Communications of the ACM
Think About It: CS Research Could Turn Brain Waves Into Remote Control
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Colorado State University (CSU) researchers are developing technology that will enable people with severe neurological impairments to complete tasks by changing what they are thinking about.
The researchers are analyzing differences in brain waves from one thought to another and classifying them in data that can be used by a computer to complete different actions, says CSU professor Chuck Anderson.
The researchers collected data from volunteers and asked them to think about specific actions, such as making a fist. The researchers recorded the changes in brain activity with each thought, and printed out the results at the end of each session. On the printouts, the researchers are "looking for patterns, to see if we can classify what the pattern is" for the thoughts behind the simple activities, says CSU professor Patricia Davies. The researchers plan to convert the wave patterns into numbers that will enable to them to develop software that can perform functions based on recognizing specific brain patterns.
Anderson says the military and the video game industry are interested in using the technology.
From Denver Post (CO)
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