Soon, a device that allows objects to be controlled by your thoughts
London, July 20 : Computers and devices controlled by humans will no longer be restricted to sci-fi movies and cartoons, for a group of Brit researchers are trying to turn science fiction writers' vision into reality with a device that allows objects to be manipulated with brain waves.
Developed at Essex University, it is already possible to play simple computer games with the prototype.
This hat shaped device can tell the computer to move an object around a screen or a robot around a room just by imagining a movement.
And the creators of this device expect that in future their technology may allow people to move wheelchairs and drive cars with their thoughts.
This breakthrough comes in line with Nintendo's willingness to build on the success of the motion-sensitive technology used in their console, the Wii, by developing games that can be controlled by thought.
For gathering brain signals, the scientists use a cap fitted with electrodes that detect changes in the electrical activity produced by the neurons.
And when a person wearing the cap imagines a particular action, such as moving a hand, it produces a specific signal pattern that a computer learns to recognise.
"We have been developing this to help disabled patients who have limited movement ability or don't have any, so they can control a computer or a wheelchair by thinking," The Telegraph quoted Dr John Gan, who is leading the research at Essex University's department of electrical engineering, as saying.
He added: "But the general applications are quite widespread, from controlling computer games to using the brain to control things in the living environment, such as turning lights on and off, opening and shutting curtains or switching channels on the television."
Now, the scientists are hoping to completely change the way humans interact with computers and technology by abandoning keyboards for devices that interpret signals directly from the brain.
Comments
More Britain News
RSS-
British travelers to face longest ever US immigration queues
Millions of British holidaymakers and business travellers heading for the United States this summer are facing longer queues than ever for their applications to be processed by immigration. Research by The Independent has revealed that budget cuts at US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have sharply increased airport queues, with the worst delays in Florida. The research revealed that ...
-
Hurdler Merritt gears up for new Diamond League season
American hurdler Aries Merritt, who won his first Olympic gold in London and set a world record in the men's 110m hurdles last year, has geared up for the 2013 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Diamond League Shanghai leg. "I will try to start the season in my best form and hopefully I'll be in my best so I won't disappoint the fans that come to watch the competition," ...
-
Botham confident about Anderson surpassing him as Englands leading Test wicket-taker
English legend Sir Ian Botham has said that he is confident that James Anderson will surpass him as England's leading Test wicket-taker after the fast bowler took three more Test wickets against New Zealand to reach 301, 82 short of Botham's England record. Welcoming the Lancashire player to the exclusive 300 club, Botham said that he had told Anderson that his next target should be 384, then ...
-
Two sentenced for robbery bid on Indian-origin mans shop
A 19-year-old man and a 15-year-old accomplice who tried to rob a shop owned by an Indian-origin man in Britain last year have been sentenced by a court in Britain. Kevin Francis Smith has been sentenced to two-and-half-years detention while the 15-year-old accomplice has been given a two-year youth rehabilitation order under supervision by the Leicester Crown Court Friday, the Leicester ...
-
Brits spent 49bn hrs at work last year
People in Britain spent a record-breaking 49.4 billion hours at work last year. A new study has found that UK workers put in an average of 950.3 million hours a week in just the first three months of this year, the Sun reported. The data collected by the Department for Work and Pensions is the highest quarterly figure since records began, and 20million hours more a week than the same in 2012 ...
-
Fergie slams Man City for not so surprising Mancini sacking
Retiring Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has criticised arch rivals Manchester City for sacking Roberto Mancini from the post of manager, although he admitted the news had not come as a complete surprise to him. Stating that the decision to dismiss Mancini was wrong, the Scot, who takes charge of his 1,500th and final game as Reds boss at West Bromich Albion on Sunday, said that it is ...
-
ECB mulling over interviewing players linked to Rajasthan Royals following IPL spot fixing scandal
In a response to the spot-fixing scandal that has rocked the Indian Premier League (IPL), the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) may reportedly arrange interview any player under its jurisdiction who has had links to the Rajasthan Royals. Three of the Royals players - Ankeet Chavan, Ajit Chandila and the former international seamer S Sreesanth - were arrested on Thursday along with 11 ...
-
Strauss backs big ego Pietersen for successful English Ashes prospects
Former England captain Andrew Strauss has said that it is important for England to have star batsman Kevin Pietersen fully fit for a successful Ashes series, even though he has a big ego. Pietersen is currently sidelined with a knee problem and in his absence England struggled to 232 all out in the first innings of the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's, News.com.au reports. According to ...
-
Now we have proof nationalised railways are better run invest more and save taxpayers cash
There's been a lot of talk about re-nationalising our railways. Labour's transport spokeswoman Maria Eagle has floated the idea.As a son of a railwayman, it's something I've always believed in - a nationally owned rail service.The Tories rushed through the privatisation of rail by John Major before the 1992 general election. Even Thatcher thought it was a terrible idea - ...
-
Is this where kidnapper spied on Madeleine McCann Police narrow search to FOUR apartment blocks
who believe the youngster may still be alive , have narrowed their search to FOUR apartment blocks where the family were on holiday when the youngster went missing.They are trying to work out who was in them at the time in 2007.A British property owner in the Portuguese resort of Praia Da Luz told the Sunday Mirror police had pinpointed "persons of interest" to the blocks.He said ...
-
Too late for Tia Sharps father to play doting daddy now
Is it just me who had a bad taste in my mouth listening to Tia Sharp's father, Steven Carter, taking centre stage and demanding the death penalty for Tia's killer, Stuart Hazell?Maybe his calls for the ultimate vengeance would have been understandable had he been more of a father to the girl he calls "his golden angel" when she was alive.When Tia was murdered, Carter ...
-
Coronation Street star Paula Lane Corrie’s amazing but I’d love to do a Broadchurch too
Coronation Street beauty Paula Lane is loving her time on the soap - but already dreams of starring in a big TV series like Broadchurch.Paula, who plays feisty Weatherfield vixen Kylie Platt, said: "Corrie have given me an amazing opportunity and I'm happy to fulfil that."But other amazing dramas are always being developed. I'd love to do something like Broadchurch. Hopefully ...
-
Russell Brand and Sheridan Smith enjoy lunch date at Jamies
the Sunday People that heartthrob Russ, 37, has wooed the silver screen beauty, 31, with, er, food.The pair enjoyed an afternoon together at a street festival organised by Jamie Oliver for Food Revolution Day on Friday.They arrived at Jamie's trendy Shoreditch restaurant in Russ' posh car and were unable to control their grins.My onlooker said: "Russell and Sheridan arrived ...
-
Coronation Street Ray Langton actor Neville Buswell denies flasher claims
Coronation Street legend Neville Buswell last night denied he had exposed himself to an underage girl insisting: "That is not true."Neville, who played Weatherfield troublemaker Ray Langton, spoke out yesterday from his home in Las Vegas.Asked about reports police are now investigating the allegation, the 70-year-old replied: "I have no idea."Neville, famous for his stormy ...
-
Chloe Johnson Devastated mum feels empty inside after girl 5 drowns on holiday in Egypt
The mum of a little girl who drowned in a holiday wave pool told yesterday of her agonising loss - and angrily claimed the pool had no lifeguards.Chloe Johnson, ...
-
David Camerons one-way ticket on the EU gravy train
David Cameron said he was 'profoundly relaxed' about the Commons' free vote over the omission in the Queen's speech of a referendum on our membership of the EU.Of course he was, he knows there will never be a referendum - and the reason for that is he knows he won't win one if there is.But even though 130 of his own MPs voted for the change, it wasn't enough for the ...
-
Bedroom Tax toll continues as housing hardship claims up 400
The Sunday People reports that the number of people applying for the housing hardship cash has risen more than 400 per cent, the latest numbers reveal.And local councils say they do not have enough money or resources to cope with demand.Since the Bedroom Tax was introduced on April 1, social housing tenants have flooded town halls asking for Discretionary Housing Payments to help cover their ...
-
Britains Got Talent daredevil diver Peter Waterfield is scared of heights
A daredevil Olympic diver who wowed Britain's Got Talent judges has confessed heights terrify him.Peter Waterfield, who partnered ace Tom Daley in the 2012 London games, made theamazing admission after getting fouryeses on last night's show, ...
-
Gingerism hate crime victims speak out Bullied teased beaten to a pulp because of their hair
As four-year-old cutie Chloe Doyle smiles for the camera, her mum asks: "Are you a pretty girl?""No," she immediately fires back as her face falls, her smile disappears and she points to her head. "Ginger," she says.Chloe's mum, brother and sister are all fair-haired and her dad is dark. Little Chloe already sees herself as different."It breaks my ...
-
Tia Sharps killer Stuart Hazell has been sent “more death threats than Ian Huntley”
Stuart Hazell has been sent death threats in jail and has to be guarded 24 hours a day in a special unit for vulnerable criminals.Tia Sharp's killer is the prison's most hated inmate and has been sent "more death threats than Ian Huntley", sources said.He is being kept in a wing alongside the most despised paedophiles and rapists at the tough jail.Hazell is on 24-hour suicide ...
-
When off the record becomes on the agenda as swivel-eyed loons furore grows
A couple of hours earlier, 114 Tory MPs had voted against the Queen's Speech in protest over an EU referendum. The discussion reportedly ended with an extraordinary attack on the "mad, swivel-eyed loons" in the grassroots of the party who had forced the backbenchers to rebel against the Government.Lord Feldman denies it is he who said those words, and the newspapers, who ...
-
The top ten political myths
John Rentoul is chief political commentator for The Independent on Sunday, and visiting professor at Queen Mary, University of London, where he teaches contemporary history. Previously he was chief leader writer for The Independent. He has written a biography of Tony Blair, whom he admired more at the end of his time in office than he did at the ...
News from around our Network
Comments
No comments yet for this story
Have your say