Thursday, 10-Jun-2004 2:50PM Story from United Press International
Copyright 2004 by United Press International (via ClariNet)
ST. LOUIS, Miss., June 10 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers have developed an electronic grid that collects motor signals from the brain, enabling patients to play computer games using only their minds.
Researchers at Washington University placed a grid atop subjects' brains and recorded brain surface signals directly instead of taking information through electrodes outside the skull in standard, electroencephalographic techniques.
The study has promising implications for biomedical devices that control artificial limbs, researchers said, allowing patients to move a prosthetic arm or leg just by thinking about it.
Neurologists implanted the grids in the brains of four epilepsy patients and connected them to a computer program that recorded their brain activity as they performed a range of motor and speech tasks.
The patients then played a simple computer game after a brief training session, and could control the cursor with their brains with 74 to 100 percent accuracy, said Daniel Moran, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering.
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"The previous EEG-based systems are equivalent to a Wright brothers airplane in regards to speed of learning to achieve control. ... We're flying around in an F-16 jet," he said.
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Having read this I have a few questions :
1. Is there any new development on this?
2. If so have they developed to the point of being able to use emulators?
3. Have they advanced beyond the grid system to say a tiny chip device, and if so what is the memory capacity? If so is it large enough for say, the entire collection of theoldcomputer.com roms and systems?
and finally......
4. Is the on/off button controllable by mind as well. Would really hate to be walking around looking for an on/off switch embedded under the skin.
whoops one more......
5. If all the above conditions are beyond the alpha stage, what is the cost, or is it freeware, shareware?
I would really be interested in their product if it were beyond the simple game stage, just think of the money saved on systems, physical games, electric bills for the additional peripherals to run the systems to the max. Hmmm forgot to ask if they had sound....
