BS: Brain interface

Subject: BS: Brain interface
From: 282RA
Date: 24 Jun 07 - 04:28 PM

HATOYAMA, Japan - Forget the clicker: A new technology in Japan could let you control electronic devices without lifting a finger simply by reading brain activity.

The "brain-machine interface" developed by Hitachi Inc. analyzes slight changes in the brain's blood flow and translates brain motion into electric signals.

A cap connects by optical fibers to a mapping device, which links, in turn, to a toy train set via a control computer and motor during one recent demonstration at Hitachi's Advanced Research Laboratory in Hatoyama, just outside Tokyo.

"Take a deep breath and relax," said Kei Utsugi, a researcher, while demonstrating the device on Wednesday.

At his prompting, a reporter did simple calculations in her head, and the train sprang forward — apparently indicating activity in the brain's frontal cortex, which handles problem solving.

Activating that region of the brain — by doing sums or singing a song — is what makes the train run, according to Utsugi. When one stops the calculations, the train stops, too.

Underlying Hitachi's brain-machine interface is a technology called optical topography, which sends a small amount of infrared light through the brain's surface to map out changes in blood flow.

Although brain-machine interface technology has traditionally focused on medical uses, makers like Hitachi and Japanese automaker Honda Motor Co. have been racing to refine the technology for commercial application.

Hitachi's scientists are set to develop a brain TV remote controller letting users turn a TV on and off or switch channels by only thinking.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070622/ap_on_...an_brain_remote

[Sorry, the blue clicky thing doesn't work for this link.]

Subject: RE: BS: Brain interface
From: 282RA
Date: 24 Jun 07 - 04:33 PM

[Here's the full article since the link doesn't work in here--it works in other forums, what's up with that?]

Hitachi: Move the train with your brain By HIROKO TABUCHI, Associated Press Writer
Fri Jun 22, 3:01 PM ET

HATOYAMA, Japan - Forget the clicker: A new technology in Japan could let you control electronic devices without lifting a finger simply by reading brain activity.

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The "brain-machine interface" developed by Hitachi Inc. analyzes slight changes in the brain's blood flow and translates brain motion into electric signals.

A cap connects by optical fibers to a mapping device, which links, in turn, to a toy train set via a control computer and motor during one recent demonstration at Hitachi's Advanced Research Laboratory in Hatoyama, just outside Tokyo.

"Take a deep breath and relax," said Kei Utsugi, a researcher, while demonstrating the device on Wednesday.

At his prompting, a reporter did simple calculations in her head, and the train sprang forward — apparently indicating activity in the brain's frontal cortex, which handles problem solving.

Activating that region of the brain — by doing sums or singing a song — is what makes the train run, according to Utsugi. When one stops the calculations, the train stops, too.

Underlying Hitachi's brain-machine interface is a technology called optical topography, which sends a small amount of infrared light through the brain's surface to map out changes in blood flow.

Although brain-machine interface technology has traditionally focused on medical uses, makers like Hitachi and Japanese automaker Honda Motor Co. have been racing to refine the technology for commercial application.

Hitachi's scientists are set to develop a brain TV remote controller letting users turn a TV on and off or switch channels by only thinking.

Honda, whose interface monitors the brain with an MRI machine like those used in hospitals, is keen to apply the interface to intelligent, next-generation automobiles.

The technology could one day replace remote controls and keyboards and perhaps help disabled people operate electric wheelchairs, beds or artificial limbs.

Initial uses would be helping people with paralyzing diseases communicate even after they have lost all control of their muscles.

Since 2005, Hitachi has sold a device based on optical topography that monitors brain activity in paralyzed patients so they can answer simple questions — for example, by doing mental calculations to indicate "yes" or thinking of nothing in particular to indicate "no."

"We are thinking of various kinds of applications," project leader Hideaki Koizumi said. "Locked-in patients can speak to other people by using this kind of brain machine interface."

A key advantage to Hitachi's technology is that sensors don't have to physically enter the brain. Earlier technologies developed by U.S. companies like Neural Signals Inc. required implanting a chip under the skull.

Still, major stumbling blocks remain.

Size is one issue, though Hitachi has developed a prototype compact headband and mapping machine that together weigh only about two pounds.

Another would be to tweak the interface to more accurately pick up on the correct signals while ignoring background brain activity.

Any brain-machine interface device for widespread use would be "a little further down the road," Koizumi said.

He added, however, that the technology is entertaining in itself and could easily be applied to toys.

"It's really fun to move a model train just by thinking," he said.

Subject: RE: BS: Brain interface
From: 282RA
Date: 24 Jun 07 - 04:41 PM

The ramifications of this technology is that it could radically impact on the evolution of the human psyche. Those with better functioning brains would fare better in a society whose main form of public discourse is brain-interface technology. The trend would be to produce children with better brain power. Competing against Asia with such a technology is not going to be easy. In fact, I think they would beat us.

Subject: RE: BS: Brain interface
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 24 Jun 07 - 06:20 PM

Bit of a bugger for us with brains like butterflies... the train would be speeding up and slowing down 20 times a minute!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Brain interface
From: Amos
Date: 24 Jun 07 - 08:53 PM

If all they can respond to is blood activity in one or another part of the brain they will never be able to make a genuine, parseable command interface.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Brain interface
From: 282RA
Date: 24 Jun 07 - 08:57 PM

Yes, it takes training the brain and focusing. As I said, it could alter our evolution because if it becomes the wave of the future (and it has to be--we've been moving towards brain-activated technology for centuries even if we don't realize it) then the gene pool becomes more populated with those genes that contribute to better brain power, better thinking abilities or problem-solving abilities which will further alter how we live and communicate.

Our grandchildren will operate brain-interface technology effortlessly--driving cars, playing video games, net surfing, cell phones, etc--while we're still trying to get the TV to turn on.

I don't know if people realize just how important this is. Most people read the article and say, "Pretty cool." It's more than pretty cool. This will fundamentally change the way we think.

Subject: RE: BS: Brain interface
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 24 Jun 07 - 09:11 PM

How can it alter our evolution? We've had motorcars for a hundred years now, but we're still born with legs and the lung capacity to run.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Brain interface
From: 282RA
Date: 24 Jun 07 - 09:18 PM

>>If all they can respond to is blood activity in one or another part of the brain they will never be able to make a genuine, parseable command interface.<<

Being that this is just in its infancy, it is impossible to say at that this time that they will never be able to accomplish this or that. In all likelihood, they will. If the interface shows too much promist to simply discard it, they'll work on it. It has to be the direction things are going because the purpose of technology is to make our lives easier and what could be easier than something happening because you willed it to happen?

It is the ultimate in convenience and ease and every new device tries to simulate that as much as possible. It is inevitable that we will one day have the real thing--and this is the start of it.

Subject: RE: BS: Brain interface
From: 282RA
Date: 24 Jun 07 - 09:23 PM

>>How can it alter our evolution? We've had motorcars for a hundred years now, but we're still born with legs and the lung capacity to run.<<

Because cars were conceived with ordinary human dexterity in mind.

The brain interface is going to teach us how to use our brains in a way that we have not used them before. Therefore the individuals that will have the easiest time thriving in a future society where brain-interface technology is the norm will be those who have good problem-solving abilities which means people with better developed frontal lobes. Consequently, that will begin to dominate our gene pool meaning future generations will be born with fundamentally different brains than what we currently use and will be applying them in a way we currently don't.

Subject: RE: BS: Brain interface
From: Bee
Date: 24 Jun 07 - 10:32 PM

Unlikely, 282RA. The trend of technology development is almost always to make it easier to use for everyone. I remember when people were claiming seniors would be unable to learn to use desktop computers, or navigate the internet. There will always be a technology elite who are more capable of using new or advanced technology, just as there are a small number of astronauts and a vast number of car drivers. Technology of this sort, no matter how widespread, will not affect who has children and who doesn't, thus no evolutionary effect.

Subject: RE: BS: Brain interface
From: 282RA
Date: 24 Jun 07 - 10:39 PM

Seniors, for the most part, do NOT navigate the net well. Most don't even have computers.

As for astronauts, we don't need 300 million of them.

It's the fact that brain-integration technology is going mainstream that it going to touch every aspect of our lives. I never said people weren't going to have children. You better study up on your evolution. I said the gene pool will inevitably become populated with genes that cause superior problem-solving abilities. Those people will be the future. The ones that can't use it will be the poor, huddled masses of the future. And eventually they will be gone but it won't happen overnight. Evolution never does.

Subject: RE: BS: Brain interface
From: Bee
Date: 24 Jun 07 - 10:47 PM

I disagree.

I know a huge number of seniors, and most of them own computers and use them daily. Quite a few 'catters are seniors.

"I said the gene pool will inevitably become populated with genes that cause superior problem-solving abilities." - 282RA

Why? People who have not got 'superior problem solving abilities' will not cease having children, as it will in no way impact their ability to procreate, therefore, no change in the gene pool. And as I said, the technology will in all likelihood become easier to use as it is further developed.

Subject: RE: BS: Brain interface
From: Ebbie
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 12:15 AM

Seniors, for the most part, do NOT navigate the net well. Most don't even have computers. " 282RA

"I know a huge number of seniors, and most of them own computers and use them daily. Quite a few 'catters are seniors." Bee


Thanks, Bee. So do I. So am I, for that matter.

Seniors have seen and learned *so much* by the time they reach official dotage, I would caution you not to sell us short by sweeping statements such as that.

As I've read, when there is a tragedy and you "don't want to upset Grandma", you got it backward. Much more than you, Grandma has seen tragedies, big and little, and survived them all.

Subject: RE: BS: Brain interface
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 12:39 AM

optical topography, which sends a small amount of infrared light through the brain's surface to map out changes in blood flow

Which could result in an entire population exhibiting "fried brain syndrome" which is something that has been suspected of certain elements of the Japanese population (and some others) for some time...

A great deal of research has been done on mapping which parts of the brain that participate and are active in particular kinds of "thinking," and high school science fair projects have been doing what's described here for years.

A problem is that the "action" that results from "brain activity" in this case must be pre-selected, and the same "action" results from any brain activity in the area selected. There is no indication of the ability to select between multiple different results.

A recurrent "fixed action" resulting from unrelated brain activity in specific parts of the brain is a fairly common component of some mental (and physical) malfunctions/illnesses. While there is adequate cause to suspect that we may be "evolving" whole populations of mentally defective people, it's hardly a great hope for humanity.

Nothing new here. A typical student project hyped beyond the scope of what's actually been done. Adequate perhaps for an MS level thesis, but certainly not for a PhD, based on what the article gives us.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Brain interface
From: 282RA
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 01:21 AM

Oh, I see!

So if the Japanese nation start kicking our asses in this technology, we can say, "It's alright, folks, they're brains are fried!"

As the Guiness guys says, "BRILLIANT!"

Subject: RE: BS: Brain interface
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 03:42 AM

"the gene pool will inevitably become populated with genes that cause superior problem-solving abilities."

Anybody remember who wrote that SF story - "The March of the Morons"? (or similar title)


"which sends a small amount of infrared light through the brain's surface"

THRU? I would really suspect 'reflected' might work, but THRU? how do you get infrared THRU THE SKULL?

Subject: RE: BS: Brain interface
From: Wolfgang
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 10:24 AM

Near infrared spectroscopy (Wikipedia article also mentioning optical topography/tomography which is the basis of the above article.

So far, it is just a fun application by a company usually selling highly priced products to hospitals etc.

But an application for disabled people is not too far from being possible. Controlling parts of the environment by thoughts even if it is so far only a succession of binary decisions would be a much appreciated help for people who are paralysed.

Of course, military and police applications could be useful as well:
"Hands up, boy, and don't move or open the mouth or I'll blow your brain out." The ability to signal to the home staff that one is in danger and where it is one is in danger without the man with the gun noticing any sign of communication would change the whole situation:
"Don't move, don't talk and don't think".

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: Brain interface
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 01:03 PM

Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots.

So far, the Universe is winning.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Brain interface
From: GUEST,282RA
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 08:48 PM

>>THRU? I would really suspect 'reflected' might work, but THRU? how do you get infrared THRU THE SKULL?<<

The article states that this cap works without the need to plant a chip in the skull. That's one huge advantage of it.