Maximum PC interface RSS Feed

Intel Wants to put a Chip in Your Brain

Justin Kerr — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:25:23 -0600

Anyone who follows Intel closely knows that they don’t just pump out high end CPU’s, but they actually dedicate entire teams to “pie in the sky” ideas of what future technologies might look like. This could be anything from an x86 cluster of CPU’s to render video, or in this case, using your brain to control a computer. It may sound farfetched, but its something Intel and its researchers have been actively studying for sometime now.

Currently scientists are focusing on how the brain reacts when interacting with a computer, and then learning ways to interpret this data to execute commands on the machine. The idea here is to allow your thoughts to take over for your mouse and keyboard. Intel is of the belief that an implant would make this easier, though I’m not entirely sure how many volunteers they are going to get with that idea. “Eventually people may be willing to be more committed… to brain implants" said Intel’s Vice-President of future Technology, Andrew Chien. "Imagine being able to surf the Web with the power of your thoughts”

You may have your doubts, and so do we, but it might interest you to know that researchers have already made significant strides in the field of reading brain patterns, and have already identified certain words such as “bear” that cause everyones brain to react in a similar manner. “I think human beings are remarkably adaptive,” said Chien, “If you told people 20 years ago that they would be carrying computers all the time, they would have said I don’t want that, I don’t need that. Now you can’t get them to stop. There are a lot of things that have to be done first but I think implanting chips into human brains is well within the scope of possibility”. Chien speculates we will be lining up for implants as early as 2010.

Are you comfortable with this idea?

(Image Credit: howstuffworks.com)

Google Docs One Step Closer to Becoming Online Storage Service

Pulkit Chandna — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:53:15 -0500

Google had announced last week that it was going to overhaul the Google Docs interface over the next few weeks. Some of those changes have already taken place. One notable change is that the filter for “PDFs” has been supplanted by “Files” in the "items by type" slide-down menu.

This has further fueled speculation that Google Docs is on its way to becoming an online file storage service. There is a possibility that Google might allow people to upload other file formats besides PDF files. A person is also said to have stumbled upon an image of what appears to be a folder icon featuring the familiar Google Chrome logo. Perhaps Google may need such a folder icon for a web-based storage service to compliment Chrome OS.

Image Credit: GoogleSystems

Students Cook Up A Bare-Hands 3D Interface

Andy Salisbury — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:31:22 -0500

While most 3D controllers force you to either load yourself up with markers or hold a controller in order to use them, some students at Northeastern University have managed to create an interface that is based off of the theory of electrostatics.

The interface is made up completely of copper pads that sense an electrical field above them, allowing users to have a pretty sizeable workspace. So far, they’ve been able to create applications that allow you to draw, move 3D models around, and even scratch a digital record.

If you’d like to see it in action, be sure to check out a video of it here.

Image Credit: Justin Schunick, Mark Hollenbeck, Luke Shaheen, Scott Gillette, Glenn Black

Researchers Working on Mouse Alternatives

Pulkit Chandna — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:38:10 -0500

There are numerous companies that are currently working on technologies they hope would revolutionize the computer navigation landscape. Amongst the audacious researchers pioneering the touchless revolution is John Underkoffler, who owns a gesture tech start-up called Oblong Industries that recently raised $8.8 million in funding. Underkoffler has to his credit the honor of counseling the Minority Report crew regarding the depiction of futuristic technology in the movie.

Forbes reports that he is spearheading an utterly secretive project that deals with a touchless, gesture-based computer interface. All applications would be controlled merely by gestures.

But Oblong is not alone as alternative navigational interface industry leader Gesture Tek and gaming hardware manufacturers like OCZ Technologies, Neurosky, and Emotiv are also in the reckoning. Some of the researchers are really pushing the envelope with technologies that allow users to control applications and games using their gaze and even thought.

Image Credit: MakeZine