gizmag Article: New Computer Interface Provides a Mental Typewriter and Brain Pong

Link for this post: gizmag Article: The Mental Typewriter.

The human-computer interface took a big leap with the unveiling of a mental typewriter at the CeBit Conference in Berlin Germany last week The new system is called the Berlin Brain-Computer Interface (BBCI). Here is an excerpt from the article from gizmag.

March 14, 2006 Scientists demonstrated a brain-computer interface that translates brain signals into computer control signals this week at CeBIT in Berlin. The initial project demonstrates how a paralyzed patient could communicate by using a mental typewriter alone – without touching the keyboard. In the case of serious accident or illness, a patient’s limbs can be paralyzed, severely restricting communication with the outside world. The interface is already showing how it can help these patients to write texts and thus communicate with their environment.

Apparently the BBCI is good for more than text as the system plays games. The following quote also provides a link to a video to the playing of "Brain Pong.

"Brain Pong involves two BBCI users playing a game of teletennis in which the “rackets” are controlled by imagining movements and movements

Read the rest of the article on gizmag.