BioBolt brain implant could help the paralyzed walk again - Polidicks

[img]http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/06/6-24-2011biobolt1sm.jpg[/img] [quote=technology review] Researchers at the University of Michigan take another step towards the Holy Grail of neurological technology--a device that would restore natural movement to the paralyzed. DAVID ZAX 06/23/2011 In the annals of great oxymorons, "non-invasive brain implant" would surely rank up there. Misnomer or not, the University of Michigan is touting just such a device, one that it says could have a range of applications--the most exciting of which is a potential ability to restore movement to paralyzed limbs. That's off in the horizon. For now, though, the BioBolt, as the implant is called, can act as an interface between the human brain and an external device like a computer. It's not the first device to do so. But the BioBolt is distinguished from similar devices by its minimal invasiveness and low power usage. Whereas other neural implants require the skull to be open--rather drastically limiting the range of their usefulness--the BioBolt doesn't penetrate the cortex, and it can be completely covered by the patient's skin, crucial to fending off infection. (Still, points out MedGadget, this "minimally invasive" technology does require a wee-bit of skull drilling.) The BioBolt, which Michigan researchers presented last week at a conference in Kyoto, Japan, is about the circumference of a dime, and has a small film of microcircuits clinging to its underside. When implanted in the skull, those microcircuits sit on the surface of the brain. There, they "act as microphones to 'listen' to the overall pattern of firing neurons," explains an announcement from Michigan, "and associate them with a specific command from the brain." The BioBolt amplifies those patterns, converts them into a digital signal, and transmits that through the skin to a computer. The final trick of using the skin as a conductor is what helps the BioBolt keep its power consumption low. "The ultimate goal is to be able to reactivate paralyzed limbs," said Kensall Wise, one of the engineers on the project. That's years away, though. There are other potential uses of the technology in the meanwhile: with further research, it might be used to stem epileptic seizures, for instance, or it could be used to diagnose certain diseases, like Parkinson's. The Michigan research is part of a wave of new work that offers hope to the paralyzed. There are, in fact, devices approved by the FDA that can restore hand function and bladder control in some people who suffer from paralysis; brain implants that enable patients to move a mouse on a cursor have recently been demonstrated. In 2009, scientists were able to restore movement in a monkey's paralyzed arm, using a system called functional electrical stimulation. "We can predict what the monkey is trying to do with his muscles and stimulate the muscles accordingly, essentially giving the monkey voluntary control through the computer instead of his nerves," one of the researchers told Technology Review at the time. Numerous researchers have been involved in similar work, driving speculation that we could be entering a new era of telekinesis. [/quote] Source: [url]http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/helloworld/26920/?ref=rss[/url] FUCK YEAH SCIENCE!:science:

:science: is awesome

And this is exactly why more money should be spent on science education and research Not teaching kids drama, media studies and art because fuck that

[QUOTE=Trumple;30698421]And this is exactly why more money should be spent on science education and research Not teaching kids drama, media studies and art because fuck that[/QUOTE] As much as I love science, you do need to realize that both art and culture are important aspects of human development.

[QUOTE=Trumple;30698421]And this is exactly why more money should be spent on science education and research Not teaching kids drama, media studies and art because fuck that[/QUOTE] hey culture is equally important if the entire world just drops culture then we'll just have a futuristic earth where the goverment controls everything or something, oh god now i'm babbling again :smith:

[QUOTE=Shoopiwoop;30698621]hey culture is equally important if the entire world just drops culture then we'll just have a futuristic earth where the goverment controls everything or something, oh god now i'm babbling again :smith:[/QUOTE] Who cares as long as we wake up and get greeted by some shiny glass plane and drive around in light cycles? [editline]25th June 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Miskav;30698613]As much as I love science, you do need to realize that both art and culture are important aspects of human development.[/QUOTE] Oh I forgot the Mona Lisa put a man on the moon, saved thousands of lives, and even let you communicate with me My bad

[QUOTE=Trumple;30698421]And this is exactly why more money should be spent on science education and research Not teaching kids drama, media studies and art because fuck that[/QUOTE] yes because cultural development doesn't matter at all moron [editline]25th June 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Trumple;30698702]Oh I forgot the Mona Lisa put a man on the moon, saved thousands of lives, and even let you communicate with me My bad[/QUOTE] every single graphical element of any device you have ever used is derived from artistic talent

hopefully it can be re-purposed to augment the average facepuncher's posting abilities. good news nonetheless

[QUOTE=Centic;30698786] every single graphical element of any device you have ever used is derived from artistic talent[/QUOTE] Agreed, and we will continue to need people with artistic skills But where did I say we wouldn't need them? I said more money should be spent on teaching science, and [not more] on art etc. There was an article a while back about how people were complaining the art departments were not receiving the same funds as electronics or similar fields and so they planned to even it out a little, which is wrong in my eyes.

[QUOTE=Trumple;30698421]And this is exactly why more money should be spent on science education and research Not teaching kids drama, media studies and art because fuck that[/QUOTE] Avatar fits

[QUOTE=Trumple;30698421]And this is exactly why more money should be spent on science education and research Not teaching kids drama, media studies and art because fuck that[/QUOTE] How about we just axe the wars and invest all that money into both?

[QUOTE=Trumple;30698907]Agreed, and we will continue to need people with artistic skills But where did I say we wouldn't need them? I said more money should be spent on teaching science, and [not more] on art etc. There was an article a while back about how people were complaining the art departments were not receiving the same funds as electronics or similar fields and so they planned to even it out a little, which is wrong in my eyes.[/QUOTE] If art studies has enough demand, it should get equally funded. After all humans do what they like, not what they're forced to. [editline]25th June 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=FreakyMe;30698978]How about we just axe the wars and invest all that money into both?[/QUOTE] A stick and a stone is cheaper, so why not

[QUOTE=FreakyMe;30698978]How about we just axe the wars and invest all that money into both?[/QUOTE] You can't axe a war but you can axe the thing that started the war I won't mention it because it'll be a shitstorm, most likely

[QUOTE=johan_sm;30698990]If art studies has enough demand, it should get equally funded. After all humans do what they like, not what they're forced to. [editline]25th June 2011[/editline] A stick and a stone is cheaper, so why not[/QUOTE] No, but America's defense budget is several times that of any other country. A budget that has hardly dropped in the recession despite the fact that the country is suffering from massive deficits and public schools are being closed down due to budget shortages.

[QUOTE=johan_sm;30698990]If art studies has enough demand, it should get equally funded. After all humans do what they like, not what they're forced to. [/QUOTE] I guess you're right, but I would hope we don't end up in a generation of artists and no engineers

[QUOTE=Trumple;30699063]I guess you're right, but I would hope we don't end up in a generation of artists and no engineers[/QUOTE] Yes because as we all know everybody alive has a secret ambition to become a world famous artist!

Computer gets a virus makes you walk off bridge

Why again did certain religious people wanted to ban this sort of thing when it is the best thing ever for humanity.

[QUOTE=Centic;30699082]Yes because as we all know everybody alive has a secret ambition to become a world famous artist![/QUOTE] Humans are creative, everyone wants to create Some will go on to make (useless to me) paintings, some will go on to design cases for the next mobile phone, some will use the creativity to create the next best OS But how many people do you know who like to program? (In the real world, not on here)

[img]http://www.cosplayisland.co.uk/files/costumes/738/25754/Adam%20Jensen2.jpg[/img] I never asked for this.

[QUOTE=Trumple;30699200]Humans are creative, everyone wants to create Some will go on to make (useless to me) paintings, some will go on to design cases for the next mobile phone, some will use the creativity to create the next best OS But how many people do you know who like to program? (In the real world, not on here)[/QUOTE] Or someone wants to make a robot/whatever. That's creative too, but it requires engineering and shit. Different people like different shit. And if we actually run low on engineers, the salary rate will increase, attracting more engineers. The problem with programming is that often you do not get rewarded for your creations. It's the eye candy that gets it most of the time. And being a single man team, you pretty much need to know visual arts to make your programs/games/whatever more attractive.

[QUOTE=koekje4life V2;30699171]Why again did certain religious people wanted to ban this sort of thing when it is the best thing ever for humanity.[/QUOTE] say what?

[QUOTE=Trumple;30698702]Oh I forgot the Mona Lisa put a man on the moon, saved thousands of lives, and even let you communicate with me My bad[/QUOTE] One of the stupidest things I've heard in a long time. [editline]25th June 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Trumple;30699200]Humans are creative, everyone wants to create Some will go on to make (useless to me) paintings, some will go on to design cases for the next mobile phone, some will use the creativity to create the next best OS But how many people do you know who like to program? (In the real world, not on here)[/QUOTE] Artistic expression in developing brains plays a very important role in the development of neural pathways

[QUOTE=Rofl my Waff;30699631] Artistic expression in developing brains plays a very important role in the development of neural pathways[/QUOTE] I'm still at college with the people I grew up with, and I'm still in touch with them. The ones who have a more artistic side have either dropped out or get poor grades whereas the guys who didn't go to art club or take up sewing class are gaining straight As That's just my observation but it makes a clear enough point to me

The Singularity nears!

[U]Dammit technology was nothing when i was young [/U]

[QUOTE=Trumple;30699715]I'm still at college with the people I grew up with, and I'm still in touch with them. The ones who have a more artistic side have either dropped out or get poor grades whereas the guys who didn't go to art club or take up sewing class are gaining straight As That's just my observation but it makes a clear enough point to me[/QUOTE] Yeah that doesn't sound uninformed or anything. Do some research thanks.

Dayum :P, thats pretty balla.

Late reply to the culture vs. science thing: It's just a 20th/21th century retarded misconception that the two must "go against eachother". Science and culture should go hand in hand, and expand the horizon of the human mind. Just an example: You know that Leonardo Da Vinci fella? You know, who was awesome, and discovered some workings of the human body, planned batshit machines, and all that? Hey guess what, he painted the Mona Lisa. And was also a sculptor. To reach one's finest capabilities, you ahve to ahve a broad view of things, and should not just concentrate on one thing, because that will just make you ignorant towards other fields of human knowledge.

[QUOTE=Uberman77883;30700004]The Singularity nears![/QUOTE] if only, we barely understand the human brain and computational power is fairly limited for such simulations.