News: 0144858420

  ARM Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life (Terry Pratchett, Jingo)

Scientists Connect Human Brain To Computer Wirelessly For First Time Ever (thenextweb.com)

(Saturday April 10, 2021 @05:34PM (EditorDavid) from the mind-over-matter dept.)


"Scientists have [1]demonstrated the first human use of a wireless brain-computer interface , a potential breakthrough for people with paralysis," reports The Next Web (in a story shared by Slashdot reader [2]Hmmmmmm ):

> While traditional BCIs are tethered to users via cables, the new system — called BrainGate — replaces the cords with a small transmitter affixed atop a users' head. The unit then connects to an electrode array implanted in the brain's motor cortex. In a clinical trial, two participants with paralysis used the system to point, click, and type on a standard tablet computer. They both achieved similar typing speeds and point-and-click accuracy as those attained with wired systems.

>

> The researchers say it's the first time a device has [3]transmitted the full spectrum of signals recorded by a sensor in the brain's motor cortex .



[1] https://thenextweb.com/neural/2021/04/06/wireless-bci-brain-computer-interface-tested-on-humans-first-time-braingate/

[2] https://slashdot.org/~Hmmmmmm

[3] https://doi.org/10.1109/TBME.2021.3069119

BrainGate = Utah Array (Score:2)

by Rei ( 128717 )

It's a [1]pretty primitive piece of technology [slashdot.org], but it has the advantage of having been worked on for ages.

[1] https://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=18648592&cid=61257116

Re: (Score:2)

by squiggleslash ( 241428 )

Maybe I'm not understanding you, but doesn't the headline say this is wireless, while a Utah Array is absolutely not wireless in any way shape or form?

Re: (Score:2)

by squiggleslash ( 241428 )

Never mind, I misread it, this story appears to be about a wired connection that's connected wirelessly to the system that sends it signals and interprets what it gets back, which is... to me, an obvious development. Nice, but the headline overstates it.

No thanks. (Score:4, Funny)

by CubicleZombie ( 2590497 )

I don't want blue teeth.

Now I can stream Spotify (Score:3)

by jfdavis668 ( 1414919 )

without my smart phone

Helm of +1 intelligence (Score:1)

by Iamthecheese ( 1264298 )

I've been waiting for a long, long time for technology to advance to this point. How much longer?

sudo apt update (Score:2)

by bobstreo ( 1320787 )

sudo apt upgrade

and if needed. a quick

sudo reboot

Mecha (Score:2)

by backslashdot ( 95548 )

Now all we need is for someone to invent a Mecha with a dexterous hand.

My understanding of the problem is (Score:2)

by Baron_Yam ( 643147 )

Your brain is like a blob of Jello that hasn't adhered to the bowl that is containing it. It jiggles, it wobbles, etc. For the usual small stuff, that doesn't matter because all the connections have a bit of slack and stretch to them.

A hardwired interface to the brain is like drilling holes in the bowl and sticking little knives through. Every time the Jello moves, it gets sliced up a bit more. For brains, this is a very bad thing. And we're not very good at making delicate stretchy leads to connect to

So you want to know what the Matrix is: (Score:1)

by HiloJoe ( 5021731 )

This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill—the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill—you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes. Remember: all I'm offering is the truth. Nothing more.

It's more fun to be a pirate than to join the navy.
-- Steve Jobs (1955-2011)