Throw Away Your Keyboard!

Controlling a device by brainwaves is something you would see in a futuristic movie, but is it actually possible? Matthew Nagle, a quadriplegic, has proven that it is indeed! After extensive research on brain patterns, a chip smaller than an aspirin that reads electrical patterns, was implanted on the top of Nagle's brain. Using this chip he has learned to move a cursor around a screen, play simple games, change channels on a television, and even control a robotic arm. The amazing part is he learned to perform all these tasks in less time than it takes the average PC user to install the Windows operating system to their computer. This offers amazing possibilities to those with disabilities, and companies are now beginning to develop products for consumers with this technology. This technology can currently write at 15 words per minute, but it is estimated by 2012 chips may be able to process thoughts as quickly as speech (about 110 to 170 words per minute). Due to ethical issues concerning brain implants researchers are also working on methods where an implant would not be necessary. If this technology does become available, PCs, keyboards, and computer mice will soon be seen as devices from the past. Something that once seemed more than impossible is quickly becoming very possible. The way the internet is used would become drastically different.