Brain Interface Lets Monkeys Control Prosthetic Limbs 208
himicos was one of many readers to point out one recent success of scientists working to develop working brain-machine interfaces, writing "A team at the university of Pittsburgh has finally advanced a 2002 technology enough for use in prosthetic limbs, the targeted application all along. Training computer models to the firing patterns of the neurons in the parts of the brain that control motion, they are able to project the intentions of a monkey to a robotic arm, which follows the will of the animal.
The sad thing about the articles is that the beauty of the mathematics used to create and train the models is totally ignored." Reader phpmysqldev adds a link to coverage at the BBC, and writes "This of course brings significant hope to amputees and other other people with physical disabilities." (Note that this research has been going on for quite some time.)
And just like that... (Score:5, Funny)
Adapting the technology (Score:5, Funny)
Specifically, I'm thinking of adapting a laser prosthetic arm, to be used by the poor, armless sharks
It's just an idea
Other other... (Score:2, Funny)
PLEASE tell me it makes them type faster (Score:4, Funny)
monkeys (Score:1, Funny)
Re:And just like that... (Score:3, Funny)
Other X-creatures (Score:4, Funny)
hope to amputees (Score:5, Funny)
As long as they don't mind carrying a monkey to control their prosthetic arm...
No typing required! (Score:4, Funny)
Re:And just like that... (Score:3, Funny)
I'll call Bruce Campbell!
Add Glen Campbell and make it 'Monkey Robot Overlords: The Musical!'
When servicing the equipment... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:PITA! (Score:2, Funny)
Not impressed. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:what about the monkeys? (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Monkey's opinion (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Adapting the technology (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Forget Replacement Limbs... (Score:4, Funny)
Fair enough, but can't this research be directly applied to my one-man-cyborg-army-of-the-apocalypse idea, even though that's not the PR angle they're going for?
Once this technology advances to the stage where we can get genuine Darth Vader(tm) brand prosthetics after our various lightsaber mishaps, I'm just hoping that some entrepreneurial young Doctor will implant the control chips in perfectly healthy people for a fee, which you could then hook to the hardware of your choice. Of course, this may have to take place in a third world country where the FDA doesn't hold back novel ideas just because they aren't "medically necessary", or because it's an "abomination before God", or some such drivel.
Re:Other X-creatures (Score:4, Funny)
Re:How long until.... ? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:sci-fi pondering (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Explain the beauty? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:PITA! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Forget Replacement Limbs... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:PLEASE tell me it makes them type faster (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Forget Replacement Limbs... (Score:4, Funny)
Sure, go ahead and sign the contract.
Just remember that when all's said and done, you're the one with the army of cyborg supersoldiers.
Re:sci-fi pondering (Score:1, Funny)