When
the computer mouse was introduced in the 1980s, much was made of this
revolutionary technology. We were told how intuitive and natural it was to
point at something and click to indicate our choice. In the meantime, endless
variations on the mouse were being hastily developed to jump on the bandwagon
of this supposed advantage. Touch pads appeared, followed by joysticks and
numerous other gadgets to move the cursor around on screens.
But soon, some users began to develop carpel tunnel syndrome. And then people
began to wake up to the fact that there was nothing intuitive or natural about
a mouse and a cursor. In fact, aging Baby Boomers, with their eyesight
failing, began to find it harder and harder to hit the miniscule targets on the
screen with the tiny moving arrow.
This
will all be a thing of the past soon, however, as truly intuitive interfaces
between man and computer reach the market. Many of them are being tested right
now and hold out promise not only for easier use of computers but for medical and therapeutic innovations as well. Some are already available.
According
to the New York Times,1 a new headset made by Emotiv Systems in San Francisco picks up electrical
signals from the brain, facial muscles, and elsewhere, and can translate them
into commands for controlling a computer. The headset sells for $299. It
comes with software to train the user’s brain.
Another
headset, called the Neural Impulse Actuator, is made by OCZ Technology Group in
Sunnyvale, California and costs $169. It senses eye and facial movements and
converts them into commands.
While
Emotiv and OCZ are aiming mainly at the computer game player now, they
represent the tip of a very large technological iceberg.
In
June of 2008, for example, researchers at Keio University in Japan demonstrated
a system that reads brain waves and uses signals from the sensory-motor cortex
to control an avatar in the multi-player online game Second Life.
According to ScienceDaily, a completely disabled person was able to play
the game, moving around and conversing with other avatars.2 This is only the most recent advance to
come out of the marriage of neuroscience, computer technology, and...
