A new method of playing video games

[tkwetzel]

This is really neat. There are a lot of things that this technology could be used for. Soemthing I just thought of, was what if you could record your thoughts...you would never have to worry about forgetting anything. Just have something like a palm pilot with a lot of storage room and be able to search your thoughts, because I know I don't remeber everything I think about...sometimes I remember things that I had earlier tried to remember but couldn't at that tims and wish I was able to think of it when I first wanted to. This technology would be greatly enhanced with wireless technology added in, but then you would run the risk of someone "hijacking" your thoughts, which could become a huge problem. But I think this technology overall will prove to be greatly helpful.

My $0.02

[sammy]

This technology could be much more useful for quadriplegic patients than it could be for the average forgetful person. Imagine if you didn't have to use a retainer in your mouth to move a mechanical chair. Or, if you could control devices to feed yourself, or rotate in a bed to prevent bedsores. It could allow those who don't have the same abilities to have the same independence - the same freedom.

That said, this technology scares the crap out of me. It's absolutely rediculous to use such amazing technology to further the laziness in this country. Where will it end?

[7wizted_rea1ity]

Wow, they tested it on humans now? Last school year I wrote a school article on that technology being tested monkeys. Using a multi-electrode cap, the researchers recorded the monkey’s brain waves that correspond to an action. The monkey learned to control a robotic arm mentally by first using a joystick to move a cursor across a computer screen. Electrodes in the monkey’s brain recorded the command signals that moved the monkey’s arm. The signals were sent to a computer that compared them to the joystick’s motions to predict the actual movements from the brain’s signals. After the computer was familiar with the brain patterns of the monkey, it used the signals as opposed to the joystick to move the cursor. The monkey realized this and simply used its thoughts to control the cursor.

Later, they changed it so the joystick controlled a robotic arm in the other room (which moved the cursor) instead of controlling the cursor directly The same method was applied and soon the monkey learned to move the robot arm with its thoughts.

If I remember correctly, the technology was aimed to help those disabled, not simply to have fun. (Information from Popular Science February 2004)