Slashdot Mirror


Paralyzed Patients "Speak" With Their Pupils

sciencehabit writes "Lying in bed, unable to move a muscle, so-called locked-in patients have few ways to communicate with the outside world. But researchers have now found a way to use the widening and narrowing of the pupils to send a message, potentially helping these patients break the silence. The trick is a webcam-like setup that tracks pupil dilation. When people focus on a hard problem--say a math problem--their pupils dilate. Employing the approach, some locked-in patients could answer 'yes' and 'no' questions just by dilating their eyes."

3 of 72 comments (clear)

  1. Why are they even teaching anyone? by ZaMoose · · Score: 5, Funny

    I mean, seriously, paralyzed people would probably be bad candidates for teaching anyone anyth...

    OHHHHH. Those kinds of pupils!

    --
    I wish I had a kryptonite cross, because then you could keep Dracula and Superman away.
  2. Pike by Master+Moose · · Score: 4, Funny

    With this type of tech, pretty soon we will be able to hook them all up to motorised boxes with a single light that can blink once for yes and twice for no.

    --
    . . .gone when the morning comes
  3. Euthanasia Please by nukenerd · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I sincerely hope that by the time I might get to that state that the idiots who oppose euthanasia have been recognised as the nutjobs that they are and that I can be put out of my misery. If you kept a dog in that state (in the UK at least) you would be prosecuted for cruelty.