Move with Mind

Hijacked from Tenrou who brings us to the attention of some most interesting technology...

Researchers said they have developed technology that allows computer users to use their thoughts to control the movements of avatars in a popular virtual world on the Internet.
Junichi Ushiba, a lecturer at Keio University's Faculty of Science and Technology, and researchers at the university's Faculty of Medicine announced the achievements on Saturday.

The technology is expected to pave the way for people paralyzed by spinal cord damage, incurable nerve diseases and other ailments to enjoy their lives in the virtual world and encourage them in their social rehabilitation efforts.
The technology is used with the 3-D virtual world of Second Life, operated by U.S. Linden Lab.
According to the team's announcement, a physically disabled person succeeded in using brain waves to move the avatar in the program.
Three electrodes were attached to the test subject's scalp to pick up the brain waves.

The brain-computer interface system determines what the computer user wants to do by comparing the detected electric brain signals with specific brain-wave patterns of the user registered in the computer.
In the test, the subject successfully had the avatar walk straight and turn left and right to meet an avatar controlled by another test participant.
The test subject's avatar and the other "resident" chatted using microphones.
Users need no special training to operate the interface system, and the electrodes can be detached easily.

Being able to move stuff just by thinking it. with this technology we could turn on lights, turn on the coffee maker and most probably interface with the internet. Have not through too deeply about the implications but sounds quite cool and convenient - Want ot Do Not Want?
Oh and I love this girl that he posted ^^ (kind of) reminds me that I need to finish watching Chobits - am I the last one?

Original text from Tenrou below.

How close are we to interfacing with the internet as seen in Serial Experiments Lain or the .hack// series?

Latest research out of Japan has allowed a person to move an avatar on the net using only their mind.

The researches at Keio University had a physically disabled person move an avatar in Second Life using only brainwaves. As opposed to the research at MIT using scalp implants, the Keio research uses electrodes attached to the scalp. While the MIT method produced better control, the Keio method doesn't require you to have any hardware put in you (e.g. the difference between interfacing in .hack and interfacing in Ghost in the Shell).

I'm excited to see where this will lead, next. I'm also guessing that the gaming industry is keeping a close eye on this (I know some companies are developing similar peripherals, already).

What are your thoughts? If interface via brainwave technology becomes widely available, will you use it?

Full story at Asahi Shimbun.

Image from Moe Imouto