NewScientist has an article about a new wheelchair that is controlled via a person’s thoughts. It works by intercepting signals sent from their brain to the larynx. No sound actually needs to be produced. So as long as the user thinks the word and sub vocalizes it, he/she can control the machine. Watch the video above to see it in action. Then read the article for more detail.
Entries Tagged 'Medical' ↓
Thought Controlled Wheelchair
September 11th, 2007 — Medical, Science, Thought controlled Wheelchair, Video, Wheelchair
Cell phones save a life
July 31st, 2007 — Argentina, Cell Phone, Medical, Surgery
I’m sure you have heard of people using the back light on their cell phone as a temporary flashlight. I’ve even done it myself. That back light can be pretty bright.
This apparently happened to a group of surgeons in Argentina. It seems that they were in the middle of an appendix operation when the lights went out. For some reason the backup generators didn’t kick in immediately like they were supposed to. So a family member gathered up the cell phones of people in the hallway outside of the operating room and used them to provide light for the surgeons. The surgeons were then able to continue the surgery with the light provided by the cell phones. Pretty amazing.
Chocolate for your blood pressure?
April 10th, 2007 — Blood, Chocolate, Heart Disease, Medical, Sugar
Researchers at the University Hospital of Cologne, Germany have found that cocoa products can reduce blood pressure almost as much as the commonly prescribed drugs for that purpose. It seems that cocoa contains chemicals know as polyphenols. Polyphenols are known to help prevent cardiovascular disease and lower blood pressure. Polyphenols are present in many vegetables and in tea, but it seems that a particular type that is present in cocoa is more active than other types.
Chocolate itself, due to the high sugar and fat content is still bad for you, but the cocoa in it might help you with your blood pressure. So the next time you feel guilty about eating chocolate, you can claim it’s for your heart.
Via Scientific American: Cocoa, not tea, calms blood pressure, study says
Cybernetic memory
April 6th, 2007 — Brain, Cyborg, Medical, Memory
Back in the 90s a movie came out called Johnny Mnemonic. The movie was based on a short story of the same name by William Gibson. The short story is actually pretty good, and if you haven’t read it, you should. William Gibson writes some of the best cyberpunk stories out there. The movie adaptation sadly wasn’t very good. In fact, I would say it was really awful, despite having Keanu Reeves in the staring role.
But all that aside, both the movie and the short story share a common theme, the storage of memories in an implanted cybernetic module hardwired to a persons brain.
It seems that a neuroscientist, Ted Berger, has created the first artificial memory chips and found a way to connect them to living brain cells. He currently has them interacting with rat brain cells. This is the first step towards truly cybernetic enhancement of our own brains. Ted Berger initially sees this as a tool for people with extensive brain damage who seem to have memory problems.
Read the full story at Popular Science: The Memory Hacker
Color Night Vision goggles
March 28th, 2007 — Lights, Medical, Military, NightVision
A company called Tenebraex has come up with a pair of night vision goggles that can create a color image rather than the traditional green monochromatic view of night vision goggles. The goggles are completely mechanical with no computer parts. So there is no heavy power pack required. The color view does require some light. A minimum of at least a quarter moon light is required for the color view. But if there isn’t enough light for color images, you can easily switch them to the green view by twisting a knob.
The main application for this is probably in the medical field. Doctors have long complained that it is difficult to work using night vision goggles, due to the lack of color. But over all, this could be useful for everyone.
The price for the goggles is currently $6,000. The company that developed them hopes to start selling them to the military, though they do not currently have any contract in place.
Check out the original story here
The Tenebraex official website here
Sugar powered batteries
March 22nd, 2007 — Medical, Nanotech, Sugar
Researchers at Saint Louis University in Missouri have come up with a fuel cell that can run on nearly any sugar source. It converts the sugar into electricity and potentially can create power sources that are much smaller than current lithium batteries. Converting sugar into power is not a new concept. Several years ago some scientists came up with a fuel cell idea for powering pacemakers. It was also powered by sugar. It converted the glucose in the patients blood into electric power. There have also been a few other fuel cell technologies that converted various sources of sugar into power.
The difference in this system, is that the researchers claim to be able to use any source of sugar. So you may soon be able to pour some cola into your Ipod when it runs low on power.
Check the article out here
Memory editing using drugs?
March 15th, 2007 — Brain, Medical, Memory
Found this article about some scientists that were able to erase a specific memory in lab rats using an experimental drug. They trained the rats to associate a particular sound with pain. They were then able to make those rats forget that sound by giving them a combination of drugs.
The scientists say this could be a big breakthrough for future development in the field of psychiatrics. Especially for people dealing with trauma related conditions. Personally I think it is a little scary. To think that in the near future someone might be able to selectively edit some of my memories is quite frightening. So much of who I am and how I react to daily life is based on my memory. Removing those memories could seriously change who I am.
