Neural Interfaces

This Science Daily article reports U.S. scientists are developing chips that, implanted in one's brain, could allow an amputee to control an artificial arm by thinking about it. From the article: "The science fiction-like technology being developed at the University of Florida might also control epileptic seizures by interpreting signals in the brain and stimulating neurons to perform correctly.

Using a $2.5 million National Institutes of Health grant, University of Florida researchers are creating a "neuroprosthetic" chip designed to be implanted in the brain. The researchers are studying the concept in rats but expect to develop a prototype within four years that could be tested in people.

This short Virtual Worldlets article takes a look at the fundamental concepts and techniques needed for a future, brain interface based, total immersion. From the article: "In order to link a mind to a virtual body, which will be controlled by the same subconscious and conscious impulses as a physical body should be, the link connecting the mind to the physical body, save for autonomous finctions, is likely to require severing or blocking for the duration of the virtual immersion.

This NewScientistTech article is about the use of brain-computer interfaces in virtual worlds. It also presents the European consortium PRESENCCIA that has the goal of creating a virtual world through which a person can navigate using just their imagination. From the article: "A simulated world that can be explored simply by thinking about putting one foot in front of the other might offer new rehabilitation possibilities for disabled patients.

This is the vision behind a project that connects a brain-computer interface (BCI) to an immersive virtual world.

This 1up article relates the opinion of experts across the video game industry about the next 20 years of everything from game-design trends to the evolution of your living room. "It all hinges on thoughts and impulses not on button presses. The biggest obstacle we're facing now is one of interface. We need a significant advance in this area for gaming to truly allow for an interactive landscape of dreams." says Cliff Bleszinski, lead designer of Epic's Gears of War. From the article: "The guy who designed one of last year's biggest blockbusters hits the hay each night dreaming about the ultimate game.

This NewScientistTech article reports a liquid that sets into a conducting web around brain cells might solve the problem of wiring up medical implants to nerves or the brain, US researchers say. From the article: "Connecting electrodes to the nervous system is difficult because the tissue becomes inflamed when in contact with metal. This creates a layer of electrically insulating scar tissue that makes it harder to send or receive signals.