Type with your Mind

Benedict Wright writes "Another nugget from the BBC... Researchers led by a German scientist have developed non-invasive brainwave sensors that enable totally paralysed people to type messages on a computer. Previous attempts required risky surgery to implant electrodes into the brain. The new electrodes just sit on top of the head."

Comments

This is VERY cool!

[Skip666Kent]

I used to work in Human Services with folks who had Cerebral Palsy, helping the consumers to interface with the computers (w95/w31 pc's and apple IIgs) to play games and do simple text editing. In so doing, I learned 2 important things:

1. Interfacing a person with CP to a computer via a single switch interface is almost always possible, but rarely as simple as one would imagine, given the variables of muscular spasticity, inflexibility, switch mounting and rigidity, durability, etc.

2. The degree of flexibility (input-wise)attainable with a single-switch 'either/or' interface is all but astounding. Coupled with an ability to direct a mouse cursor, possibilities are almost limitless.

Though the idea of taking 15 minutes to type out a simple sentense may give most of us shivers, the degree of autonomity it gives to someone without our degree of physical ability is well-nigh trancendental.

Mechanical devices have sufficed 'til now, but the day I can slap a couple of non-invasive electrodes on a client's head and say "Get busy!" will be a good one indeed.

(Of course I no longer work in HS, after installing Linux on a secret partition of the company computer, and hacking after hours, I eventually landed myself a swell corporate job. I don't miss the management, but I *really* miss the clients. Sigh.)