Commercial Mind-Readers

“The ability for brains to control inanimate objects, like computer cursors, robotic arms, wheelchairs, has seen significant progress in the last decade. A case in point is the recent success at Andrew Schwartz’s lab at the University of Pittsburgh where macaque monkeys fed themselves using a robotic arm controlled only by their thoughts. Even commercial companies are now using brain-computer interface (or BCI.) Products like Mattel’s MindFlex or the Star Wars Force Trainer allow players to move a ball with thoughts alone. Or there is also the consumer product Zeo that follows your sleeping brain waves in order to diagnose any restless nights.”