Tuesday, September 11, 2007

The Mind-Controlled Wheelchair

By Tom Simonite
Source: New Scientist


A motorised wheelchair that moves when the operator thinks of particular words has been demonstrated by a US company. The wheelchair works by intercepting signals sent from their brain to their voice box, even when no sound is actually produced.


The company behind the chair, Ambient, is developing the technology with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, in the US.


The wheelchair could help people with spinal injuries, or neurological problems like cerebral palsy or motor neurone disease, operate computers and other equipment despite serious problems with muscle control. The system will work providing a person can still control their larynx, or "voice box", which may be the case even if the lack the muscle coordination necessary to produce coherent speech.


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