Coming Soon: Artificial Limbs Controlled by Thoughts
From: Scientific American - 08/21/2012
By: Miguel A. Nicolelis

The idea that paralyzed people might one day control their limbs just by
thinking is no longer a Hollywood-style fantasy 

Brain waves can now control the functioning of computer cursors, robotic arms
and, soon, an entire suit: an exoskeleton that will allow a paraplegic to
walk and maybe even move gracefully. 

Sending signals from the brain's outer rindlike cortex to initiate movement
in the exoskeleton represents the state of the art for a number of
bioelectrical technologies perfected in recent years. 

The 2014 World Cup in Brazil will serve as a proving ground for a
brain-controlled exoskeleton if, as expected, a handicapped teenager delivers
the ceremonial opening kick. 

Read the entire article at:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=artificial-limbs-controlled-by-thought

Links:
First Steps toward a Robotic Leg Suit for Paraplegics (with video 3:08)
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=exoskeleton-first-steps-towards-robotic-leg-suit-for-paraplegics

Mind Out of Body: Controlling Machines with Thought
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=mind-out-of-body

NicolelisLab
http://www.nicolelislab.net/

Computing with Neural Ensembles
http://www.neuro.duke.edu/faculty/nicolelis/