Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Hitachi Brain-Machine Interface Applications
The Hitachi brain-machine interface unit has, I believe, already been covered in the pages of Technovelgy (see Hitachi Brain Scanner Fun Toy). However, there are new pictures of more up-to-date prototypes - as well as more suggestions in how they might be used.
(Hitachi brain-machine interface as worn by lab researcher)
Optical topography is the secret; infrared light is sent through to the brain's surface to map out changes in blood flow. If this can be done on a controlled basis by the user, you now have a usable controller.
For example, intrepid Hitachi researchers have succeeded in running a model train by performing mental simple calculations; when you stop calculating in your head, the train stops too.
Hitachi intends to exert it's brand power on couch potatoes; a brain-machine interface TV remote-control is in the works. Now, you'll have to explain the joke when someone is shown using a remote control as "exercise."
Regular technovelgy reader Zac wants to do more; he wants to have a working weirding module from the movie made from Frank Herbert's novel Dune that will translate mere thought into a devastating beam of energy.
At first, I had no idea what the weirding module was - until helpful Wikipedia reminded me. In the film, director David Lynch decided to have a special device that would turn Fremen leader's spoken name "Muad'Dib" into a weapon. This device does not appear in the book; Dune purists disdain it. A picture of it is provided below.
(Weirding Module from movie version of Dune)
However, I'll bet that if DARPA would cough up several million in development dollars, brain-machine interface thought energy weapons (BMI-TEWs) might someday become a reality.
Via Yahoo news (circuitously) - thanks to Zac for the tip.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 6/23/2007)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 1 )
Related News Stories - (" Medical ")
NEO Brain Computer Interface (BCI)
'The remains of the lace took on the rough shape of a brain...' - Iain Banks, 2010.
MIT Computerized Bionic Leg Is Part Of The User
'The leg was to function, in a way, as a servo-mechanism operated by Larry’s brain, through the mediation of the electronic brain in the leg.' - Charles Recour, 1949.
Bone-Building Drug Evenity Approved
'Compounds devised by the biochemists for the rapid building of bone...' - Edmond Hamilton, 1932.
BrainBridge Concept Transplant Of Human Head Proposed
'Briquet’s head seemed to think that to find and attach a new body to her head was as easy as to fit and sew a new dress.' - Alexander Belaev (1925)
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Meta's Horizon Studio's Unique Avatars From Text Prompts
'Looks like she has bought the Avatar Construction Set and put together her own...'
VaMEx Biomimetic Mars Robot Inspired By Skink
'Across the ground something small and metallic came, flashing in the dull sunlight of midday.'
NEO Brain Computer Interface (BCI)
'The remains of the lace took on the rough shape of a brain...'
Did Frank Herbert Predict E-Ink Displays?
'A broken circle with arrows pointing to a right-hand flow appeared in the chalf.'
Monolith One Giant Industrial Metal 3D-printer
'The object seemed melted together like wax — nothing was distinguishable.'
'Mooncrete' Lunar Regolith Concrete (LRC)
'And here they began to build...'
China's 'Magpie Drone' Ornithopter
'Midges have many capabilities. To the untrained eye, they look like sparrows.'
MAI-Voice-2 Microsoft Text-To-Speech
'I made disks of my own voice to the number of five hundred very carefully chosen words.'
Tumblin' Tumbleweed Rovers To Eplore Mars
'His sensors out and working, and the whirring of the tape that sucked up sight and sound and shape and smell and form...'
Tentacled Robot Captures Space Debris
Preventing annoying space debris build-up.
Prufrock-MB2 Ready In Nashville
'It sounds to me as though you had invented a kind of metal earthworm.'
DIY Robotic Content Farming
'The chief wheeled to the master machine and pressed a button.'
Reflect Orbital Sunlight On Demand
'I don't have to tell you about the seven two-mile-diameter orbital mirrors that circulate around the satellite, making it habitable.'
The Amazing Lightfoot Electric Scooter With Solar Assist
'The steel tortoise gave MacKinnon a feeling of Crusoe- like independence.'
Fully Electric, Fully Automated Vegetable‑growing Agribots
'...then back to their work, though little enough it was on these automatic cultivators.'
Vero Robotic Dog With Vacuum Cleaner Feet
'Out of warrens in the wall, tiny robot mice darted.'
