like the parent was talking about 3 separate commands "Up / Down / Next". You're talking about 5 separate commands (Up, Down, Left, Right, Click), four of which are analog / high resolution.

      --
      -- The act of censorship is always worse than whatever is being censored. Always.
    7. Re:But how many degrees of freedom? by StateOfTheUnion · · Score: 1
      Is that a cursor or a mouse pointer? A cursor in a simpler time was a one dimensional element used to indicate where one is in a text stream. Conceivably one could scroll forward and back and reach any place in the text. I don't think that there is any evidence in the article to suggest that the controller must have 2 dimensional control.

      He might have two dimensional control, but I find it difficult to assume this based on the article, because I think that the tasks cited in the article can be accomplished without controlling something in a two dimensional plane . . .

    8. Re:But how many degrees of freedom? by StateOfTheUnion · · Score: 1
      Your right . . . I should have stated it better.

      I assumed the stop position as default and then up as one direction and down as another from the default of stop. Your count is plausible and it simplifies the problem even more . . .

  48. What's the server address... by marko123 · · Score: 1

    so I can play pong against him online?

    --
    http://pcblues.com - Digits and Wood
  49. Controlling a fighter jet... by tdsotf · · Score: 1

    "DARPA envisions a day when a fighter pilot, for instance, might operate some controls just by thinking."

    But will the pilot have to think in Russian? Firefox.
    1. Re:Controlling a fighter jet... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, I thought of the YF-21 from Macross Plus. The pilot had a brain link to it that made the jet/robot seem like his own body- the various sensors were his eyes and ears and motion thoughts would reconfigure wing profiles, thrust, etc. Very cool concepts there...

  50. Human Computing by cephyn · · Score: 0

    I mean imagine a Beowulf Cluster of these!

    --
    Moo.
    1. Re:Human Computing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Uncalled for... but I guess someone had to say it.

    2. Re:Human Computing by cephyn · · Score: 1

      I agree.

      --
      Moo.
  51. And now... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Let the great Pong stadiums be built for the amusment of the masses!

  52. Soothesaying by knapper_tech · · Score: 1

    The great catastrophe of the neural interface: Spyware will be uploaded to our minds, eventually enslaving the entire developed world to a teenager in South Korea.

    --
    "There are some people that if they don't know, you can't tell them." ~ Louis Armstrong
    1. Re:Soothesaying by UserGoogol · · Score: 1

      As far as I can tell, this is a purely upstream connection; if you want to get stuff down to the brain you're still gonna have to use the built in interfaces. (Eyes, nose, ears...)

      --
      "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity." -- Hanlon's Razor
    2. Re:Soothesaying by Z-MaxX · · Score: 1

      Did you ever think about how the ability to put knowledge into the brain using technology would change the world in an unimaginable way?

      No one would ever have to study or go to school, or when they did it would be only to discover something new, not to learn stuff that mankind already knows. Anything one person learned could instantly be shared with everyone else on the planet. Such is the nature of information. Everyone could learn every language in existence so no language barriers would exist.

      Of course, this is like The Matrix, when Neo learns Kung Fu from the computer.

      --
      Dr Superlove 300ml. I use my powers for awesome
    3. Re:Soothesaying by sevenofnine · · Score: 1

      Inefficient way of handling this.
      The borg hive has this down right.
      The information is shared directly.

  53. So what are you waiting for? by EdZ · · Score: 1

    Stick the damn chip in my head already!

  54. Really? by scorp1us · · Score: 1

    What the fuck have I been using to accomplish tapping on these damn keys?

    --
    Slashdot's rate-of-post filter: Preventing you from posting too many great ideas at once.
  55. Early adoption = not the plan by sam_handelman · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The joke is in reference to the expanded pilot episode of the original Star Trek. Turn in your membership card, former nerd #774728.

    There are always some wrinkles to be worked out of the first generation of any new technology.

    Getting the latest generation of graphics card and finding that it somehow interferes with playback of my old .viv movies is a nuisance.

    Getting the latest generation of cyberware and finding that it causes epileptic seizures in combination with the interference with my cordless phone? Rather more than a nuisance.

    All things considered, I'll let the parapelegics handle the alpha testing for all this stuff, thank you very much.

    --
    The good and new comes from no quarter where it is looked for, and is always something different from what is expected.
    1. Re:Early adoption = not the plan by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Do I have to be disabled to get this?

      and

      The joke is in reference...


      And you, my quick-drawing friend, can tear up your mensa card. The poor fellow wasn't having problems understanding the reference, he merely wanted to know how he could acquire the technology.

  56. what makes the brain so powerful by Brigadier · · Score: 3, Interesting



    this is what makes the brain so powerful. it builds itself as needs be. The neurons that form pathways to move yrou hands, can just as easily learn to manage other body parts. I remember my sister who is a research scientist showing pictures of nuerons before and after trials. where they would paralyze a rat in a certain area then the rat woudl learn to walk with it's limited capacity. then looking on the nueeron pathways that formed in responce to learning the new task was incredible.

  57. 70% Pong Accuracy by aardwolf64 · · Score: 4, Funny

    can use his thoughts to control a computer well enough to operate a TV, open e-mail and play Pong with 70% accuracy

    I can do the first two easily enough, but he's got me beat on the 70% Pong rate...

    1. Re:70% Pong Accuracy by BottleCup · · Score: 0

      In reality it is not you who controls the computer with your thoughts....

      All your thoughts are belong to us!

  58. Imagine.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    A beowolf cluster of human brains.

    1. Re:Imagine.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They could communicate using programs written in the brainfuck language and use brainfuck_MPI to communicate

    2. Re:Imagine.... by Xaroth · · Score: 1

      A beowolf cluster of human brains.

      They have this. It's called "slashdot".

  59. The Matrix by abertoll · · Score: 1

    And I thought it was only a movie. This is too scary to be true.

    I can't even image what kind of "thoughts" you'd have to think to get a mouse pointer to move. How do you learn to send the right signals?

    --
    "he drew his sword Ringil that glittered like ice... and he wounded Morgoth with seven wounds..."
    1. Re:The Matrix by mailtomomo · · Score: 0

      simple : how did you learn to walk ?

    2. Re:The Matrix by lee7guy · · Score: 2, Informative

      Start practicing today.

      --
      Ceterum censeo Microsoftem esse delendam
    3. Re:The Matrix by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually all you would need for that is to think the x and y (and z depending on what you are doing) values up or down, not too hard in that respect. 2 Degrees of freedom for x and y, a 3rd for z, click, some sort of menu, etc.

      Also, they havent perfected tapping directly into the visual cortex to actually do it the way they did it in the movie, not to mention various other technical feats. I give it at least 200 more years until we can see that level of tech, munus the kinks.

    4. Re:The Matrix by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think you're a bit pessimistic on the timeframe. With the acceleration of technological advance going on now, I'd put that closer to 50 years out.

  60. Maintenance procedures by Alien+Being · · Score: 1

    Remember to mount a scratch monkey.

  61. Wireless??? by mwilli · · Score: 1

    When will it be 802.11G capable? Once that comes out count me in!

    --
    My sig beat up your sig.
  62. yeah by Anubis350 · · Score: 3, Funny

    now I can drink coffee, get my work done, and masturbate while browsing for porn

    ahhhhh, watching the karma burn

    --
    "goodbye and hello, as always" ~Prince Corwin, from Zelazny's Amber series
    1. Re:yeah by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      now I can drink coffee, get my work done, and masturbate while browsing for porn

      careful there.. dont want to spill that.

  63. neither by Anubis350 · · Score: 1

    but your g/f will have more of them :-P

    --
    "goodbye and hello, as always" ~Prince Corwin, from Zelazny's Amber series
  64. Dupe! by Mike+Rubits · · Score: 1

    Boy, I thought Slashdot was getting bad with dupes, but they had this one back in the 80s!

    http://www.atarimuseum.com/videogames/consoles/2 60 0/mindlink.html

    (Yes, this is supposed to be funny)

  65. I'm using it right now. by blackmonday · · Score: 1

    I'm actually using this system right now to type this comment. It works really wellOH MY GOD LOOK AT THE HOOTERS ON THAT NEW SECRETARY OH OH DONT SUBMIT

  66. I've instructed my wife.. by LinuxHam · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I've told her on numerous occasions.. "look, I don't care if I end up as just a brain in a jar with thousands of wires coming out of it, I WANT TO LIVE FOREVER!" Besides, with the CCD retinas out now that inject data directly into the optic nerve, it'll be just a matter of time before vision can be completely maintained for the sighted. We could end up in labs, just rows and rows of brains in jars, all wired up and experiencing artificial vision and life experiences presented by some massive computer system. Gee I wonder where I've heard THAT before.

    Come on! Who's with me!?!?!

    --
    Intelligent Life on Earth
    1. Re:I've instructed my wife.. by KingPrad · · Score: 1

      I am with you on this. I very much want to live forever. I want to see everything, try everything, learn everything. It was always a vague wish until I read Greg Egan's book Diaspora. He brings the idea to life in a beautiful and fascinating way. Read it!

      --
      Stop the Slashdot Effect! Don't read the articles!
  67. Measurements for the Common Man? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "This just sounds better because they framed the control in terms of some common tasks"

    Enough with fancy dancy common tasks such as TV and email! I want to know what this thing can do in terms of football fields, school buses, and cubic ovens!

  68. This is how it begins. by Poietes · · Score: 1

    When this technology gets far enough along that it can interpret more than just directional and selectional thoughts, things are going to get damn interesting. When technology can extract words from thoughts, rather than just up, down, yes and no, it could use search technology to retrieve information. It could also put information out into a network.

    Have everybody hooked up to something like this and suddenly there's no such thing is individual knowledge. You've got a massive P2P network of thought. De Chardin's noosphere, if you're optimistic. Or the Borg, if you're not.

    Quite scary. Telepathy's coming, and we're not going to have to wait for evolution to deliver it to us. Technology's going to short-circuit that process.

  69. Time for a raging mob by Jherico · · Score: 1

    I'll bring the pitchforks if someone else can commit to the torches.

    --

    Jherico

    What can the average user can do to ensure his security? "Nothing, you're screwed"

  70. Re:RTFA PLEASE... by StateOfTheUnion · · Score: 4, Informative
    Hardly true . . .scanning 100 neurons does not generate 100 degrees of freedom. That would imply that each neuron is a discrete controller that can be stimulated at will by the user. Neurons works in conjunction forming netoworks through axons and synapses and fire in combination with one another. They are not independent control elements. The user is probably firing off a pattern of neurons at a time and this pattern is picked up by the electrodes and interpreted by software. Repeatable neural patterns that are able to be produced on demand are then linked to inputs on the TV, in the pong game etc.

    In fact if you had actually paid attention and thought about the article after reading it, it would be rather obvious that the quote

    There are 100,000 neurons in a square millimeter of cortex. There are very precise codes in the neurons. The details matter."

    Is referring to the details of neural patterns being picked up, not individual neurons. Just as the quote from the article implies, the devil is in the details.

  71. The subject is somewhat misleading... by KitFox · · Score: 4, Insightful
    If you consider that effectively all human input into a computer is brain-controlled. It's just a matter of what transmission method is being used. In normal cases, such as most of us here, the transmission medium is (simplified): Brain to fingers to keyboard to computer.

    The big thing about this is that now they are working to take out the fingers and keyboard part, and make it "Brain to Computer."

    Honestly, I see a few frightening issues, though. For example, I can walk up to my computer on a dry day, sit down, grab the mouse, and send a static shock through the USB port, effectively freezing the USB capability. Now, what happens if somebody is using this wonderful new technology, and gets a static shock straight to the brain? Or, for even more fun, if there is no isolation circuit in the input system, what happens if the power supply to the computer blows and applies a comfortable DC voltage directly to your brain?

    The entire "In" part is what bugs me. "In his skull", "In his brain"... It makes it seem more exciting, but honestly, IMHO it opens up so many more possible problems. Just the fact that you need to get brain surgery to just START to use this thing is enough as it is. If it were non-invasive, I'd be a lot more impressed.

    --

    @Whee

    1. Re:The subject is somewhat misleading... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      allong the wame lines,
      WOuld you really want your brain interfaced with any microsoft software?

    2. Re:The subject is somewhat misleading... by cjameshuff · · Score: 1

      The electrode array's a couple millimeters on a side. It'd be like a really tiny stroke.

      Of course, a full blown version would probably have electrodes scattered around the brain. In that case, anything ranging from seizures to death is possible. However, I really don't see something like this using a direct electrical connection. If I were designing it, I'd use an induction loop to transmit power to the internal electronics, and LED's under the skin to carry the detected signals. Rather than a plug, you'd just wear a headband. It would be impossible to apply any significant amount across electrodes. But I don't think brain interfaces will be seriously two-way for a very long time...brain output/audiovisual input is likely to work better for most purposes. Plant some little transducers in the inner ear, and strap your iPod on your head or around your neck...

  72. Computer Potatoes by metalligoth · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I worry about the opposite of this situation... People wired to control their computers that cease to use their muscles for anything else. You think couch potatoes are bad? Just imagine someone hard wired to the Net 24/7.

    We already are at the point where we can give the blind 25 pixel vision. directly through the brain. Just wait until that increases to 1024 x 768, and you can bring in other, erm, sensations as well. Welcome to the new couch potato. They won't go anywhere!

    1. Re:Computer Potatoes by unixbugs · · Score: 1, Funny

      Just imagine someone hard wired to the Net 24/7

      its easy, theyre called "moderators" around these parts.

      --
      You are about to give someone a piece of your mind, something which you can ill afford...
    2. Re:Computer Potatoes by GOD_ALMIGHTY · · Score: 2, Interesting

      That's the *real* story on how we wound up in the Matrix. No one believed that, so they made up the whole war story. Yep, we all took the blue pill.

      --
      Arrogance is Confidence which lacks integrity. -- me
    3. Re:Computer Potatoes by riverfr0zen · · Score: 1

      No, no no. Now that we have wireless, people could simply move around while brain-controlling the computer stuff. Imagine - blowing shit up on teh fps *while driving* to work ...

  73. oh boy, I can improve my pong scores! by museumpeace · · Score: 1

    seriously, rather sad irony that a breakthrough like that comes to our attention two days after Christopher Reeves passed away.

    --
    SLASHDOT: news for people who can't concentrate on work or have no life at all and got tired of yelling back at the TV.
  74. blah blah blah by drinternet223 · · Score: 1

    I can whack off with 2 hands now!

  75. This may seem far fetched but... by unixbugs · · Score: 0

    ...so was the idea of space travel 100 years ago.

    Could it be possible for humans to build such a technologically advanced machine, I mean bleeding edge quantum light beam crap, in the future, to where a certain percentage of the population could "hack" their way around the "mainframe" WITHOUT the head-gear?

    w00t!

    my idea! my idea! im gonna patent brain wave hacking right now ;P

    --
    You are about to give someone a piece of your mind, something which you can ill afford...
  76. In Soviet Russia... by cowbutt · · Score: 1
    1. Re:In Soviet Russia... by julesh · · Score: 0

      That's amazing. I remembered that film as being good, but none of those "memorable quotes" are ... well ... even remotely memorable, other than the one you quoted.

      Oh, well.

  77. Sounds Like a Nail In Search of a Hammer by _A_Mad_Scientist · · Score: 1

    I wonder if any of the researchers know about the NSA (I'm currently reading Body of Secrets). They deal with billions of signals and try to sift out the wheat from the chaff. To me, signals are signals and the gains to be had from an NSA-style mapping of the brain merit further discussion. A listening post in the brain? It might not be too far off.

    --
    Reality is a crutch for people who can't handle lucid dreaming.
  78. Nice Pong Skills. by shurikt · · Score: 1
    and play Pong with 70% accuracy.
    I can't even play Pong with 70% accuracy with my HANDS!
  79. So when can I by kintarowins · · Score: 1

    ssh into my brain and do an apt-get install women-skills

    i can see this technology helping a lot of slashdotters

    1. Re:So when can I by unixbugs · · Score: 0

      root@sams.brain~# ls -l /proc/cerebrum/subconcious/
      lr-xr-xr-x 1 sam sam 9 0ct 23 1975 current_thought -> /dev/penis

      --
      You are about to give someone a piece of your mind, something which you can ill afford...
  80. don't bother with the IBVA site (OT) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Man, that IBVA site is really something. They complain about how nobody gives them any respect, least of all journalists, but the site is just a bunch of leading comments and rants.
    What can I do with an IBVA system? What computer system/drivers/applications do I need?
    How much does it cost?
    How do I order it? How soon can I expect it to arrive?
    What if it doesn't work as I expect? In fact, what should I expect, precisely?

    Don't look to the press for your ills. Look to your own marketing. You don't have to hire a marketer, but if you don't, you have to ACT AS YOUR OWN MARKETER. Use good English. Assume I might want to buy your product, and tell me how to do so. Tell me what it can do for me, in case I'm not sure.

    For crying out loud, if this system cost less than $100, I'd want to buy almost immediately. But after scouring the site, I have no idea. So I think you're probably kooks! How's that?

  81. Adapting Dasher by stuffman64 · · Score: 1

    Using a slightly-modified version of Dasher, the patient would almost be able to use every function of a computer. The article states he can play pong fairly well, so it should not be a big leap to be able to use Dasher for text input. It's great to see this technology advancing this far so fast; just imagine 10 or 20 years in the future utilizing thousands of sensors and vastly more powerful computers.

    --
    --- At my sig, unleash hell.
  82. Jack Me In! by rts008 · · Score: 1

    Sign me up. I'll be a "test monkey", but not a Scratch Monkey(TM)!

    --
    Down With Slashdot BETA!!! I've been around the corner and seen the oliphant; you can only abuse me from your perspecti
  83. Is implantation really necessary? by MacDork · · Score: 1

    I think you'll agree that this is a less invasive and probably cheaper computer/brain interface. Oh yeah, for you Mac trivia junkies, IBVA's gear started Mac only =) They've branched out over the years though.

  84. Pong! by MavEtJu · · Score: 3, Funny

    play Pong with 70% accuracy.

    Call me when he can play Doom with 99% accuracy and I will volunteer!

    --
    bash$ :(){ :|:&};:
    1. Re:Pong! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You can already play real life with nearly 100% accuracy, I bet. What's so special?

  85. Things you want to do vs. Things you should do by Invalid+Character · · Score: 1
    I've always wondered about things like this and how hard one would have to focus to actually get things to happen. I mean if say I'm browsing in a brain controlled system and I happen across a name like Jenna, I would probably think of Jenna Jameson. Now would that cause my favourite Jenna J movie to start playing? I know, as an earlier poster stated that there is limited freedom with the technology as it stands today, but in the future how could a system know whats the 'right' thought? How would it know to keep open my text editor so i can write my term paper (something I don't want to do, but must) and not start my favourite game (something I really want to do and think about all the time, but should not).

    While raising the concentration level needed to initiate an action would but a realativly easy fix to the problem, it will then screw up things like multitasking. Meaning I would have to stop what I'm doing, think really hard about some other (and possibly unrelated) thingand then get back to waht I was originally thinking about. Some may be ok with this but I personally can't stand being interupted while thinking.

    I think this will be a big obstacle to overcome before brain control technology is ready for the masses; knowing what really is the desired thought/action. And hopefully if they get it right, we won't have a fancier version of Clippy that acts on all the wrong thoughts.

    --

    --

    Registered .sig quotient : 1337

  86. Girlfriend's response... by Libertarian_Geek · · Score: 1

    "Oh, but if you love me, you'll plug-in for a chat" The war is lost, before the battle had begun.

    --

    www.facebook.com/DareDefendOurRights

    www.fairtax.org
  87. Ethics Question by joNDoty · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The article briefly touches on morality as a possible deterrent for this technology. Does anyone here have a problem with the ethics of interfacing directly with a human brain?
    Personally, I don't see the ethical dilemma. Even if things progressed to the point of "improving" on the human body, does anyone see this as an ethical no-no? I'd like to hear your reasons.

    1. Re:Ethics Question by JuzzFunky · · Score: 1

      In my opinion, the only difference between using this technology and standard input devices is that keyboards exist outside our skin and the electrodes are beneath it. I suppose that there is potentially a problem of choice - we can choose to type something but we do not have the same sort of conscious choice when it comes to patterns of neural activity. Problems would arise if the implanted electrodes were used to change activity in the brain. This could be quite an effective method for brainwashing someone - mua ha ha ha... oh? did I type that or just think it???

      --
      Unexpect the expected!
  88. Everything was going great until... by Kakurenbo+Shogun · · Score: 3, Funny

    He was typing along happy as a clam, with 100% accuracy for 21 characters, and then the 30% error rate popped up and out came "rm -Rf /". Oh well, no more pong.

    --
    Convert RSS to HTML - integrate webfeeds into your website
  89. Download only, no upload by zoloto · · Score: 1

    simply don't allow any interfacing that could upload information to your brain. keep the signals going in one direction while allowing a "buffer check" to keep information from overflowing i.e. Your arm can only exert so much pressure as defined by the "control chip" so it doesn't ruin itself. This could be applied to the brain sending info to the computer, just design the software so it reads what's going on, and by the next signal sent, it can determine that any previous signal was actually interpreted by properly.

    sound good to you?

  90. Atari did this 21 years ago with MindLink! by cimmerian · · Score: 2, Interesting
    In 1983 all you needed to do is slap down $100 and buy a MindLink from Atari and start playing Pong!

    http://www.atarihq.com/museum/2678/mindlink.html
    Look ma, no hands! With Atari's new Mindlink controller, your hands are free to eat, knit, file your nails or whatever, while you play computer games. The infrared sensors wrap around your forehead with Velcro straps and plug into the MindLink transmitter, which plugs into the Atari Computer, VCS or 7800 game system. It doesn't really read your mind, but it does detect muscle impulses when you move your eyebrows. The $100 device was to play games like Breakout, and Atari claimed that software would be available on ESP, thought games, memory and biofeedback.
  91. Another news story on the topic by rubberbando · · Score: 1

    can be found here . Also, PBS.org has a similar storie here involving a man with robotic arms.

    --
    DEAD DEAD DEAD DELETE ME
  92. Obligatory Gibson quote by theolein · · Score: 2, Funny

    When can the rest of us adjust the trodes and jack in?

  93. Using thoughts to control computers by toremini · · Score: 0

    I actually remember playing a game using just my finger a while ago. It was connected to a sensor, and I was able to play this simple skying game. It was a bit hard at first to control, but then I got the hang of it.

    This was at some sort of computer fair that was set up about 6-7 years ago, but it was definitely interesting. I'm not exactly sure how many of you had this amazing opportunity. Is there a place where one can purchase such devices for the home user?

    I remember they were selling packages with the product itself & games. One of the card games included was where the computer can actually detect if you're lying based on your heartbeat/pulse. I didn't have a chance to play that game at that time.

    Anybody had similar experiences that they would like to share?

  94. To hell with juries in the future by HeLLFiRe1151 · · Score: 1

    They'll just be abe to hook up the villan and read his thoughts.

    --
    I've got 101 mod points and you can't have them!
  95. Steven Hawkins by OneArmedMan · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I know its not going to happen any time soon, but would something like this be, useful in helping people with the same physical problems as Steven Hawking, as well ??

    Would be good to see the Mighty MC Hawking busting some moves from a Robotic Exo-Skeleton =)

    1. Re:Steven Hawkins by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You mean, like this?

  96. but can he bend spoons? by Glial1 · · Score: 1

    What does Yuri Geller say about it?

  97. Yay for pseudo-science! by iammaxus · · Score: 1

    First of all, he could have achieved all of those with only 1-degree of freedom (plus time). Pong is one degree, obviously. Channel up and down is one, then holding up or holding down could be volume, etc etc.... Anyway, "degrees of freedom" is not a measure of the power of the interface with the brain. There are many more parameters. For example, take a single degree of freedom. There is resolution on this degree of freedom (if its speed, how many different speeds can he control). There is the responsiveness (how long does it take for the computer to interpret his thoughts). Accuracy, and probably a lot more of things I can't think of.

    1. Re:Yay for pseudo-science! by StateOfTheUnion · · Score: 1
      First of all, he could have achieved all of those with only 1-degree of freedom (plus time).

      But if time were used as dimension of a controller rather than simply a sampling interval, then the time domain would represent a degree of freedom . . . that is still two degrees of freedom.

      I wholely agree that resolution, responsiveness, etc. are important in any controller. But the article gave no information aobut these things except that the guy can play pong with 70% accuracy.

  98. Right on bro. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This reminds me of something that George Carlin said (i don't normally take much of what he says to heart, but this is right on as is your comment).

    "Organized Religion is and will be the single biggest obstruction to the human race."

    If you think about that, as the human race becomes more advanced, larger in number, and runs to the end of this planet's resources it will have to expand beyond this planet. We will become more advanced in medicine allowing longer lifetimes allowing for each to help advance the race during that longer lifetime. This will of course meet vicious resistence from organized religion whose beliefs range from the human body being "perfect" and in no need of change, from this planet being the "center" of the universe (in the eyes of whatever diety), and its (organized religion) belief that when we get to that point, it will be "the end times" and they are to accept it. This is very, very, very dangerous and will be a massive hurdle to overcome in time.

    The human spirit for survival, the basic instinct will take over and we will then want to leave, to advance, to continue living, but if the resistance has taken too long and used too many resources in the mean time....it will be too late.

    Okay, this is getting too long and i'm totally writing AC, so i'll knock it off now. But things like this make me have hope that we'll get off this rock in time, we'll have the ability to prolong our thought processes and continue to improve (hopefully) this human race.

  99. Delgado's bull brain implant by UnkyHerb · · Score: 1

    As Opposed to letting people use electronics in their brain's for their <b>own personal benefits</b>(Newer), using electronic-brain-devices for a third-party's maniacal ideas/benefits is nothing new Jose Delgado's (<a href="http://www.mindcontrolforums.com/brainimplan ts.htm"> experiments</a> had some weird conceptions/motives/ideas. <a href="http://www.mindcontrolforums.com/brain/stimo ceiver.jpg">Heres The Chip Picture</a>. If you glance at the article you will see that these experiments were conducted in the past quite a while ago <b>(1967)</b>. "Delgado, in a series of experiments terrifying in their human potential, implanted electrodes in the skull of a bull. Waving a red cape, Delgado provoked the animal to charge. Then, with a signal emitted from a tiny hand-held radio transmitter, he made the beast turn aside in mid-lunge and trot docilely away.28 He has [also] been able to "play" monkeys and cats like "little electronic toys" that yawn, hide, fight, play, mate and go to sleep.." If you think about the technological advancements from 1967 compared to 2004. We need to look at the things people are studying, and make sure that we don't end up all being mind-control-subjects

    --
    Your Momma's so fat she makes emacs look like nano!
  100. What about the adult industry implications? by toothfish · · Score: 1

    References have been made to the ability to surf pr0n with no hands and whatnot, but for any technology to be successful, doesn't the adult industry (or military, i guess) have to figure out a way to make money off of it?

    Space travel is nice and all, but DVDs, VCRs, the IntarWeb &c. have mostly been made accessible (and affordable) via the helping hand of prurient e-commerce, right?

    Maybe ./ ought to collectively reccommend to a select few pr0n magnates that mind-controlled DVDs would be a worthwhile investment, then we'd start to see some real results...

  101. Cybermodules by carlcmc · · Score: 1

    I think I'll use my first cybermodules to upgrade PSI and PSI pull...

    *remote System Shock 2 reference fo rthose unsure*

  102. Operating controls just by thinking by lub · · Score: 1
    DARPA envisions a day when a fighter pilot, for instance, might operate some controls just by thinking.
    Capt. Yossarian, stationed in Iraq during a presidential visit: 'Sorry about that Maverick, Mr. Bush.'
  103. This has already been done - 5 yrs ago by sdfan · · Score: 2, Informative

    This is nothing really new. Dr. Phil Kennedy was the first to successfully implant a person at Emory University in 1999. He has done five more implants and two lasted over two years. Go here for more details His company is working on the third generation version. Neural Signals

  104. In other news by Zareste · · Score: 1

    "Congress is pushing to database every thought made by every human by the year 2008. The 0WNED Act seems all too necessary in light of recent terrorist attacks involving trash-can fires, shoe-destroying gum on sidewalks and the shooting of certain forms of wildlife. 'Terrorists,' said President Bush, 'Saddam Hussein, 9/11 Al-Queda Iran terrorists... Kerry terrorists November. Terrorists, Axis of Evil, economy World Trade Center Judgment Day leadership freedom safety America strategery militaration defendation intellectualizationism!' Congress cheered loudly over Bush's speech omitting the usual fluff between keywords. It's said they'll be holding a feast of a thousand human hearts over this occasion the act is on its way to the constitution."

    Well at least typing will be easier.

    --
    I am NOT a number! I am a - oh wait, I'm number 761710. Look! 761710!
  105. If he plays with 70% accuracy... by iammaxus · · Score: 1

    According to some basic probability, his games should last 1/.3 or 3.3333 hits on average. I don't see this guy topping any scoreboards...

  106. Finally... by Proptwistr · · Score: 5, Funny

    As a tech support specialist, it's kinda nice to see somebody actually using their brain to operate a computer.

  107. This is old hack by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is old Hack. I saw this on television about 5 years ago. It's actually trickled down from Military experiments funded in part from the government and also by IBM. Let me tell you those military satellites up there are for telepathic VOIP communications. Anyone thinking that this is NEW news should be refreshing this very site.

  108. Croquet (OS) Anyone? by fygment · · Score: 1

    So maybe this, a HUD, and Croquet OS would provide a quadriplegic a very tangible sense of freedom from his/her physical constraints.

    --
    "Consensus" in science is _always_ a political construct.
  109. Where are the Borg? by sorcium · · Score: 0

    "Resistance is futile, You will be assimilated" -Locutus of Borg

  110. Crap. by jcuervo · · Score: 1

    I was reading AppleGeeks earlier, this was in one of their blogs. Was thinking I should've submitted it. Oh, well.

    --
    Assume I was drunk when I posted this.
  111. 70% accuracy by emjoi_gently · · Score: 1

    Maybe he's just crap at playing Pong.

  112. Operate a TV? Play Computer Games??!! by binarybum · · Score: 1

    ... But everyone knows these activities will rot you brain!

    --
    ôó
  113. ah but by Anubis350 · · Score: 1

    ah but they users do use their brain, thats the problem. Honestly, I work in a computer lab in my school, most of my users run into trouble when they try to figure out how to do something instead of just asking

    --
    "goodbye and hello, as always" ~Prince Corwin, from Zelazny's Amber series
  114. Delgado's Bull Brain Implant by UnkyHerb · · Score: 1

    As Opposed to letting people use electronics in their brain's for their own personal benefits(Newer), using electronic-brain-devices for a third-party's maniacal ideas/benefits is nothing new Jose Delgado's ( experiments had some weird conceptions/motives/ideas. Heres The Chip Picture. If you glance at the article you will see that these experiments were conducted in the past quite a while ago (1967). "Delgado, in a series of experiments terrifying in their human potential, implanted electrodes in the skull of a bull. Waving a red cape, Delgado provoked the animal to charge. Then, with a signal emitted from a tiny hand-held radio transmitter, he made the beast turn aside in mid-lunge and trot docilely away.28 He has [also] been able to "play" monkeys and cats like "little electronic toys" that yawn, hide, fight, play, mate and go to sleep.." If you think about the technological advancements from 1967 compared to 2004. We need to look at the things people are studying, and make sure that we don't end up all being manchurian candidates.

    --
    Your Momma's so fat she makes emacs look like nano!
  115. Re:RTFA PLEASE... by cortex · · Score: 1

    The brain makes use of both time and frequency domain multiplexing. Also, individual neurons encode information in highly dimensional spaces. So, the may well be far more the 100 degrees of freedom available. It depends on the decoding algorithm. The is particularly true when you record from high level cognitive areas of the brain.

  116. UFRGS by fok · · Score: 1

    I attended at Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, at wich some researchers developed technology that permitted multi sclerosis patients to choose letters through brain-wave control and form words back in 1994!

    Sorry my english, just got home and I'm drunk!

    --
    \m/
  117. Y'all need to turn in your geek cards! by celtic_hackr · · Score: 1

    Over 200 comments and not a single:

    "Resistance is Futile, You Will be Assimilated"

    remark.

    Must be all the presidental debates with brainsucking signal waves coming out of the TVs.

    Well back to my game of global thermonuclear war, on the new site I just haccked into.

  118. Sir, I was late for work today because... by GFLPraxis · · Score: 1

    ...my brain crashed.

    I mean seriously, what happens if you get a virus or experience some kind of major crash in your brain? This brings true meaning to the phrase, "Blue Screen of Death".

  119. Because it needed to be said... by Firefly1 · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Remember, you must think in Russian."

    --
    - White Knight of the Order of Mihoshi Enthusiasts
  120. Look no hands.. by subzerorz · · Score: 1

    This message was created without the use of hands.

    --
    Subzerorz
    More Articles
  121. First of it's kind my @$$ by jwdb · · Score: 1

    Check out Wired August 2001 - there's an article about exactly this kind of thing. They describe an experiment with a parapalegic by the name of Ray, who received an implant in his motor cortex hooked up to a computer mouse. After about a month, his mind had learned to treat it as a new limb...

    Jw

  122. The 'ol minddrive. by Anonymous+MadCoe · · Score: 1

    I once looked at a place called other90, http://www.other90.com/ I never made up my mind if that was for real, and thought their kit was too expensive to find out. Anyone ever try their kit?

    1. Re:The 'ol minddrive. by trongey · · Score: 1

      I remember reading a review of it in some PC rag several years ago. The reviewer was convinced that it actually worked, albeit not well or easily. As I recall he was able to do a little less than reported in this article.

      --
      You never really know how close to the edge you can go until you fall off.
  123. Windows in a Bling of an Eye by Madcapjack · · Score: 1
    *Blink*

    *Crash!*

    Note from Microsoft: Please download and install our new Windows 2010 Update.

    a message from your friendly Microsoft Impersonator

  124. This tech combined with VR goggles... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You put on your comfy VR goggles whilst relaxing on the couch. Your field of view becomes saturated with the display of the virtual hallways. You aim your virtual arm that you've trained and honed to be almost as accurate as your real arms, you turn your virtual head, you spot your opponent, and you flex your virtual trigger finger.

    Bam, another kill on the newbie, who needs to go back to training and learn to walk.

    You dive out of windows, you backflip off walls, you fly choppers, you swim the ocean depths, essentially, you kick ass...

    I can't wait for this tech to go mainstream.

  125. I wonder what would happen... by jaephu · · Score: 1

    ...if a certain president were connected to this thing :)

    Blue windows screen of death :)

  126. Red flashlight by henkieboy · · Score: 0

    Imagine having a red light on your head that flashes every time you think about sex, now that would be fun walking through the office!

  127. IRC? by the_dubstyler · · Score: 1

    I wanna get wired up to IRC so *everyone* can hear the voices in my head..

    --

    Other than that, Mrs Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?

  128. Pah! What would Kevin Warwick say? by chiark · · Score: 1

    I echo the welcomes to our new quadraplegic wired overlords, but have to ask the obvious question:

    where does this lead the eminent scientist Kevin Warwick, who really is a cyborg (not just an attention seeking media whore) and has contributed *so* *much* to such computer/human interfacing?

    Will he have to resign his post as "world's only true cyborg" that he dubbed himself?

    Will he now have to get a life?

    (For the hard of thinking, I do not think much of Kevin Warwick, and am glad to hear that technology is being used to embiggen* people)

    *embiggen is a trademark of Jebediah Springfield

  129. What was this guy's name anyway; J.C .Denton? by Flownez · · Score: 1

    Kind of DeusEx-ish in a way...

  130. Human bus connector by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Isn't that the big hole in the back of Neo's, Morpheus', and Trinity's heads?

  131. Hopefully by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The mods will waste a few mod points on your post, such as "offtopic" or "troll."

  132. pfft! by danalien · · Score: 1
    come on - as long as it wouldn't upload into ones 'cerebral medulla' ... It/We'd be fine, wouldn't it?!? :-)


    *me'sa suspec'ta some'ona see'na to'a mann'a SCIFI-movi'/seri'as =)*


    cortex - the tissue forming the outer layer of an organ or structure in plant or animal.
    medulla - the inner part of an organ or structure in plant or animal.

    --
    I don't claim I know more than I know, and if you know you know more than I know, then by all means, let me know.
  133. I've had "brain-controlled" computing for years!!! by TheLoneGundam · · Score: 1

    It's simple - THINK of a program, then implement it.

  134. Here it comes... by andufo82 · · Score: 0

    here comes what we've expecting some time ago... the future.

    --
    Temet Nosce
  135. HEY MODS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I thought that was funny.

  136. You forgot the obvious quote about degrees... by xaeridus · · Score: 1

    Yes, but no user will ever need more than 3 degrees of freedom.

  137. That's a two-edged sword... by the_twisted_pair · · Score: 1

    ..and Roald Dahl wrote a nice little story about it - the title of which escapes me, unfortunately.

    A brilliant but control-freak scientist ends up as a supported-brain-in-the-jar (with a single remaining eye floating on top) in the care of his wife...who proceded to aim the eye and force him to watch all the sorts of behaviour he'd abhored whilst mobile ;)

    Be careful what you wish for!

  138. I got tivo on my brain:) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    If friendster and social networking can make it to hollowwood then
    here's my contri for opening up pandora's box in a theater near you.
    A new chapter in the struggle of dark and light.
    Starting with me(?) having a removable xunil1.4 implant^cpu
    with *nix hid device drivers
    able to record anything i selectively choose to see ^|v hear.
    like capturing a mp4 or a mp3,
    timestamping these discrete particles of info;
    defined against my human language dtd (metas)
    (i.e. capturing knowledge in shortcuts; aliased pipe cmds (bash'ing)
    triggered by a bahavior like one fingernail flicking a certain other to
    record (visual (e=mc2 solution)) ==> reversed to recall (e=mc2 [solution])
    historically dated if the material (content) != now
    what would it mean to me(?) to know-it-all
    Maybe I'll have me(?) subscribe (get baptised) to god.net
    and my cpu would wifi a highly compressed 3x3DES a/v stream
    recording my existance in exchange for perfect recall.
    playback (me [age])
    god.net becomes me(?)s reliable backup
    incase his bashistory gets too deep or tabbing takes too long
    to re-experience that 1st kiss:)
    oh,oh, what ID did me(?) give it to record?
    it gets pretty weird when god.net
    reminds me(?) with the clip (me 09/1987 (wanda sykes) treehouse)
    would me(?) lose his humanity in favor of something better?
    or go dark and use the force for evil?

    If me(?) had a child (choose how and what) he could program the infant
    to remember its momma tit when it cries while IMimg me(?) to look in.
    me(?) glows in anticipation of showing it(?) how to program it(?)self to learn.
    programmable kids, wowie zowie.
    should me(?) subscribe it(?) to god.net as an infant?
    then it(?) would have no understanding of forgetfullness
    until/unless it(?) is enabled.
    this is certainly getting weirder
    when should it(?) learn about itself?

    will me(?) succumb to the 1hand fandango?
    will it(?) be a geek or a jock?
    will evil.org get their one-blink patent?
    ho well, time for my medicine :)(
    story continues (?) when evil @
    dluz.tzo.com:8080/Rion/Blogs/2me(?)ornot2me(?)/