http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/2/18604.html

Boffins create thought-controlled computer

By: Kieren McCarthy

Posted: 30/04/2001 at 11:56 GMT

Boffins at the EC's Joint Research Centre have created a computer

that can "read" peoples' minds and enable disabled people to write

message using nothing but thoughts.

The system has been tried out on a 40-year-old severely disabled

man in London, the Sunday Times reports and he was ecstatic.

Cathal O'Philbin, who has spinal muscular atrophy, said: "This is

something really special. It would make a big difference to me."

The computer works by picking up the electromagnetic signals

created in the brain when people think of different things. Electrodes

attached to a plastic cap which is put on the user's head pick up the

signals. Then by tying in thought patterns with different, simple

instructions the computer can be controlled by thought alone.

In the case of Mr O'Philbin, he was told to think hard about a rotating

cube, about moving his left arm (which he can't do physically) and

then to relax mentally (abstract, physical, calm). This provided three

widely varying electromagnetic patterns which were then tied-in with

moving a cursor across the computer screen. By moving the cursor,

he was able to select letters and managed to spell out "Arsenal

Football Club".

Mr O'Philbin said it was hard getting the two to work but was asked

to be given one as soon as possible. The Spanish scientist who

co-ordinated the project, Jose del Millan said: "The key to our

system is its natural and quick operation. Without any assistance a

user can teach the machine to recognise his thoughts within one or

two hours."

The Adaptive Brain Interface cost £1 million to develop and, you'll be

glad to hear, uses special software sitting on top of Windows 2000.

The cap costs £150.

The system is obviously in its early stages but its effectiveness has

been proved and the project team hopes to gradually improve it - to

the extent where it may even prove a valuable application for

able-bodied people.

Del Millan was keen to dispel sci-fi evil mind-reading applications of

it however. "We are only developing applications where the user

consciously decides to issue a command to the computer," he said.

"We are not exploring the brain at the unconscious level." But that's

what they want you to believe.

The Thought Police are known to be taking an interest in the project.

®

Related Link

Sunday Times article

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