|
We don't know what the hell gadget makers are on these days but we sure love the things that they have been cranking out lately. Take this new technology developed by Honda and ATR Computational Neuroscience Laboratories. It allows people to control a robot's very simple moves using brain signals.
Honda demonstrated its new technology using a robotic hand. Brain signals were detected by a magnetic
resonance imaging scanner which were then relayed to the robot. The sender in
the MRI machine made a fist, spread his fingers and then made a V-sign movemments which the robotic hand mimicked a few seconds later.
The technology still needs a lot of polishing to decode more complex movements and make the robotic hand as adroit as the Addam's Family's beloved Thing. The machine that reads brain patterns is also undergoing design makeovers to make it about the size and weight of a cap. That way it can be worn without hampering people's movement.
Once fully developed the technology could be used to replace
keyboards or cell phones and will be invaluable to people with spinal cord injuries according to ATR researchers. Honda officials, on the other hand, said they were focusing not only on future auto technology applications, but for
developing intelligence for Asimo, the company's bi-pedal robot. "At least another five years are probably needed before Asimo starts
moving according to its owner's mental orders," the company said.
Surprisingly, this brain-as-remote control technology isn't new. Honda's "brain-machine interface" is an improvement over
past approaches. The also ran mind-control techs include one that requires surgically connecting wires. We can understand why that was never a hit. Another method involves training people to send brain signals
without causing brain hemmorage. And still some technology just weren't very accurate in mind-reading resulting in the robotic hand flashing a birdie when it was supposed to give the peace sign.
|
|
