Researcher Creates Tech to Move Objects with the Mind
From: Product Design & Development - 05/13/2014

Systems able to process thoughts and translate them into a command to move
objects are very useful for people who cannot speak or move, but have the
disadvantage of causing mental fatigue. However, a Mexican researcher,
Christian Isaac Peņaloza Sanchez, a PhD candidate for Cognitive Neuroscience
Applied to Robotics at the University of Osaka, Japan, has  designed an
intelligent interface that is capable of learning up to 90 percent of the
user's instructions thus operate autonomously and reduce fatigue.

He explains that the system consists of electrodes placed on the scalp of the
person, which measure brain activity in form of EEG signals. These are used
to detect patterns generated by various thoughts and the mental state of the
user (awaken, drowsy, or asleep, etc.) and level of concentration.

It also includes a graphical interface that displays the available devices or
objects, which interprets EEG signals to assign user commands and control
devices.

For example, he details, an individual can use it to control an electric
chair and move it to the living room using basic commands (forward, backward,
left, or right), which are learned by the system. Thus, the next time the
user wants to take the same action he or she only need to press a button or
think about it for the chair to automatically navigate to the desired
destination.

Once the system operates automatically, the user no longer has to exert
concentration to control devices. However, the system continues to monitor
the EEG data to detect a signal called Error-Related Negativity. Which
presents when people become aware of an error committed by themselves or by a
machine.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.pddnet.com/news/2014/05/researcher-creates-tech-move-objects-mind

Link:
Interface System to Move Objects with the Mind
http://www.mdtmag.com/news/2014/05/interface-system-move-objects-mind

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