(May 16, 2008) — The idea of mind control has always been thought of as something out of a science fiction movie. For doctors and the physically disabled, it is a chance to improve the quality of life. Mind control is actually a term that refers to signals sent directly from the brain to a device that allow a person to operate a machine without needing to touch it. The signals are sent by the brain via electrodes that are either attached to the scalp or inserted into the brain. These signals can only control devices that they are set up to. This idea can be used for devices such as new legs for injured war veterans or a wheel chair for a paralyzed person. Outside of the medical field mind control shows even more potential for making life easier. Its current application is to type messages using just your thoughts. This means that a person can type without the use of their arms by only imagining that they are moving their arms in the direction of the cursor. Gaming benefits from this technology also since the speed of thought is faster than physical reaction time. This advancement could lead to the creation of a game controller using mind control technology. By the same token, driving safety could also improve because the device could stop a car faster than any human could. Mind control technology is far from perfect; if the electrodes are attached to the scalp, their signal is not as strong as it would be if they were attached to the brain but the body will try to get rid of them by covering them with a sheet of tissue if they are attached to the brain, which will cause the signal to degrade over time. Several scientists now think that they have found a better, third way to place the electrodes. A paper-thin polymer is placed on the brain and then covered with electrodes, which leads to a clearer signal than the scalp method provides.
Mind control technology
January 28, 2009
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