Researchers aim for 'direct brain control' of prosthetic arms.

It may sound like science fiction, but engineering researchers at four U.S. universities are embarking on a four-year program to design a prosthetic arm that amputees can control directly with their brains and that will allow them to feel what they touch.

The research at Rice University, the University of Michigan, Drexel University and the University of Maryland is made possible by a $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation's Human-Centered Computing Campaign.

For more info: http://www.media.rice.edu/media/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=15983&SnID=8...

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• control
• mind
• brain
• body
• amputee
• Rice
• University
• Houston
• Texas
• science
• O'Malley
• Gillespie
• Shewokis
• Contreras-Vidal
• Drexel
• Michigan
• Maryland
• prosthetic
• brain-machine
• haptic
• EEG
• fNIR

[MegaVek]

God will have nothing to do with it. These people will.

[dannyavendano1441]

Ethan3511 u r fukin retarded dumbass so shut THE FUCK UP

[Blodslav]

@1916r Perhaps there are measures that could be taken that would prevent cell replication around the electrodes? Or if the electrodes were so percise and microscopic they would fuse directly into the nerve ending? I'm not too sure that there can be much development in the invasive method, at this point in time, i'm afraid. But never the less, the intergration of man and machine will never cease to intrigue me.

[1916r]

@Blodslav I think one of the drawbacks of invasive techniques can be the forming of scar tissue around the electrodes over time causing the deterioration of signal quality, that and with invasive techniques you've a much smaller pool of people to chose from to test your design on. Although i get where your coming from, The signals are much clearer with invasive techniques. Either way Im sure there are brilliant people working on all techniques, exciting stuff !

[Blodslav]

I don't get why they are stuck with the non-invasive approach. With invasive micro electrodes, you can also include feedback sensors, and you will get a much cleaner control. As soon as this boundary is broken by the hammer of science and reason, soon people will have prosthetics which would be very lifelike, and hard to distinguish from their biological counterparts.

[Ethan3511]

THIS IS A VIDEO ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE WITHOUT ARMS OR HAND WHY IS THER A FUCKING ARGUMENT ABOUT GOD HERE.

no offense to anybodys relligion but REALLY COME ON PEOPLE.

[turbanelite]

hope this works out, i'm 19 and already had enough of living without a left arm, I've tried the current myo-electric prosthetics, but they just don't do it for me...

[MegaVek]

@crazymikeyx100 This is obviously debatable. Even if they got their brains from god, they're the ones putting them to good use and it's their hard work that's going to make this a reality. If I created paints and paintbrushes and gave them to you, and you painted a masterpiece with them, it would be your achievement, not mine.

Just sayin. Give credit where credit is due.

Cheers.

[crazymikeyx100]

God invented every concept, thought, molecule in this universe... He gave certain people the gift to help people and definitely some brains! It is all in his glory though.

[engeljakob]

she looks like jennie garth..