The nose knows... how to let quadriplegics move and speak (video)

We've seen quadriplegic transportation directed by brainwaves, speech and even the occasional Wiimote, but your best bet might be to follow your nose. Israeli nasal researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science unveiled a "sniff controller" this week, that measures nasal pressure to control a wheelchair joystick with surprising precision (see a video after the break) and a specially-developed typing interface. The latter is likely the more important advancement, as Discover heartwarmingly reports at the source link, by giving patients with locked-in syndrome (a la The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) the long-lost ability to speak. Best of all, the technology is inexpensive compared to alternatives on the market; while a Stephen Hawking-esque eye-tracking system can cost tens of thousands of dollars, Weizmann scholars reportedly pieced the prototype together for $358. The device is already being considered for public availability by the institute's technology transfer company, Yeda R&D -- find out just how it works in the full study at our more coverage link.

[panckakes Posted Jul 27th 2010 9:32PM]

But Will it Blend?

[Leobons Posted Jul 27th 2010 9:47PM]

@panckakes that's the question

[rmbrown09 Posted Jul 27th 2010 9:32PM]

Someone, somewhere, will make an inappropriate comment here.

[trey992 Posted Jul 27th 2010 9:38PM]

@rmbrown09
penis

[dRoll Posted Jul 27th 2010 11:14PM]

@rmbrown09 Something about Israel, noses, and low prices?

[Anguigen Posted Jul 27th 2010 9:43PM]

That guys voice annoys me.

[Robhimself Posted Jul 27th 2010 9:45PM]

About time they off their asses....

Kidding...

[23542354 Posted Jul 27th 2010 9:47PM]

so what happens if the quadriplegic has asthma? or had a lung removed? do they just have to have breathing breaks

i can imagine soo many funny videos of people scarring people in these chairs, the user breaths deeply and flys across, a room i would find it funny if the person wants paralized

basically i would scare cripple friend if knew one

[Teslanaut Posted Jul 27th 2010 10:04PM]

Wow, almost all the comments above are very inappropriate. Hope they don't become quadriplegics.

[ntomba Posted Jul 27th 2010 10:43PM]

@rmbrown09 how'd you know? did you follow your nose? my bad, couldn't help myself ....

[ChuckBartowski Posted Jul 28th 2010 1:35AM]

i honestly dont care how much you are kidding, that is still totally f*cked up.

[ChuckBartowski Posted Jul 28th 2010 1:38AM]

@ChuckBartowski
That was supposed to be @RoboHimself
Comment fail.....

[Robhimself Posted Jul 28th 2010 7:09AM]

@ChuckBartowski Sorry Chuck.

[jspurlock54 Posted Jul 28th 2010 2:16AM]

Hope they don't get congested or have allergies, and what happens when they sneeze? Is there some sort of stimulus overload shut off so if they breathe too hard it won't react?

[Pizzicato Posted Jul 28th 2010 3:06AM]

While this is great putting space bar in the fourth row is improvable.

[Oflife Posted Jul 28th 2010 9:51AM]

For some 1984 technology that could apply today, please see http://owonder.wordpress.com/history/doris/

[Oflife Posted Jul 28th 2010 9:52AM]

For some 1984 technology that could apply today, please see: http://www.owonder.com/history/doris