Mind power

I'm always on about the power of the mind and how thoughts are real. Well in June 2004 a completely paralyzed man underwent surgery to implant a small sensor in his brain that enables him to play video games, write email, change TV channels and open his curtains - using only his thoughts!

Richard Normann, professor of bioengineering at the University of Utah, invented a tiny sensor that detects neural activity in the brain. This lead to the development of the Brain Gate Neural Interface System. At present three external computers on a cart are needed to process the signals from the sensor into signals like a computer mouse. Eventually these processors will be small enough to fit inside the patients body and be wireless.

So see. Thoughts really are real. With our technology we can detect them and now even harness them, albeit in small ways, to control devices. Amazing to think what the future holds.