Can Paralyzed Walk in the Future?
September 5, 2035 - More than 20,000 quadriplegics around the world have now got a BCI, a Brain Computer Interface. It gives them the ability to control their environment, from driving their own electric wheelchairs outside their house, to make their own dinner.
The BCI consists of an internal sensor to detect brain cell activity and external processors that convert these brain signals into a computer-mediated output under the person's own control. The sensor is implanted on the surface of the area of the brain responsible for movement, the motor cortex, and is then wireless connected to a computer. The first successful implanted BMI was BrainGate for more than 30 years ago, which then gave the patient the ability to move a cursor on a screen and play a simple computer game.
BCI is mainly for people with severe motor impairments from spinal cord injury, ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) or other motor neuron diseases
Steve Nelson from Hoboken, New Jersey has had his BCI for 3 years: "It definitely changed my life, after being completely stuck in my chair for several years after the accident. We have connected everything in my apartment to the software that I control with my mind. I can even go out of my apartment, take the elevator down and go for a tour downtown, without anyone assisting me. With the robotic hand at my chair I can open the freezer, take out the food I want, and cook it myself." However, how well this work of course differs from individual to individual and some criticism has been heard that the BCI is given to people who could not benefit from it for different reasons.
The developing of the BCI software and the experience from the increasing number of users now gives hope that legs and arms can be activated by thought only. Tests are currently made on people with BCI and if the result is positive a solution can be on the market in the near future.
Even though improvements have been made towards cloning of human organs scientists agree that there are still some years left for them to successfully help a person with spinal cord damage to walk again.
Argument: Tests with the BrainGate Neural Interface System have been successful, proving the possibility for a quadriplegic to move a cursor on a screen by thought only.
Questions: In what other ways can quadriplegics control their environment with their mind? When will it be possible to help a person with spinal cord damage to walk again?
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Comments:
It won't take until 2035. Right now there are incredible breakthroughs in these fields. Exoskeletons, artificial senses, artificial muscles, bionics, brainscanning/reading, etc.
Posted by: Furture
I'm not so sure that it will take until 2035 either. There are currently many projects researching the convergence of genetic engineering, nanotechnology, and robotics. This may eventually lead to humans being able to "merge" their minds with computers and their bodies with robots. We would be able to create synthetic limbs and organs that would move and work just like a normal humans, and we would be able to repair any tissue in the body by creating a robotic replacement.
Posted by: Heather Stogsdill
i think people should just forget all this crao and go back to the good old days
Posted by: john willie
well john when you are paralyzed you will be the one hoping they come up with a way for you to walk so keep your mouth shut
Posted by: candace
To the John guy, thanks for your comment, becuase your part of the reason technology doesn't move forward as rapidly... And also i'm very offended that people can be so narrow minded about helping others who want or need the help!
Posted by: Ashley Sweet
I think John's tongue might just be hidden in his cheek.
Posted by: Coleman
It's already happened. Five years ago they replaced a blind man's eyes with digital copies that may not allow him to see much, but still allow him to see an honest to God, black and white, low-res view of the world. Replacement arms already have fingers that react to higher brain functions, and legs are beginning to surface that have feet instead of stubs. All that remains of this tech is for it to become more advanced in it's composition.
Posted by: the face
Yeah... I'd like to see some references on that please "the face"
Posted by: Steve
Let's Be Real About This .It Isn't Walking.Don't Try To Convince People That It Is!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: The Truth
i think that would be cool because my dad is paralysed
Posted by: delaynie
o, sry about that delaynie,
i think this is cool, im riting a paper bout this in my comp/keybrding class
Posted by: Annie Liu
Wheel chair shmeel chair. Who needs a wheel chair when you can have a powered exoskeleton?
Posted by: Rick Schettino
No one has mentioned anything about Stem Cells. Doctors are experimenting with this right now.
Injected into the spinal cord at the problem area, the nerve endings will regrow themselves together. Just have your body fix itself its the real winner here.
Posted by: Ray
Disagree with the timeline for this headline.
DARPA is vigorously working to to create artificial robotic limbs for wounded soldiers.
Stem cells are making leaps and bounds. Major breakthrough this year in reversing the age of cells to embryonic stem cells.
Stem cells will be standard therapy in most major hospitals in the U.S. By the mid 20's late 20's... they should actually be able to grow your body parts using your own DNA.
Posted by: Evan