Module 3 Blog Post

I saw the coolest thing ever on 60 Minutes last week!!! Module 3 discusses the various user interfaces with computers... "In addition to keyboard input, pens, voice signals, and even thought patterns are being studied and used with ever greater efficacy." Well 60 Minutes had a story about the last interface that was so AWESOME!

The story focused on the developing technology that allows paralyzed individuals control their computers and wheelchairs with their minds! Yeah, I know, freaky right? One of the people interviewed was a doctor who had developed Lou Gehrig's disease at the age of 40. At this point he only has movement in his left eye. With the help of this brain control interface (BCI) that allows him to think about a letter, he can spell out words that the computer reads aloud. It was amazing and inspiring to see that he can now communicate with his wife and sons. Another woman who had a stroke that left her totally paralyzed, was able to steer her motorized wheel chair by just thinking about where she wanted it to go. The amount of freedom these people are being given despite their circumstances is just unbelievable.

Developing this interface would be much different than gathering ergonomic information. In Module 3 there's a figure that illustrates guidelines for optimal viewing angles. What would it be like to have to develop these parameters for BCI? Would ergonomic considerations even be an issue? What role would memory (or the lack thereof) affect this interface? I would imagine there are differences in the way that people think. How do you account for that? Maybe there would be differing BI interfaces for spatial thinkers vs. people that respond better to visual stimuli. It opens up a limitless horizon of possibilities.

It makes me wonder what it would be like to write a 10 page paper by just thinking about it. Maybe they can get this thing up and running by, say, mid-December...?