Toyota Demonstrates a Wheelchair Controlled With Brain Waves

By John Brandon Posted 06.29.2009 at 1:12 pm 8 Comments

Professor X? Toyota

For those in a wheelchair with limited mobility, Toyota's new brainwave technology is a marvel. The rider of the wheelchair wears a cap that sends signals via a brain-scan electroencephalograph (BSE) to a computer that analyzes the input to steer the chair in real time, as seen here in a video.

Other brainwave technology usually requires lengthy processing time, but the Toyota technology transmits in only 125 milliseconds -- a crucial factor allowing faster reaction time. The technology, developed by a Japanese company called Riken, adjusts to the individual user's commands for movements such as forward, left and right, and stop. In tests, Toyota says the commands are 95 percent accurate, which makes it the most accurate brainwave-driven controller in the world. The controller uses a technique called blind signal separation, which filters out extraneous brain signals from those intended to control the chair's movement.

The technology has implications for other medical applications beyond wheelchair control; according to Toyota, it could ultimately be extended to adjust to the emotions and mental state of the patient.

[AP]

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8 Comments

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iTriage

06/29/09 at 1:34 pm

I wonder how far someone would imagine going in while strapped to that tech in their sleep.

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testsubject

04/21/10 at 11:13 pm

how do sound waves affect the performance of your remote control device. my hypothesis is that the waves are blocked from transfering the information, leading to shutdowns and undesired movements. Feed back is nessacery for this post.

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testsubject

04/21/10 at 11:14 pm

just don't make any noise and it will go to the moon

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Jazzy Breeze

05/06/10 at 11:08 pm

This is not new technology and I am not certain that man people would be able to afford this technology even it it were available to the general public. The look is quite cumbersome and probably will not do much for the self esteem of the user. Mobility scooters and associated equipment must become affordable and protected under the countries health system. For these people it is not a luxury it is a necessary requirement in order for them to lead relatively independent lives.

Jazzy
www.valuemobility.co.uk

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Addy5

09/17/10 at 10:12 pm

So it sounds like with this technology, the chair will go wherever you want it to just by thinking about it. That sure would be a nice technology to have for other things in life, getting yourself to do things you meant to do.
Bertoia Barstool

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Addy5

09/17/10 at 10:18 pm

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WhiffsofBliss

12/06/10 at 5:01 pm

"The Atmosphere™ is a gravitational web of invisible code that’s engaged through our four brains. Whatever thought forms we entertain programs the matrix to gravitate the picture we have in mind." [EXCERPT FROM: Solar Plexus: The Secret Gravitational System | 1456300474]

Brain Waves are liken unto "Gravitational Waves" that warp spacetime with our thoughts; this is the essence of G THEORY. Evidence of such was also linked via 'Schumann Resonance' in terms of the Earth’s ionosphere in relation to and brain rhythms.

It's nice to see the marvel of Toyota's brainwave technology.

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HolisticDNA

12/11/11 at 10:20 am

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