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Device Reads Messages From Surface of the Brain

Posted by samzenpus on from the I-want-to-know-what-you're-thinking dept.

Al writes "Technology Review has a story about a start-up company that has developed a more-accurate and less-invasive way to read a patient's thoughts. Neurolutions, based in St Louis, has developed a small implanted device that translates signals recorded from the surface of the brain into computer commands. The device, which is less invasive than implants and more accurate than scalp electrodes, uses a grid of electrodes placed directly on the surface of the brain to monitor electrical activity. This technology is currently used to find the origin of seizures in patients with uncontrolled epilepsy before surgery. But the company says it could also help paralyzed patients control a computer and perhaps prosthetic limbs using their thoughts. Tests involving more than 20 patients have shown that people can quickly learn to move a cursor on a computer screen using their brain activity."

5 of 156 comments (clear)

  1. Get the message by Goldberg's+Pants · · Score: 2, Insightful

    For a lot of Internet uses it'd just read a one word message.

    "Vacant".

  2. Other uses can't be far by piojo · · Score: 2, Insightful

    We can already let blind people see by connecting cameras to their tongues. If this sort of technique becomes easier/safer, it could be used for any sort of human/machine interface. Prosthetic limbs are only the beginning...

    I hope this does not have nasty side effects like increased chances of tumors...

    --
    A cat can't teach a dog to bark.
  3. Re:To Implant or not to implant... by Locke2005 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Are they saying that electrodes implanted in your brain are less invasive then silicone implanted in your chest? What about a game controller integrated into breast implants -- man, you'd never be able to get me off of Mario Kart if I had some of those to play with!

    --
    I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
  4. Re:Killer App by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    If computers can be controlled by thoughts, why is a cursor needed at all?

    Surely it's possible to interact with the controls directly through thought.

  5. Re:How much... by maxume · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Nah, there will always be some group of rubes that values authentic experiences over the manufactured.

    Of course, by rubes, I don't really mean rubes.

    --
    Nerd rage is the funniest rage.