A Better Thought-Controlled Computer Cursor 34
An anonymous reader writes "Stanford researchers have developed a new algorithm (Abstract only) that significantly improves the control and performance of neural prosthetics — brain-controlled computer interfaces for individuals suffering from spinal cord injury and neurodegenerative disease to aid interaction with computers, drive electronic wheelchairs, and control robotic arms and legs. With this algorithm, monkeys implanted with multielectrode arrays in motor regions of their brain controlled a computer cursor more quickly and accurately than ever before, including navigation around obstacles. Further, the system maintained this high performance across 4 years, demonstrating long-term reliability. These improvements in performance and robustness are crucial for clinically-useful neural prosthetics, and pave the way for success in clinical trails."
So now (Score:1)
If the monkey thinks in circles, then the cursor moves in circles, rounds obstacles, and goes fast.
Terrific!
Does he have a db25 plug on his head?
Re: (Score:3)
Does he have a db25 plug on his head?
It's probably wireless and I'm also guessing the test device was probably a Blue monkey [wikipedia.org] over Bluetooth.
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Does he have a db25 plug on his head?
It's probably wireless and I'm also guessing the test device was probably a Blue monkey [wikipedia.org] over Bluetooth.
Good idea. It was probably the cats with wires to their heads that inspired PETA.
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Using this algorithm, we demonstrate repeatable high performance for years after implantation in two monkeys, thereby increasing the clinical viability of neural prostheses
Two monkeys! Read that again. Slowly. Sound it out. T W O. Tee Double You Oh. Ok, that doesn't make sense. Just read it as two monkeys. Or, is that two monkey. But in case you missed it 2 monkeys have been implanted and this increases the viability. Such a sample size is incredible, really. This is shattering. Just think what a million monkeys could do! Probably write some arbitrary text... such as the complete works of William Shakespeare. Just the thought is humbling.
Before some idiot monkey savant comes along and says that would require infinite time, just remember that the researchers implanted stuff into the monkeys, thus reducing the time required. Additionally, the researchers demonstrators demonstrated their expectationally high performance when it comes to implanting stuff into the monkeys. They did it for years before their willies fell off. Dedication. That's what's missing from most of the youth of today: dedication. I commend these researchers. Not only did t
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Using this algorithm, we demonstrate repeatable high performance for years after implantation in two monkeys, thereby increasing the clinical viability of neural prostheses
Two monkeys! Read that again. Slowly. Sound it out. T W O. Tee Double You Oh. Ok, that doesn't make sense. Just read it as two monkeys. Or, is that two monkey. But in case you missed it 2 monkeys have been implanted and this increases the viability. Such a sample size is incredible, really. This is shattering. Just think what a million monkeys could do! Probably write some arbitrary text... such as the complete works of William Shakespeare. Just the thought is humbling.
Before some idiot monkey savant comes along and says that would require infinite time, just remember that the researchers implanted stuff into the monkeys, thus reducing the time required. Additionally, the researchers demonstrators demonstrated their expectationally high performance when it comes to implanting stuff into the monkeys. They did it for years before their willies fell off. Dedication. That's what's missing from most of the youth of today: dedication. I commend these researchers. Not only did they keep repeating the impregnation procedure, but they did it for years!
Shit. I am logged in. Ok, which monkey has the cookie? C'mon. Own up... I will free willie if you do. Willie for cookie. Please?
Re:Yes! (Score:4, Informative)
two monkeys over 4 years.
Yea I want a larger testing samples and longer time frame for my brain implants.
I do not want to have to upgrade my implant every 20 years let alone 5
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The only nueroprosthetics that comes to mind where this might not be the case are cochlear implants.
Re:Yes! (Score:4, Interesting)
We haven't actually come very far.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain%E2%80%93computer_interface#Prominent_research_successes [wikipedia.org]
If it takes 10-20 years to get this improvement it's not what I call rapid progress.
In 1947 Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier. 1953 first supersonic fighters (USSR and USA). In 1961 Yuri Gagarin orbited the planet. In 1969 the USA landed people on the moon AND got them back safely. In 1969 we got Concorde and the 747 jumbo jet. That's rapid progress.
With the current rate of BCI progress most of us will be either dead or too old by the time practical and safe ones hit the market.
FWIW we don't seem to be making that much progress on the aerospace front either - where are those prototype space stations with artificial gravity?
Maybe all the geniuses in the current generations are busy making iphone apps or legally swindling people in finance.
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We haven't actually come very far. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain%E2%80%93computer_interface#Prominent_research_successes [wikipedia.org]
If it takes 10-20 years to get this improvement it's not what I call rapid progress.
In 1947 Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier. 1953 first supersonic fighters (USSR and USA). In 1961 Yuri Gagarin orbited the planet. In 1969 the USA landed people on the moon AND got them back safely. In 1969 we got Concorde and the 747 jumbo jet. That's rapid progress.
And to continue your analogy, that rapid progress in transportation technology is what allowed us to fulfill everyone's dream of flying cars and Moon vacations by the year 2000. Right?
It's also what made space transportation so very "practical and safe", as exemplified by Challenger and Columbia.
Some technologies progress by slow, incremental refinement. Some progress by leaps and bounds. Some progress by one-off stunts, done once (or a few times) and then not repeated for decades.
I don't pretend to underst
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From the 1980s (space shuttle etc) onwards there wasn't much of progress in aerospace. Much of it was basically reruns with some newer tech. Billions were spent on the space shuttle[1] and ISS.
As I already said:
FWIW we don't seem to be making that much progress on the aerospace front either - where are those prototype space stations with artificial gravity?
You may also notice that modern passenger jets generally are flying slower than the old passenger jets. But a lot more efficiently of course (there still is some progress).
[1] The space shuttle did have a feature that cheaper launch tech didn't have - it could bring big stuff back down intact from or
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It's also what made space transportation so very "practical and safe", as exemplified by Challenger and Columbia.
On the other hand - if you look at fatalities per mile traveled - space travel is the safest mode of travel there is.
What? Airlines use that math all the time, so it *must* be valid!
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Maybe it's because I've been researching this daily for the past few months (must get a job....), but if you look beyond wikipedia and at the release of studies related to neuroscience it's actually scary to me how fast we're progressing. It's
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With this kind of early cross over between tech and medicine it's unavoidable to think you could do without a single upgrade.
PLUS carriers will be offering upgrades at a discount with a 2 year neuromuscular connectivity contract!
Re:Yes! (Score:5, Interesting)
two monkeys over 4 years.
Yea I want a larger testing samples and longer time frame for my brain implants.
I do not want to have to upgrade my implant every 20 years let alone 5
There is a problem with this. You don't want to wait 20 years if the technology is available now and you really need it (as in quadriplegic). So you will have to settle with two or three years in animal tests and with tissue samples showing no measurable damage to the brain tissue.
Worst of cases, if you are quadriplegic and using this technology, probably the independence gained with it would be worth one operation every five years.
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30 years ago you didn't need an implant, you just had to think in Russian:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5DsLow4SVQ#t=1m21s [youtube.com]
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Be careful; it appears that thinking in Russian is a gateway to talking to empty chairs.
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I am honoured that I have been moderated as a troll, but this isn't really a troll. Troll comments are much more subtle. I guess nearly everyone has forgotten what an internet troll really is, so it's no surprise really.
yes but (Score:1)
Emacs cursor control (Score:1)
Emacs cursor control
Actually we are stoping using mice and starting to use gestures instead
Not sure if gestures are good for cursor control
I thought you were talking about ... (Score:2)
Nate Silver jokes:
Schrodinger's cat experiment is over. Nate Silver can tell if the cat is alive or dead without taking a look.
When Nate Silver's code throws an exception, he catches it before the debugger does.
Nate Silver's compiler does not show him error messages. It files an RFD to change the C++ standards to comply wit
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late 80's, early 90's (Score:3)
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Yes, they've been doing this for a long time now. Only since then they've been trying to improve its responsiveness and accuracy.
Yay (Score:3)
Stephen Hawking is probably jumping up and down for joy now.
Errr, wait....
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Stephen Hawking is probably jumping up and down for joy now.
Errr, wait....
According to the article, he's just not thinking hard enough.
They may call it a cursor... (Score:2)