Archive for the ‘Brain Computer Interface’ Category.
September 28, 2011 by Neurofuturist
Cars of the future may rely on brain computer interfaces to go from one place to the next. Imagine not needing to use your hands or feet to operate a vehicle. This may seem like an unrealistic possibility, but scientists from Nissan and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne are teaming up to help make it a reality. EPFL has already developed a way to allow people in wheelchairs to move around with a BMI. Next, they hope to adapt this technology for these other uses. A main innovation is to facilitate the merging of automobile intelligence with the human mind. The car will monitor the thought-induced movements so it safely gets to the proper destination. There could be difficulties if a person is careless as they drive. The academics have to eliminate any conflict between the two mediums. Unfortunately, concentration levels must be high when using many current BCI’s. Simple distractions can lead to a disastrous outcome. The collaboration is creating a system that uses a statistical analysis in order to understand an owner’s intentions. They are also employing methods to evaluate the cognitive state. If you are drunk, the CPU might stop you from going places. Perhaps if the operator was tired, it could adjust to that lower level of functioning. Read More »
September 13, 2011 by Neurofuturist
Recent developments may yield practical brain computer interfaces (BCI) that work by using transcranial doppler ultrasound or related technologies. TDU is an imaging technique that can record the movement of cerebral blood flow. These types of scanning tools may possibly have benefits when compared to other technologies like an EEG. Ultrasound is perhaps best known for its ability to image a fetus in the womb but it has numerous legitimate alternate applications as well. Scientists at the Bloorview Research Institute in collaboration with other organizations have used sonography to investigate the practicality of a novel brain machine interface. Read More »
September 6, 2011 by Neurofuturist
Ultrasound is an old technology that is continually being refined for novel applications. Functional ultrasound imaging of the brain has a resolution that can surpass other scanning modalities. Very high intensity beams can kill cancer tumors or perform surgery. Lower frequency and intensity ultrasound is another advance in the field of neurotechnology. Influencing your mind with sound waves sounds like it could be a statement from a generic crackpot. Fortunately, this does not relate to any of those claims. Studies have shown that specific focused ultrasonic waveforms can trigger brain cells to fire in a non-invasive manner via mechanical action. It has previously been difficult to enable ultrasound to cross the skull effectively, but new methods have allowed scientists to overcome these issues. Researchers from Arizona State University have shown that this tech treats treat epileptic seizures in mice. This work is in Nature Protocols and gives another boost to the credibility of the science. The technology may be able to complement or replace existing neurostimulation techniques. Read More »
August 11, 2011 by Neurofuturist
The Collective Experience of Empathic Data Systems (CEEDs) project is looking to create new technologies that can help people understand very large sets of statistics. Many scientific endeavors are producing a vast amount of information that can be difficult for a single person to comprehend. For CEEDs, they plan to utilize a variety of different variables like eye gaze, heart rate, speech and EEG signals. This venture needs to have unobtrusive and wearable contacts that will be able to read the various biological parameters. By taking measurements, the computer can then give an assessment of the subject’s underlying mental, physiological and behavioral status. These signals are translated into what the person will view on a large virtual reality monitor and guide their choices as to what they should see next. It is taking cues from futuristic movies like Minority Report in order to perfect human media interactions. Empathic systems will be able to respond swiftly to any user request and can help that person to digest the info. Read More »
Cars of the future may rely on brain computer interfaces to go from one place to the next. Imagine not needing to use your hands or feet to operate a vehicle. This may seem like an unrealistic possibility, but scientists from Nissan and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne are teaming up to help make it a reality. EPFL has already developed a way to allow people in wheelchairs to move around with a BMI. Next, they hope to adapt this technology for these other uses. A main innovation is to facilitate the merging of automobile intelligence with the human mind. The car will monitor the thought-induced movements so it safely gets to the proper destination. There could be difficulties if a person is careless as they drive. The academics have to eliminate any conflict between the two mediums. Unfortunately, concentration levels must be high when using many current BCI’s. Simple distractions can lead to a disastrous outcome. The collaboration is creating a system that uses a statistical analysis in order to understand an owner’s intentions. They are also employing methods to evaluate the cognitive state. If you are drunk, the CPU might stop you from going places. Perhaps if the operator was tired, it could adjust to that lower level of functioning. Read More »
