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.
But hitting that wall or doorjamb the other 5% of the time really sucks.
Uhmm.. what happens if you can't stop thinking about moving?
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 can't wait to hook it up to a Wii and play some racing games.
Real men read Slashdot articles at -1, bottom up.
I, for one, welcome our new brain controlling wheelchair overlords.
If you actually went to the article and watched the video, there is a side-note at the end that Honda developed a similar system for controlling a robot.
They demonstrate using ASIMO.
HOW IS THIS NOT THE MAIN STORY!
Oh, good, I stand a relatively good chance of being able to stop myself before rolling into traffic. Although, to be fair, I'd much rather face a 5% error rate than have no control at all. Not to mention that's only one week of training.
Mainly nostalgia here, but the article reminded me of the plot from Roujin Z (OAV).
An elderly invalid is volunteered for a bizarre science experiment. He is given a robotic bed linked directly to his brainwaves, allowing instant gratification. This seems like a wonderful deal, until this seemingly harmless bed goes out of control and transforms into an unstoppable robot.
I first saw the film on the SciFi channel many years ago.
With only a cheek muscle left to tweak, perhaps Mr Hawkin could put this to good use.
Now we don't have to move at all!
I hold very few opinions. I hold information based on observation and fact. If you wish to disagree, please use facts.
...does it run Linux?
Unfortunately, your choice of font is still living in 1925.
This was done a few years ago in a different way: you wear an electronic collar which eavesdrops on the nerves running to your vocal chords. These signals are then decoded into words. Finally, some words, like "forward", are interpreted as intentions to move. The system is called the Audeo.
Official site: http://www.theaudeo.com/
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyQv61899HE
Article: http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/6130
LMAO.
That seems to be why there's an emergency stop built in..
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.
Okay, I'll say this again, because it doesn't seem to have filtered through to the general population yet. Until the singularity, the human brain will be able to learn more easily than a computer. Please stop trying to teach computers the thought patterns for specific movements, and just provide a neural interface for the brain to work with. The brain will be able to figure out what signals it needs to fire to get the wheelchair moving (or whatever) soon enough.
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). Once the brain figures out what nerves are important for this interface, you then use that interface to deliver signals to operate other equipment.
Ask me about repetitive DNA
Okay, i'll look like some troll already mods, but give me a second.
I just feel that this is just another promo ad that gets sent to tech sites from some publicists to get the title of the technology spread with their name on it.
this article, (06/29/2009)
Brain controlled wheelchair developed at University of South Florida (02/11/2009)
from European scientists, Brain Controlled Wheelchair (05/11/2008)
Ambient Tech creates brain controlled wheelchair (09/06/2007)
Brain controlled wheelchair from spanish inventor (01/29/2007)
University of Electro Communications in Japan develop brain controlled wheelchair (08/11/2006)
Yeah I'll stop. Mod me down. I just think it's odd that this stuff gets press like it's something brand new. Perhaps sell us by saying its much better? Something. Please.
I am professor Xavier. And I approve this wheelchair.
...when you have demonstrated wheelchair control of a brain.
I can see it now. Balmer hooked up to an army of wheel chairs throwing themselves at you.
It's always good to see the human brain controlling our possessions, rather than the other way around. I look forward to the day when people are connected to other people in this same capacity.
"In the absence of the ability to establish the attribute of truth they tried to establish the noble attributes."
This is slightly off topic, but I hope this technology develops fast enough to get Stephen Hawking some great things before he dies. I'd love to see him given something that would allow him to type letters just by thinking of them.
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?
Controlled by your thoughts...
Wow, I what would happen if I drove off this bridge... WHUPPS!
-- I was raised on the command line, bitch
I know you meant that as a joke, but all of the assistive tech that I've seen (which is a lot) that runs on things like EEG or eye tracking have to recalibrate a lot. The really reliable stuff tends to be very simple, like switches with only toggle ON/OFF responses.
There's a perfect xkcd for my sig but I'm too lazy to look it up. sudo someone go find it.
By 'puffing his cheeks', could they be referring to farting?
If not, would sneezing/coughing constantly stop the chair?
"You can't really dust for vomit" --Nigel Tufnel
Anyone got a creative alternate title?
Brain Control Interface? Mind Control Interface?
That sounds like I'm gonna need a tinfoil hat.
... the future of gaming. We will look back at these stories and realise this was where it all started...
What if you fell asleep in the chair and dreamt you were moving around?
Now if the BMI can help me when I BM, then I can retire happily.