Tan Le's astonishing new computer interface reads its user's brainwaves, making it possible to control virtual objects, and even physical electronics, with mere thoughts (and a little concentration). She demos the headset, and talks about its far-reaching applications.
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nobody is controlling anything with their thoughts. that is, unless you think that every time you move your arm or your fingers to type you have to "use your thoughts" to move those body parts.
BCI control is analagous to developing control over the use of body parts. Sure, at first, you may need to "think" 'move my arm' but to say that you 'use your thoughts' to do these kind of things routinely is to completely misunderstand the nature of thought and consciousness all together.
I wrote a philosophy thesis on BCI at Wesleyan University this past year. I won some awards for it. Check it out: http://wesscholar.wesleyan.edu/etd_hon_theses/535/
I had a hunch about 6 years ago that this was how this sort of system would work, but I had no idea it could be trained so quickly. That's incredible. I wonder if they can make a page of text scroll as it's being read.
This was announced a while ago. For only $299, I totally want one. Knowing the poor resolution of EEGs, I doubt it can do much more than move an object roughly in the direction that you want.
aah! must have forgotten a close bracket somewhere.
Here's their headset that you could buy now.