New bionic limbs to be controlled via brain-mounted sensors

Researchers at Osaka University are redefining "thought-controlled" limbs. Hailed as the first endeavor to dabble in the world of bionic phalanges by requiring open-skull surgery, the research is seeking to develop "real-time mind-controlled robotic limbs for the disabled." Of course, it's not the goal that's striking, but the means. Essentially, gurus working on the project are hoping to place electrode sheets directly on the surface of the brain in order to "obtain a more accurate signal," and amazingly enough, they're currently working to sign up willing subjects that are already scheduled to have brain electrodes added to deal with "monitoring epilepsy or other conditions." Maybe the bionic beings really aren't that far off, eh?

[Via Pink Tentacle]

[maxz @ Apr 18th 2008 10:31AM]

Interesting technology. I hope this will work good.

[Jordan @ Apr 18th 2008 9:11AM]

I wonder if some people would be dumb enough to kill their legs just for this. lol

[BobTurbo @ Apr 18th 2008 9:08AM]

What will be controlling the brain though?

[94 taurus owner @ Apr 18th 2008 11:49AM]

Us.

[Munkcy @ Apr 18th 2008 12:12PM]

The Matrix

[Jmo @ Apr 19th 2008 12:35AM]

How is some guy gonna feel when he puts a shirt from the dryer on and it short circuits his sheet metal helmet? Will he start smacking himself in the face?

[Doug @ Apr 18th 2008 9:11AM]

I bet Michael Jackson will be one of the first contestants... ??? eWWww FAIL

[The Future @ Apr 18th 2008 9:23AM]

This technology could provided hope for thousands of vets and innocent civilians who are now depresses about their futures.

[Josh L @ Apr 18th 2008 2:14PM]

The Future has really bad grammar... But is anybody surprised?

[erislover @ Apr 18th 2008 9:45AM]

This technology will be extremely expensive unless they release it to the masses. Who cares about cripples controlling robots? Well, cripples, sure, and me, sure, but I *also* care about fragging. I want to control my keyboard and mouse with this tech. The ''Brain Implant Only'' LAN parties can only improve everyone's standard of living.

[Gleidus @ Apr 18th 2008 10:04AM]

What if you could control a horde of mechanical tendrils with this technology? Then all you sick puppies could realize your tentacle fantasies. >___>

[Rainier @ Apr 18th 2008 10:15AM]

Uh oh, Dr. Octopus is coming!

[Ellianth @ Apr 18th 2008 1:01PM]

yeah, now we can have real life tentacle porn!

P.S. firefox wanted to correct tentacle with testicle. how appropriate :p.

[Windzilla @ Apr 18th 2008 10:21AM]

Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology.

YES i love that the future is now

[cclaunch @ Apr 18th 2008 11:00AM]

This is awesome stuff. I saw a discovery channel special about it last year, they had a test subject who was paralized from the neck down and implanted the early form of this technology into his brain and he could move a cursor around on the screen. They set it up so he could change his own TV channels and he was elated. They also had an actual arm set up with a monkey for testing (shut up PETA). Video here (CRAZY!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK1WBA9Xl3c

[Michael Kontaxis @ Apr 18th 2008 11:46AM]

My brother has epilepsy and had a surgery in which they put a sheet over his brain like this to monitor where the seizures are in order to remove the correct area. I think this could be an exciting possibility, as I bet many would agree to have their heads opened for a chance at a more normal life.

[BrokenMonkey @ Apr 18th 2008 12:26PM]

None of this technology is new, Universities have been doing work on Brain-Machine Interfaces including prosthetics for a long time.

[Blued @ Apr 18th 2008 12:39PM]

Bionics is super old news.

A company called Cyberkinetics has been refining their own bionic technology for years now. One piece in particular, called Braingate, allows the user to hook up to and control a number of machines that have been modified to link with the Braingate. Electric wheelchairs, computers, robotics... all controlled by thought alone. Braingate implantation is invasive.

Around the same time Braingate was making ripples in the tech pond, Japanese scientists developed a similar device which was non-invasively attached to its user. Unfortunately, it had a 7 second delay from the time of thought to the time of action.

Currently, a couple of tech and gaming companies have developed headsets that read the electrical signals from your brain. These headsets are meant to be the next evolution of controllers, and will hopefully be precise enough that even facial expressions can be registered on the user and transmitted to their character in a game.

I'm very interested in how "hardwired" and "softwired" products will be advertised, and what advantages will be emphasized in one over the other. Also the cultural impact will be amazing.

I hope implantable skill sets come along soon.

[Lars @ Apr 18th 2008 1:05PM]

Hopefully it can differentiate between euphemisms and genuine commands.

"Dude, I'm gonna kill you! NO, bionic arm! Not literally!"

[Idlemind @ Apr 18th 2008 1:41PM]

Remote bitchslapping; nice...

[Nelson @ Apr 20th 2008 7:42PM]

Sex will never be the same in the future, go go gadget!