After learning about automation and robotics in class i got to wondering how far man has really come in this field.I surfed the net and found something rather interesting. Theres a company called 'The Braingate Company' and it is a privatly held firm that is focused on the advancement of neural interface systems. On their web site you can clearly see that ,"the goals of the Braingate Co are to create technology that will allow severly disabled individuals to communicate and control everyday functions literally through thought."
Braingate was founded by Jeffrey Stibel. Today the firm is run by a "seasoned team of entrepreneurs." The firms goals are accomplished through strategic partnerships with leading academic institutions, corporations, and varios non profit and government organizations working on research, science, and technology development. The firm's ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life for all humans.
As early as 2004, there were clinical trials performed on humans, that involved an aspirin sized implantable brain-computer interface.The braingate device can provide paralysed or motor impaired patients a mode of communication through the translation of thought into direct computer control.
currently prosthetic limbs are controlled with mechanical switches. However, once perfected, Braingate hopes to provide a more natural control of these devices using brain signals to control movement.
"We hope to provide paralysed individuals with a gateway through which they can access the broad capabilities of computers, control devices in the surrounding environment,and even move their own limbs." - Tim Surgenor, president and CEO of Cyberkinetics
Did you miss the part of class where I talked about Braingate?
ReplyDeleteSo I agree, its very interesting technology. Good summary.