Slashdot Mirror


Brain Interface Lets Monkeys Control Prosthetic Limbs

himicos was one of many readers to point out one recent success of scientists working to develop working brain-machine interfaces, writing "A team at the university of Pittsburgh has finally advanced a 2002 technology enough for use in prosthetic limbs, the targeted application all along. Training computer models to the firing patterns of the neurons in the parts of the brain that control motion, they are able to project the intentions of a monkey to a robotic arm, which follows the will of the animal. The sad thing about the articles is that the beauty of the mathematics used to create and train the models is totally ignored." Reader phpmysqldev adds a link to coverage at the BBC, and writes "This of course brings significant hope to amputees and other other people with physical disabilities." (Note that this research has been going on for quite some time.)

7 of 208 comments (clear)

  1. And just like that... by oahazmatt · · Score: 5, Funny

    Brain Interface Lets Monkeys Control Prosthetic Limbs And just like that, a SciFi channel original movie is conceived.
    --
    Those who believe the Internet is private,
    find their privates are on the Internet.
  2. Adapting the technology by utnapistim · · Score: 4, Funny

    So ... I realize that this will ultimately be adapted to humans, but could it be adapted to something else?

    Specifically, I'm thinking of adapting a laser prosthetic arm, to be used by the poor, armless sharks ...

    It's just an idea ...

    --
    Tie two birds together: although they have four wings, they cannot fly. (The blind man)
  3. hope to amputees by Paul+Rose · · Score: 5, Funny

    >>This of course brings significant hope to amputees
    As long as they don't mind carrying a monkey to control their prosthetic arm...

  4. Not impressed. by JoeD · · Score: 5, Funny

    Get back to me when they can use the robotic arm to fling poo.

  5. Re:Monkey's opinion by nategoose · · Score: 5, Funny

    He/she might be thinking "I wish this @#$@ing robot arm thing would quit stuffing those @%#$ed marshmallows in my mouth!"

  6. Re:How long until.... ? by 117 · · Score: 4, Funny

    How long until one of these monkeys kills the scientists with his robotic arm, in retaliation for them removing his perfectly good arm? If they keep interrupting me whilst I'm trying to post on /. , then not much longer....
  7. Re:Explain the beauty? by Hognoxious · · Score: 4, Funny

    Showing all the math that needs to be done. or Show a picture of a monkey with a robotic arm.
    It's just the same here. Consider:
    • I for one welcome our very hard mathematics doing overlords
    • I for one welcome our new bionic monkey overlords
    In Soviet Russia the same league isn't even in THEM!!!!
    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."