Early Non-Invasive Brain-Computer Interface

Computer scientists have created a hat that can read your thoughts. It allows you to stroll down a virtual street. All you have to do is think about walking.

Called a brain-computer interface, the device detects activity in certain brain areas linked to movement, and uses the signals to mimic that movement in a virtual world. The technology could one day help paralysed patients to move robotic arms, or help sufferers of motor neuron disease to type out words on a virtual keyboard.

"Clever artificial hand developed"

As engadget pointed out, it had to be holding a can of Healthy Beans, didn't it?

I wouldn't mind if it were gripping one of those stress balls, especially if it were a sphere painted to look like the earth. Now that would send a message.

The LUCAS CPR bot

Katrina will probably make people desire more self-sufficiency. A bot like this that does CPR would help. I would imagine adding a touch screen and mobility would allow for a home health care bot, first used for the elderly. It could remind you to take your pills, contain an expert system to ask about possible drug combinations (e.g. "can I take aspirin with my heart medication?"), and save your life by performing CPR or defibrillation.



Generally, I'm surprised the first step hasn't been achieved, e.g. MS Doctor, a cheap expert medical system with a simple interface. Add froogle and a recommendation system, and I would have liked to ask it questions like "Do omega-3 fatty acids work, and what is the best place to get them?", or "Describe the most recommended LASIC procedures in my area".

Modulobe: Virtual Creature Simulator

Awesome collection.

I know of projects at CMU which simulate humanoids in a realistic, dynamics enabled simulator.

So why can't they make a humanoid with appropriately trained gaits on compliant legs?

Grand Challenge II

Someone is going to win this year. This list is fairly shallow, but it's important to see what the majority see.

For a better list of teams, and more about the race go here.

Koizumi vs. Robot

Click the top left blue link.