[11Pecepebra]

Tech and Science
Mar 4, 2010

Mind-reading computers

BERLIN - DEVICES allowing people to write letters or play pinball using just the power of their brains have become a major draw at the world's biggest high-tech fair. Huge crowds at the CeBIT fair gathered round a man sitting at a pinball table, wearing a cap covered in electrodes attached to his head, who controlled the flippers with great proficiency without using hands.

'He thinks: left-hand or right-hand and the electrodes monitor the brain waves associated with that thought, send the information to a computer, which then moves the flippers,' said Michael Tangermann, from the Berlin Brain Computer Interface.

But the technology is much more than a fun gadget, it could one day save your life. Scientists are researching ways to monitor motorists' brain waves to improve reaction times in a crash. In an emergency stop situation, the brain activity kicks in on average around 200 milliseconds before even an alert driver can hit the brake.

There is no question of braking automatically for a driver - 'we would never take away that kind of control,' said Mr Tangermann. 'However, there are various things the car can do in that crucial time, tighten the seat belt, for example,' he added. Using this brain-wave monitoring technology, a car can also tell whether the driver is drowsy or not, potentially warning him or her to take a break. -- AFP