Brain-Computer Interfaces Offer Hope for Paralysis Victims
From: Tech Briefs Insider Edition - 07/17/12013

Small electrodes placed on or inside the brain allow patients to interact
with computers or control robotic limbs simply by thinking about how to
execute those actions. This technology could improve communication and daily
life for a person who is paralyzed or has lost the ability to speak from a
stroke or neurodegenerative disease. Now, University of Washington
researchers have demonstrated that when humans use this technology - called a
brain-computer interface - the brain behaves much like it does when
completing simple motor skills such as kicking a ball, typing or waving a
hand. Learning to control a robotic arm or a prosthetic limb could become
second nature for people who are paralyzed.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.embeddedtechmag.com/component/content/article/16876

Source:
New tasks become as simple as waving a hand with brain-computer interfaces
http://www.washington.edu/news/2013/06/11/new-tasks-become-as-simple-as-waving-a-hand-with-brain-computer-interfaces/

Links:
Breakthrough: Robotic limbs moved by the mind (60 Minutes video 13:05)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3a5u6djGnE&feature=youtu.be

Rajesh Rao
http://www.cs.washington.edu/people/faculty/rao/

Brain-Computer Interfacing: An Introduction
http://www.amazon.com/Brain-Computer-Interfacing-Introduction-Rajesh-Rao/dp/0521769418