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Brain-Computer Interfaces Could Mean More Freedom for the Disabled | Science and Technology | Learning English/*
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RSS FeedBrain-Computer Interfaces Could Mean More Freedom for the Disabled??03 April 2011
Photo: école Polytechnique Fédérale de LausanneBrain-controlled wheelchair at école Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Share ThisDiggYahoo! BuzzFacebookdel.icio.usStumbleUponTO DOWNLOAD the MP3 of this story, click on the MP3 link in the upper right corner of the page. Double-click any word to find the definition in the Merriam-Webster Learner's Dictionary
This is the VOA Special English Technology Report.
Since the nineteen seventies, scientists have been searching for ways to link the brain with computers. Brain-computer interface, or BCI, technology could help people with disabilities send commands to machines.
Recently, scientists demonstrated a small robotic vehicle directed by a person's thoughts. The demonstration took place at the Swiss embassy in Washington. Jose Millan and Michele Tavella developed the system. Mr. Tavella can even talk as he watches the vehicle and guides it with his thoughts.
MICHELE TAVELLA: "That's very, very easy. That's the simplest part we could say because moving one hand or the other is a very, very common task. There is no workload. It’s very, very simple."
Mr. Tavella is a researcher at the Federal Polytechnic School in Lausanne, Switzerland. In the laboratory, he can operate a wheelchair just by thinking about moving his left or right hand.
Professor Millan is the team leader. He says systems like those being developed in Lausanne and other places may be available in less than ten years.
JOSE MILLAN: "The brain-machine interface is a system that allows disabled people, people suffering from physical disabilities to communicate with external world and also to control devices."
Our brain has billions of nerve cells. These send signals through the spinal cord to the muscles to give us the ability to move. But spinal cord injuries or other conditions can prevent these weak electrical signals from reaching the muscles.
The researchers designed a special cap for the user.? This head cover captures the signals from the scalp and redirects them to a computer. The computer interprets the signals and commands the motorized wheelchair. The wheelchair also has two cameras that identify objects in its path. They help the computer react to commands from the brain.
Professor Millan says scientists keep improving the computer software that identifies brain signals and turns them into simple commands.
JOSE MILLAN: "The practical possibilities that brain-machine interfaces offer to disabled people can be grouped in two categories: Communication, and controlling physical devices and virtual devices.? One example is this wheelchair."
He says his team has set two goals.
JOSE MILLAN: "What we want is to bring this technology out of the lab and this has two components. First is testing with real patients, so as to demonstrate that this is a feasible technology they can benefit from. And the second aspect of that is to guarantee that they can use the technology over long periods of time.”
And that's the VOA Special English Technology Report. Transcripts, MP3s and podcasts of our reports are at voaspecialenglish.com. You can also find us on Facebook and YouTube at VOA Learning English. I’m Robert Cohen.
Listen? Email? Print? Comments?Comments (42)03-04-2011Aliyu Kinkilo Shabu(Nasarawa State, Nigeria)Scientists all over the world make efforts in improviog human live every day, which is very helpful. But up to now, they do not found the end to dead. It is highly surprised as if there is no qualified doctors in the USA, Britain, France, Canada, Germany, Italy etc.
03-04-2011JeanI'm glad to hear that BCI technology can help people with disabilities. It is really a great progress. Thanks VOA for this good news.
03-04-2011Yaseen(Kurdistan region - Iraq)I appritiated to both professors for they invation.Thanks for them, I am happy to helps the persons with disability.
03-04-2011ford(vietnam)Thanks for interesting news.
03-04-2011ASK(Japan)I'm very surprised to know that connecting the brain and the machines is already made possible. I expect that if we can connect brains to machines, that is, brain's actions can be converted to electrical data, someday we ourselves can become digital data and live in cyberspace though now it sounds like a science fictional dream.
04-04-2011Joruji(Japan)I'm glad to know that brain-computer interfaces are being developed to help people with disabilities. I hope that the possibilities that BCI technology offers will become reality soon.
04-04-2011Sin.Sivutha(Cambodia)Thanks for the team of worked spacial English programe ,expecialy for researcher , that fine the new system to conecte disable people & chair, it is fantastic.
04-04-2011Mako(Japan)It's the first time to hear about Brain-Computer Interface.It's wonderful If we can use this gear for disabled person in the right way.I expect scientists who are developing BCI.
04-04-2011john(japan)good
04-04-2011AmyWu(China)So we can know what the other people are thinking?If we can also send wrong message to brain, how will brain do?Can we control other peoples' brains?That's not a good idea.
04-04-2011kaoru(japan)I think this technology is the landmark invention. This would help many people.Thank you VOA!
04-04-2011Hassan Taher(UAE)THANK U
04-04-2011Abdulla ahmed abdulla(u.a.e)Thanks for interesting news.I like the machin
04-04-2011Mayed(uae)i am so happy to hear about the BCI technology that can help people who are disable. I think the disable people needs this (BCI).Thanks VOA for this interesting news.
04-04-2011Logan(Viet Nam)It is really great news. I expect that there will be more technologies to improve human life.
04-04-2011drac(China)great news, scientists strive to make technology improvements to increase well-being of the people all over the world, it's really helpful, i deeply admire that and strive for being one of them.
04-04-2011WinsorThank you, one of the thing that's great in the USA, they try to help people in every aspect of life. Disabled people could have a friend when they are need it. Furthermore,.....i would have to do reseach for other ways that people get help....... when necessary. sound logical.
04-04-2011(canada)good good news
04-04-2011M .Niazi(Afghanistan)I am so happy helping with disabilities person by the new technology together computer and my country at last 35 years ago civil war large percent persons disabled that more serve to mankind of the world.
04-04-2011Yuyu Wahyudi(Indonesia)It is wonderful invented. With progress developing technology right now every thing not possible will come true. Could this technology adapt for old men or Parkinson diseases ? if It was ok very very helpful for whole people. Thank VOA.
04-04-2011Kamil(Russia)possibly in future ours time will seem as like caveman's past for us. in far future of course and if we will exist Thank you VOA
04-04-2011C(Vietnam)It's just a machine that help disabled pepple moving from one place to another. But just think about it deeply, you can image a picture of near future. where people will use their brain wave to control work, several kinds of machine, and no need to do anything. People will be inertial in moving because of machinary supporting and technology in biology, medicine... I wonder if people brain would become litter and body would become fatter.
04-04-2011Bob Manutention(Mali)Be sure you're first in the world VOA.That's wy i like you,always you try to help us to be more and more informed.Thank you
04-04-2011Parma Hadi(Indonesia)that's a good inovative, thank's for this is news
04-04-2011old oak(Brazil)The technology bring us great help in many areas,this is one of them. Thank you VOA for keep us informed.
04-04-2011Atif Khan(Pakistan)I think it's one more major in the field of Information technologyAnd would help disable people to enhance their accesses.
04-04-2011yifanIt's great to hear this news. It's mean that somebody who is disabled can live more convenient.
04-04-2011BobA good news.
04-04-2011Louis(China)what Jose Millan and Michele Tavella do is an excellent work to help disabled people.
04-04-2011jin(korea)it's very amazing to link the device to one's thought. We are getting closer to highly mechanized civilization like a movie. and would help disable people to enhance their accesses.
04-04-2011misha(Canada)This BCI machine is a kind of progress of disabled people welfare.Thanks for all the scientists who developed this machine. Hope they can improve it better and lower the cost, in order to let all disabled people has enough money to purchase it.
04-04-2011MUZZAMMIL SHEIKHI(PAKISTAN)SUCH A GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY !!!!!
04-04-2011Esteban(Colombia)Excellent report, amazing what technology can do to improve the lives of people with a condition that prohibits you walk and you have to use a wheelchair.
04-04-2011Maki(Japan)What an amazing technology! It's surprising not only the brain-computer has been invented, but also the developer said that the system could be available in less than 10 years. Understanding what someone thinks on the brain is beyond my imagination.
04-04-2011david(France)Information very interresting, the top technology !!!!!
05-04-2011harry sugiyanto(indonesia)This is an article that really supported me in learning English, I always follow the English learning program from VOA, VOA is great
05-04-2011Kevin Soon(China)When will I have one?If I have one,what a wonderful thing!And the news is really useful.
05-04-2011Sni(Vietnam)Human is really excellent. It seems that there's nothing people cannot do. I hope that scientists can invent more useful things to help the disabled.
05-04-2011aike(Japan)In the world, there are people who cannot move even their eyes and faces. They have no way to send their message to other people. I’m interested in the possibility that BCI technology help them communicate with others more easily. This technology will improve their quality of life. It’s very good news!
05-04-2011DIDI(Indonesia)very very amazing technology
05-04-2011Peedevelope system is so good
05-04-2011Arthur(Kazakhstan)I'm glad that caring for disabled people. Love may save world.
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