When i first saw the headline I thought it was a joke. But they’re serious – and with a serious intent, namely to help those with physical impairments interact with the world, namely the virtual world of Second Life.
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.
It immediately reminded me of the very moving and early machima that not only made its maker a star but was also one of the first to reach a wide audience.
