New brain control development could help quadriplegics get around

Sure, we've seen brain power used to give mobility back to the immobile, but a new development in Europe is one-upping current efforts by adding in a hint of artificial intelligence to the tried and true brain-computer interface. The MAIA BCI not only converts signals emitted by the brain into actions -- such moving a wheelchair forward -- it also thinks for itself when needed in order to assist the user in getting where he / she wants to go. Essentially, the individual need only think about going left or forward (for example), and the machine itself will automatically detect obstacles and potential barriers in order to move more efficiently. As it stands, there's still quite a bit of testing to be done before MAIA-based wheelchairs would be available to the public, but researchers are already hoping to integrate said technology into artificial limbs and the like.

[Via Physorg]

[Johan S @ Mar 11th 2008 3:19PM]

The age of the mecha may come sooner than many expect.

[lordofthedirectrix @ Mar 11th 2008 4:54PM]

Dammit, I knew I should have banked on Islam!

[JPN @ Mar 11th 2008 3:21PM]

How ironic that the woman in the wheelchair has her arms up when the article talks about quadriplegics.

[UseMe2UseYou @ Mar 11th 2008 3:23PM]

Maybe they're on strings..

[david @ Mar 11th 2008 3:30PM]

Or, that it's an unpowered wheelchair in an open grassy field with no visible obstacles or surface breaks. :-) Maybe it's supposed to represent how it will be for them in some metaphorical sense.

[Izzy @ Mar 11th 2008 4:06PM]

I can't help but think of Captain Christopher Pike in the Star Trek OTS Pilot.

I hope this works!

[blackfeather @ Mar 11th 2008 4:41PM]

That picture is much funnier if you rotate it 45° counterclockwise.

[zoara @ Mar 11th 2008 10:28PM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadriplegia

"Quadriplegia, also known as tetraplegia, is a symptom in which a human experiences paralysis affecting all four limbs, although not necessarily total paralysis or loss of function. [...] It is common to have partial use of some limbs, such as the ability to move the arms but not the hands"

But yeah, I think that was just a bad choice of picture...

[whowhatme @ Mar 11th 2008 3:23PM]

unfortunately, it does not allow you to fly, contrary to what the woman in that wheelchair might think...

[James @ Mar 11th 2008 4:31PM]

I believe i can fly, i believe i can touch the sky...

[dink @ Mar 11th 2008 3:33PM]

Why not just try it on the limbs they already have? Why not just send those electrical impulses to each respective muscle so they can contract or release based on the instructions sent and not bother with a wheelchair at all?

[david @ Mar 11th 2008 3:57PM]

I was thinking the same thing the other day. I have a nearly quadrapalegic friend, and have always thought that there ought to be some way to replace or simulate the signals. I think people would be surprised at how "plastic" the brain is. Just think of how much thought goes in to your fingers as you type; shouldn't there be a way to train your brain to operate some kind of external device. Even if it took a year to learn, like a toddler, I'm sure it'd be worth it to someone who was paralyzed.

[macona @ Mar 11th 2008 3:45PM]

Scarecrows need not apply...

If I only had a brain...

[telepheedian @ Mar 11th 2008 3:58PM]

bleh, everybody knows that "The Wizard of Oz" is best watched with The Dark Side of the Moon playing in the background...

[James @ Mar 11th 2008 4:22PM]

only if youre on lsd

[sodapop @ Mar 11th 2008 3:47PM]

This is probably a counter productive technology because chair bound people need as much exercise as they can get. [Quadriplegia... not necessarily total paralysis or loss of function.]

[cmn @ Mar 11th 2008 4:05PM]

What are all these parallelograms doing here?

[macona @ Mar 11th 2008 4:10PM]

Thats rhombus to you, buddy...

[illingist trooper @ Mar 11th 2008 4:42PM]

After all, not everyone wants to feel 'observed'

[sevendegrees @ Mar 11th 2008 5:46PM]

too bad europe... japan already has the tech for gundams, but they dont want to share it with belgium

[CB @ Mar 12th 2008 1:57AM]

It's always nice to hear news like this. :)

[Tim @ Mar 12th 2008 12:52PM]

The caption to that pic should be "weeeee!"

[Mikey81 @ Mar 14th 2008 1:53PM]

Has anyone else seen that episode of Red Dwarf where Lister gets a thought controlled artificial arm? Instead of picking up the ball, he keeps punching Kryton in the face - because that is what he wanted to do subconsciously. Do we really want machines that will act on our thoughts? "I wonder what its like to be hit by a bus. Oh ****!"