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Brain Controlled Computing a Reality

Posted by samzenpus on from the really-hands-free dept.

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."

8 of 299 comments (clear)

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

    *blink* *blink*

  2. 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
  3. Now just hook it up to some robotics and... by retro128 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Can this be much farther behind?

    --
    -R
  4. 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
  5. 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.

    --
    Linux Wireless Hardware in the UK
  6. 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.

  7. 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-
  8. 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.