Actually, I saw these guys at RESNA last year and was very impressed.

This particular system does NOT implant directly on the cortex, it is
all external scalp stuff.  (The article cites that as well, last
sentence of 4th paragraph).

The system I saw was not being used to control cursor or isolated
movement.  I hesitate to try to describe via email, as it is not really
any kind of scanning either.  But it was reliable for slow production of
text, and they had it connected with WordQ to speed it up a little.

Basically it works that when the desired letter is highlighted, (and
they are highlighted in an apparently random pattern; it is not scanning
as we think of it at all) the client responds with an "Ah hah" thought.
Since the Ah hah thought brainwave always occurs at a reliable time
following the presentation of the highlighted letter, the computer would
know that was the intended letter.

The one I saw was not using motor control of any kind (meaning no motor
cortex) and I am probably doing a very poor job of describing this.  (I
want to say the signal was called P300).

Probably only beneficial for very severely locked in folks, past eyegaze
and any form of switch.  I think a reasonable fast switch scanner would
still be faster than this system as well.

But I was positively impressed with it for our folks with no switch
access.

Ed Hitchcock OTR/L
Technology Center
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jane Huggins
Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2009 12:41 PM
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Assistive Technology] BCI Liscenced to Private Firm --
Commerical Product on the Horizon?

Interesting.  This is the first I've heard of this.  But, everyone
should
note that the proposed BCI is using ECoG as it's input.  The article
doesn't do a very good job of explaining that ECoG comes from electrodes

implanted inside the skull but not penetrating the brain (usually the
electrodes are placed subdurally, ie under the membranes covering the
brain).  I worked with ECoG for many years and think that ECoG will
provide the best signals for BCIs.  However, they require a fairly major

surgery to implant.  So, while this is an exciting step, I wanted to
make
sure you realize the model of the system they're proposing.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
%%
Jane Huggins, Ph.D.   "If, through some inscrutable act of providence, I
                        were to lose all my faculties save one, I would
                        choose to retain the gift of speech, for through
it
xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx        I would soon regain all the rest."-- Daniel
Webster
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%  http://www-personal.umich.edu/~janeh
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
On Thu, 26 Mar 2009, Antoinette  Verdone wrote:

> Anyone have any further info on this?
>
>
>
>
http://www.health.state.ny.us/press/releases/2009/2009-03-25_brain_comp_
> interface_tech_neurolutions.htm
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Antoinette Verdone, MSBME, ATP
>
> Assistive Technology Specialist
>
> The ALS Association, Greater New York Chapter
>
> NEW ADDRESS:
>
> 42 Broadway, Suite 1724
>
> New York, NY 10004
>
>
>
> Phone: 212-720-3054
>
> Fax: 212-619-7409
>
> Email: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx
>
> www.als-ny.org
>
>
>
> "One cannot consent to creep when one has the impulse to soar"  --
Helen
> Keller
>
>
>
>
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