[games_access] Interesting News Bit

[d. michelle hinn]

yeah, brain surgery is a bit drastic for gaming.  ;) but it will be 
interesting to follow their research.

michelle

>I think the problem with the wearable devices is that they aren't
>sensitive enough to pick up the deeper brain signals. This article
>mentions the doctors had to perform surgery to implant the device on
>the brain. So, other than surgery, perhaps the tech isn't ready yet.
>
>-Reid
>
>On 10/27/06, Robert Florio <arthit73 at cablespeed.com> wrote:
>>Is the Cyberkinetics Co. the same people that make the brain fingers black
>>strap that goes around the forhead to play video games?  I really wish they
>>somebody would develop that strap into a playable video game especially for
>>using devices like controlling wheelchairs and robotic arms that would be so
>>cool.
>>
>>Robert
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
>>On Behalf Of hinn at uiuc.edu
>>Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2006 9:44 PM
>>To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
>>Subject: [games_access] Interesting News Bit
>>
>>This just in from the AP -- sounds like we need to check out these
>>researchers at Wash U and invite them to the SIG! :)
>>
>>- Michelle
>>
>>Scientists Study Brain Using Video Game
>>
>>- - - - - - - - - - - -
>>
>>By JEFF DOUGLAS Associated Press Writer
>>
>>October 26,2006 | ST. LOUIS -- The teenager jukes missiles and blasts aliens
>>in the video game. But it's his brain, not his thumbs, doing all the work.
>>The 14-year-old, part of a study at Washington University, played the
>>old-school video game "Space Invaders" by simply using his brain as a
>>controller.
>>
>>Researchers hope the study ultimately leads to development of more advanced
>>devices that use brain commands to control things such as artificial limbs
>>and wheelchairs.
>>
>>"My real motivation for this is helping people with disabilities," said Dr.
>>Eric Leuthardt, an assistant professor of neurosurgery at the university's
>>School of Medicine. "We chose to do a video game because we knew a teenage
>>patient would be into it."
>>
>>The teen, who did not want his name used, suffers from severe epilepsy and
>>was experiencing daily seizures. Neurosurgeons had to remove a piece of his
>>skull to treat a small part of the brain causing the seizures.
>>
>>Researchers knew that with the brain exposed for the operation, they had a
>>rare opportunity to use it for a study of ultrahigh brain frequencies.
>>Leuthardt invited the teen to participate, and he agreed. The study is the
>>first of its kind on an adolescent, Leuthardt said.
>>
>>The teen was hospitalized to wait for a seizure to happen so doctors could
>>locate the problem and treat it.
>>
>>Wires attached to the surface of the teen's brain sent electric signals to a
>>computer to help them locate what part of the brain was causing the seizures
>>and remove it.
>>
>>Using those same wires, the teen was ready to try "Space Invaders," an early
>>video game in which the player tries to shoot down invading aliens amid a
>>counterattack.
>>
>>At first, the teen tapped his right hand to move his spacecraft one way, and
>>moved his tongue to move it another. Eventually, he was able to make those
>>movements on the video screen simply by using his brain. The "Space
>>Invaders" laser cannon fired continuously.
>>
>>Within hours, the teen shot his way to the third level of the game.
>>
>>"The real breakthrough with this project is the focus on higher frequencies
>>of the brain. That's where the secrets are," said Daniel Moran, an assistant
>>professor of biomedical engineering also involved in the multidiscipline
>>study.
>>
>>Leuthardt said it was too early tell, but it appeared the teenager could
>>master commands more quickly than adults.
>>
>>Washington University did similar experiments in 2004 with adults. In that
>>experiment, participants used only their brains to control a game similar to
>>the old arcade game "Pong."
>>
>>The study was exciting news for John Donoghue, co-founder of Cyberkinetics
>>Neurotechnology Systems. His Foxborough, Mass.-based company researches
>>alternative ways for the brain to communicate to the outside world using
>>devices that translate the brain's electric activity.
>>
>>Cyberkinetics was among the first to prove that a quadriplegic can drive a
>>wheelchair with his thoughts and a mute person can communicate sentences on
>>a computer without saying a word.
>>
>>"The idea of replacing missing biological connections with a physical bridge
>>will be moving very fast in the coming years with more research like this,"
>>Donoghue said.
>>.......................................
>>these are mediocre times and people are
>>losing hope. it's hard for many people
>>to believe that there are extraordinary
>>things inside themselves, as well as
>>others. i hope you can keep an open
>>mind.
>>  -- "unbreakable"
>>.......................................
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