This is Too Cool

[RageSk8]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17434-2003Oct12.html

[Monique]

Although nice, not completely accurate:

Scientists in North Carolina have built a brain implant that lets monkeys control a robotic arm with their thoughts, marking the first time that mental intentions have been harnessed to move a mechanical object. About three years ago I saw someone fly an airplane (in a simulator) with electrodes attached to her head, this was a lay-person hosting a scientific technology television program.

[Beren]

That happened a few months back, actually.

[russ_watters]

There is an intriguing fiction book about it called "Day of the Cheetah" where a guy interfaces in a literal sense with his airplane - two way communication, not just one-way control.

[Loren Booda]

The dude with the first arm transplant complained afterward that he wished he never had the procedure.

[Ivan Seeking]

Originally posted by Monique
Although nice, not completely accurate:

Well, technically this was the first mechanism controlled.

About three years ago I saw someone fly an airplane (in a simulator) with electrodes attached to her head, this was a lay-person hosting a scientific technology television program.

I saw something like this many years ago where a military pilot was training on a mind controlled computer game. He had to change from Alpha to Beta [or Theta] wave dominance to steer right or left.

[LURCH]

Originally posted by Ivan Seeking
Well, technically this was the first mechanism controlled.



I saw something like this many years ago where a military pilot was training on a mind controlled computer game. He had to change from Alpha to Beta [or Theta] wave dominance to steer right or left.

I've also seen a slalom skiing videogame in which the player makes the skier turn by switching from right brain two left brain neural activity.

[Monique]

Yes, in the documentary they were saying that this could lead to a new definition of multi-tasking.. flying the airplane with your hands, controlling the machine gun with the mind.. ultrafast response.. we need a lot of adapting to do in order to do such a thing.. or might it be childsplay when introduced at a young age? I guess so... gives new meaning to playing mindgames...

[Ivan Seeking]

Originally posted by Monique
...gives new meaning to playing mindgames...

[:D] That's good.

[Loren Booda]

How will the brain evolve, and what primitive areas of it will we utilize with the advent of mind control? Shall some people become more adept and form a privilaged caste (shades of original Star Trek?) in their new talent, and will deep regions of the brain come to conscious action?

Monique-Lisa, completing the square!