Tech Shout!

The time has finally come when one can use their mind to move things without the need of lifting a finger! A newly unveiled Japanese technology works by reading brain activity and then translates it into a set of commands.

Hitachi has developed this “mind-reading” technology which it refers to as a “brain-machines interface”. The device uses small differences in the flow of blood within the brain, and then translates that motion into electrical signals. The new technology which powers the brain machine interface is called optical topography.

The company showcased this amazing technology at a recent demonstration at Hitachi’s Advanced Research Lab near Tokyo.

It was seen that a cap connects by optical fibers to a mapping device, which links in turn to a toy train set via a control computer and motor. The device receives signals attached to train which was powered by a motor, but received signals from the brain.

Also, a small beam of infrared light is used to register the changes in blood flow within the brain.

At the demonstration, Kei Utsugi, a researcher explained the workings of the device. He also had a reporter try on the helmet that controlled the train, and simply by doing some math, the reporter was able to power the train causing it to move around the tracks.

It is interesting to know that the math problems that the reporter solved, stimulated the frontal cortex of the brain, which is in actual fact, the part of the brain associated with problem solving.

Other activities that stimulate the frontal cortex such as singing can also power the train! However, when the activity to the frontal cortex stops, so does the train.

According to Hitachi, even though the most obvious application of this optical topography technology could be in the medical field, where it could help disabled and paralyzed people; the company is interested in commercial applications.