Pink Tentacle points out to a recent research where BCI technology is used to control second life avatar.
While recent developments in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology have given humans the power to mentally control computers, nobody has used the technology in conjunction with the Second Life online virtual world — until now.
A research team led by professor Jun’ichi Ushiba of the Keio University Biomedical Engineering Laboratory has developed a BCI system that lets the user walk an avatar through the streets of Second Life while relying solely on the power of thought. To control the avatar on screen, the user simply thinks about moving various body parts — the avatar walks forward when the user thinks about moving his/her own feet, and it turns right and left when the user imagines moving his/her right and left arms.
Here is a related video.
Thanks to Nick Carr for the link
October 14th, 2007 at 1:56 am
It seems odd to say “recent developments”, then point out that no one has done something with these developments “until now”. One can’t do something with new developments until they are done — duh.
October 15th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
I don’t think you got the time frame (which author is discussing) right. He is just pointing out that the recent developments in BCI has lead to development in few other areas but not in second life. I don’t see any “duh value” there.