Toyota develops thought-controlled wheelchair (be sure to check the video)

oshadi · on Sept 6, 2009

This is great. It seems this is taking our relationship with computers to the next level. The big problem is humans are not perfect decision makers. What would happen if the system suddenly react to a thought which is completely foolish.

trapper · on Sept 6, 2009

Long term this shouldn't be an issue at all. All our systems are currently controlled by our brain - why would next-gen machines be any different in our ability to control them?

A guy I once met was partially blind. He decided to learn how to see again as he was sick of feeling his way around. He took the "evolutionary" option, by starting to walk extremely fast everywhere. For the first few weeks he had a few knocks and bruises as he ran into doors. Gradually he got back his ability to detect objects at high speed.

I think our brain can adapt much better than we realise with the right stimuli :)

jacquesm · on Sept 6, 2009

The wheelchair shown has an emergency stop feature where you puff out your cheek and it stops (accelerometer taped on to your cheek).

I think that the idea here is to provide something that has a fairly high barrier before 'recognition' takes place.

From the demo video I think you can gather that it takes a while to hold a thought 'steady' before the system responds.

That is probably why the wheelchair moves slowly at the cornering points.

throw_away · on Sept 7, 2009

I have that problem with this meat robot I have hooked up to my brain, currently.