Comments on: Monkeys grab and feel virtual objects with thoughts alone (and what this means for the World Cup) http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/10/05/monkeys-grab-and-feel-virtual-objects-with-thoughts-alone-and-what-this-means-for-the-world-cup/ Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:00:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Cuttlefish http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/10/05/monkeys-grab-and-feel-virtual-objects-with-thoughts-alone-and-what-this-means-for-the-world-cup/#comment-13314 Cuttlefish Mon, 10 Oct 2011 20:57:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=5502#comment-13314 Did you see this, Ed? http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2011/10/10/paralyzed_man_touches_girlfriend_with_robotic_hand_in_emotional_.html Did you see this, Ed? http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2011/10/10/paralyzed_man_touches_girlfriend_with_robotic_hand_in_emotional_.html

]]> By: Paul Browne http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/10/05/monkeys-grab-and-feel-virtual-objects-with-thoughts-alone-and-what-this-means-for-the-world-cup/#comment-13313 Paul Browne Fri, 07 Oct 2011 10:19:50 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=5502#comment-13313 It's worth noting that human trials of 2 types of brain machine interfaces to control a prosthetic limb have already started at the University of Pittsburgh, under the direction of Andrew Schwartz and Michael Boninger. http://speakingofresearch.com/2011/02/21/overcoming-paralysis-from-monkey-to-man-at-the-university-of-pittsburgh/ No results yet as far as I'm aware, and of course these two systems don't incorporate sensory feedback, but it is another example of how rapidly this field is progressing. It’s worth noting that human trials of 2 types of brain machine interfaces to control a prosthetic limb have already started at the University of Pittsburgh, under the direction of Andrew Schwartz and Michael Boninger.

http://speakingofresearch.com/2011/02/21/overcoming-paralysis-from-monkey-to-man-at-the-university-of-pittsburgh/

No results yet as far as I’m aware, and of course these two systems don’t incorporate sensory feedback, but it is another example of how rapidly this field is progressing.

]]> By: Tanya http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/10/05/monkeys-grab-and-feel-virtual-objects-with-thoughts-alone-and-what-this-means-for-the-world-cup/#comment-13312 Tanya Fri, 07 Oct 2011 02:01:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=5502#comment-13312 This is exciting to me on a personal level, having done some BCI work with humans and monkeys, but always strictly output-based (motor signals). I've always heard that sensory feedback is a whole different ball game ;) and much more challenging, but clearly that's changing. What's also fascinating about a haptic feedback study like this is it brings up questions about subjectivity of perception, since the feedback is not equivalent to normal sensation... It's definitely cause for optimism about the pace of development in this field, though experience tells me we probably can't expect good quality, lasting prosthetic control across all users for a while yet. But proof of concept is half the battle. Kudos to Nicolelis et al, and nice post. This is exciting to me on a personal level, having done some BCI work with humans and monkeys, but always strictly output-based (motor signals). I’ve always heard that sensory feedback is a whole different ball game ;) and much more challenging, but clearly that’s changing. What’s also fascinating about a haptic feedback study like this is it brings up questions about subjectivity of perception, since the feedback is not equivalent to normal sensation…

It’s definitely cause for optimism about the pace of development in this field, though experience tells me we probably can’t expect good quality, lasting prosthetic control across all users for a while yet. But proof of concept is half the battle. Kudos to Nicolelis et al, and nice post.

]]> By: randy http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/10/05/monkeys-grab-and-feel-virtual-objects-with-thoughts-alone-and-what-this-means-for-the-world-cup/#comment-13311 randy Thu, 06 Oct 2011 21:52:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=5502#comment-13311 this all sounds good and probably with the best intentions but lets face it is it going to be affordable when complete my opion would be no only those with lots of money at their disposale will be able to afford it, instead of creating new devises how about making those allready available more affordable. as a person in a wheelchair and in a country that the government insists on making money off the poor i find it rather disturbing that this type of research keeps on . i am going to be in the same chair for the rest of my life because i cant afford what they want for a better version, when are we the poorer people going to get any benefit from this this all sounds good and probably with the best intentions but lets face it is it going to be affordable when complete my opion would be no only those with lots of money at their disposale will be able to afford it, instead of creating new devises how about making those allready available more affordable. as a person in a wheelchair and in a country that the government insists on making money off the poor i find it rather disturbing that this type of research keeps on . i am going to be in the same chair for the rest of my life because i cant afford what they want for a better version, when are we the poorer people going to get any benefit from this

]]> By: Muli http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/10/05/monkeys-grab-and-feel-virtual-objects-with-thoughts-alone-and-what-this-means-for-the-world-cup/#comment-13310 Muli Thu, 06 Oct 2011 21:05:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=5502#comment-13310 So will it be possible to wire a car to your brain and drive it with your mind? So will it be possible to wire a car to your brain and drive it with your mind?

]]> By: Cuttlefish http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/10/05/monkeys-grab-and-feel-virtual-objects-with-thoughts-alone-and-what-this-means-for-the-world-cup/#comment-13309 Cuttlefish Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:10:43 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=5502#comment-13309 The benefit odf a specific target, and a specific goal behavior, is that a lot of "what if we...?" questions can be treated as distractions. They won't have to program for a wide range of behaviors (ok, they do, but there is a far wider range they will *not* have to take into account), and can focus on the task at hand. I really like the specific goal, and by attaching it to the World Cup, they have a great chance of attracting the financial support (public and private) needed. Already having a kid in mind means custom-building, rather than one-size-fits-all or a series of different test subjects. The kid, also, can have the benefit of being part of the training process from day one. This is very do-able. The benefit odf a specific target, and a specific goal behavior, is that a lot of “what if we…?” questions can be treated as distractions. They won’t have to program for a wide range of behaviors (ok, they do, but there is a far wider range they will *not* have to take into account), and can focus on the task at hand. I really like the specific goal, and by attaching it to the World Cup, they have a great chance of attracting the financial support (public and private) needed. Already having a kid in mind means custom-building, rather than one-size-fits-all or a series of different test subjects. The kid, also, can have the benefit of being part of the training process from day one.

This is very do-able.

]]> By: Debbie Ruston http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/10/05/monkeys-grab-and-feel-virtual-objects-with-thoughts-alone-and-what-this-means-for-the-world-cup/#comment-13308 Debbie Ruston Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:09:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=5502#comment-13308 Absolutely fantastic! What a powerful demonstration of the power of thought! Absolutely fantastic! What a powerful demonstration of the power of thought!

]]> By: Sam http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/10/05/monkeys-grab-and-feel-virtual-objects-with-thoughts-alone-and-what-this-means-for-the-world-cup/#comment-13307 Sam Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:12:25 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=5502#comment-13307 If he's confident he'll do it, all he'll need is the money to get him their. I'm skeptical at the least but wishing him the best of luck. If he’s confident he’ll do it, all he’ll need is the money to get him their. I’m skeptical at the least but wishing him the best of luck.

]]> By: Ed Yong http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/10/05/monkeys-grab-and-feel-virtual-objects-with-thoughts-alone-and-what-this-means-for-the-world-cup/#comment-13306 Ed Yong Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:59:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=5502#comment-13306 So let me address that 2014 angle, because someone else mentioned it on G+. Typically, I ask people about how long it'll take before their discovery yields a practical application and they wave their hands and say 5-10 years. That's the standard answer, and it's a bit boring. The reason why the 2014 angle stood out for me as being different, and the reason why I focused on it at the start, is that it's incredibly specific. They're not just saying 5-10 years, they're actually nailing a specific event as their deadline. That's very rare, and also very easily measurable. They'll either do it or not. Also, they are specifically working towards it; they're talking to the Government, they've got a kid in mind, and so on. So yes, it might be wildly optimistic, but certainly Nicolelis is betting that he can do it, and I've got one independent source who thinks it's plausible. Now, let's see. So let me address that 2014 angle, because someone else mentioned it on G+.

Typically, I ask people about how long it’ll take before their discovery yields a practical application and they wave their hands and say 5-10 years. That’s the standard answer, and it’s a bit boring. The reason why the 2014 angle stood out for me as being different, and the reason why I focused on it at the start, is that it’s incredibly specific. They’re not just saying 5-10 years, they’re actually nailing a specific event as their deadline. That’s very rare, and also very easily measurable. They’ll either do it or not. Also, they are specifically working towards it; they’re talking to the Government, they’ve got a kid in mind, and so on.

So yes, it might be wildly optimistic, but certainly Nicolelis is betting that he can do it, and I’ve got one independent source who thinks it’s plausible. Now, let’s see.

]]> By: Jacob http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/10/05/monkeys-grab-and-feel-virtual-objects-with-thoughts-alone-and-what-this-means-for-the-world-cup/#comment-13305 Jacob Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:08:26 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=5502#comment-13305 That is literally the most exciting thing I've read in months. It seems wildly optimistic for them to hope to accomplish this by 2014, but so? It's better than "twenty years away," like every other future technology is. Seriously, wow. That is literally the most exciting thing I’ve read in months.

It seems wildly optimistic for them to hope to accomplish this by 2014, but so? It’s better than “twenty years away,” like every other future technology is.

Seriously, wow.

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