Slashdot Mirror
Toyota Demonstrates Brain Control of Wheelchair
An anonymous reader tips us that researchers at Toyota have developed a brain-machine interface system that allows for control of a wheelchair using thought. The system processes brain thought patterns (such as the thought of moving one's left foot) and can turn them into left, right, and forward movements of the wheelchair with a delay as short as one-eighth of a second. That's a big improvement over existing systems, which can take as long as several seconds to analyze and react to the user's thoughts. "The system has an emergency stop that can be activated by the user puffing his cheeks. The BMI adjusts itself over time to the characteristics of each driver's brainwaves. If a person dedicates three hours a day to using the system, the BMI can reach 95% accuracy in a week, researchers said."
.. Jeremy Clarkson sit in one.
Yeah, the wheelchair can read minds, but can it flash a light to indicate "yes" or "no"?
Don't blame me, I voted for Baltar.
I, for one, welcome our new brain controlling wheelchair overlords.
...does it run Linux?
Direct brain interfaced control of a robot? meh.
Direct brain interfaced control by a robot? Now THAT's interesting!
(I, for one...)
Ahh - My eye!
The doctor said I'm not supposed to get Slashdot in it!
This technological advance screams out to be mounted on a mobile beer fridge. Far more convenient than waiting for a buddy to finish his pint, then using that time-worn phrase, "While you're up..."
I've calculated my velocity with such exquisite precision that I have no idea where I am.
Yeah, but I'm envious of a 95% accuracy, if I could get that whilst walking, I'd be a less bruised man.
# cat
Damn, my RAM is full of cats. MEOW!!
FWIW, my own idea of how to do this would be to put a few small electrodes into a person's lower arm, far away from the brain (and have a sensitive meter to detect nerve firings).
Why not just put the electrodes into the person's feet? Then when they're walking along, the wheelchair can just follow a few paces behind them. That way, if they ever find themselves paralyzed and unable to send nerve firings to their feet, they'll find it rather convenient to have a wheelchair available.
Want to improve your Karma? Instead of "Post Anonymously", try the "Post Humously" option.
I can imagine how this could be very entertaining to see in action. Imagine someone on a stage giving a speech in one of these. "...these figures show clearly, we should move forward AAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaah" CRASH.
You've got that spot on. I spend a lot of time thinking about moving my butt out of bed. Especially now that it's winter here in the southern hemi.
Free, as in your money being freed from the confines of your account.
I am professor Xavier. And I approve this wheelchair.
I can see it now. Balmer hooked up to an army of wheel chairs throwing themselves at you.
Toyota researchers in Japan have built a brain/machine interface (BMI)...
... that has been demonstrated to control a wheelchair ...
...using a person's thoughts.
Is it an EVIL brain/machine interface?
Is it an EVIL wheelchair?
Are they EVIL thoughts?
Anyone got a creative alternate title?
Brain Control Interface? Mind Control Interface?
That sounds like I'm gonna need a tinfoil hat.