The Speculist

Monkeys with Robot Arms

I don't know about you, but nothing perks up my Monday morning quite like reading about monkeys controlling robot arms with the power of their brains. And check out this neat animated illustration of what the experiment looked like.

This research has major implications for the development of brain-controlled prostheses and the treatment of victims of paralysis. And think of the implications for developing virtual reality environments. Now we have 3-D displays built into computers; soon we'll be able to navigate those displays with the power of thought (actually a combination of voluntary and involuntary virtual motor acitivity.)