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Brain Controlled Virtual World for the Disabled

Posted by Zonk on from the you-know-you're-thinking-metaverse dept.

Galactic_grub writes "New Scientist Tech has a story about a virtual world that paralyzed patients can explore using their thoughts. The set-up connects a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) to virtual reality so that a person can 'walk' through it, simply by thinking of moving their legs or their left or right hand. Electrodes are attached to their scalp and electroencephalogram (EEG) readings are used to navigate, or control an avatar. The story includes a video of the experiment."

5 of 57 comments (clear)

  1. Lets get real by EmbeddedJanitor · · Score: 4, Insightful

    My wife spent a while caring for paraplegics and helping them to adjust. Most of these were young males hurt in mining accidents. Being able to have fantasies about walking is probably low on their agenda and probably serves little useful purpose. Being able to have realistic sex play is probably far more desirable and beneficial to the their health and wellbeing.

    --
    Engineering is the art of compromise.
    1. Re:Lets get real by Original+Replica · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "I know I'd rather be six feet under than lay in a bed for the next 50-70 years."

      I think that's the whole point of this tech. To give some sort of social life to those who are both immobile and without the real life support network to have a fufilling life inspite of their physical limitations. And before you knock this "social life" too much, consider how many people spend the majority of their time in WoW or EVE chatting or helping friends, completely by their own choice. I could think of nothing better for establishing a good game community than to adapt it to a demographic that would likely use the game as a primary means of social interaction. And if I only ever know them as the high level character who helped me out when I was a newbie and who is quick on the chat lines with a joke or a helpful suggestion, maybe that that would be just fine with someone who is unable to be helpful or chatty IRL.

      --
      We are all just people.
  2. I'm not sure by AciesD · · Score: 2, Insightful

    This is going to be good for some people, but what happens when these people take of the electrodes and discover they still can't walk. I would think it would make them worse.

    However, this is a step in the right direction. If we can read and interpret instructions through EEG good enough to control an avatar, how far away can we be from using these same thoughts to control robotic limbs?

  3. Games for the disabled. by kornkid606 · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I definitely agree with one of the previous posters that, I am not sure how much good a virtual world "game" would do for paralyzed individuals. I do think though that it could serve as a novel source of entertainment for them which could lift their spirits some. I can imagine that, myself, if I were ever in that kind of situation, the inability to play games would incredibly depress me since I get a great deal of enjoyment from them, so this virtual world would sound pretty fun, especially if it could be implemented as a game. I mean, I am certain there must be some developer out there who would jump at the chance to make a game for paralyzed individuals utilizing this interface.

    --
    Future indie game developer of America (and possibly Canada)
  4. Imagination is Exclusive? by Gertlex · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I've got my imagination... don't we all? Makes a pretty good "virtual" world for me when needed.

    No... didn't RTFA.