18 October 2007
1. About the Technology
A brain-computer interface, which allows people use their thoughts to control the movements of their Second Life® avatars has been developed. A user controls his/her avatar by wearing a headset which is equipped with electrodes that monitor activity in a field of the brain that controls the movement of limbs.
The system detects and processes brain activities which comes from the sensory-motor cortex, and automatically decodes users’ hand and foot imagery. When a user thinks about moving his own feet, the avatar walk forward. When a user thinks about moving his arms either right or left, that avatar turns that way.
2. Development in the Future
The technology that enables more complex movements and gesture in Second Life® will be developed in the future. It is intended to test the technology on real helping patients in paralysis patients to see how the technology is capable of the virtual world by collaboration with the medical team. We examine how active brain activity through stroll in Second Life® effects to the brain and the nerve, and investigate a possibility of application in the rehabilitation field.
The technology would enable people suffering from paralysis to communicate with others or conduct business in a virtual world.
3. Demonstration at the 8th Keio’s science and technology exhibition, KEIO TECHNO-MALL 2007
Please refer to the details of a moving image of the experiment: http://www.bme.bio.keio.ac.jp/eng/01news/
We plan to demonstrate of this experiment at KEIO TECHNO-MALL 2007 as follows:
Date: 5 December (wed) 2007, 10:00-17:00
Venue: Tokyo International Forum - B block 7th floor, Hall B
3-5-1 Marunouchi Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100-0005, Japan
Website: http://www.kll.keio.ac.jp/ktm/en/
Inquiries: Ms. Nakajima or Ms. Mizuno, Office of Communications and Public Relations, Keio University
TEL: +81-3-5427-1541 FAX: +81-3-5441-7640
E-mail: [email protected] http://www.keio.ac.jp/
