Reflection of the Harnessing the Power of the Brain video

Harnessing the Power of the Brain is a 12 min segment clip from the CBS show 60 Minutes.
The report focusses on recent technology from the neuroscience sector developed by neuroscientists
at New York State's Wadsworth Center that may help the paralyzed in the future.
The story focusses on Scott Mackler who was paralyzed due to ALS. The technology built has made
it possible for Scott to communicate using only his eye movement since he cannot use most of the
muscles of his body (called locked-in syndrome). The technology comprises of a BCI device
(brain-computer interface) that allows Scott to enter one letter at a time. This device has a cap with
electrodes that pick-up even the faint electrical signals from Scott's brain and allows him to select
letters one at a time. Then a computer turns his sentences into speech using a text-to-speech
software.
Though this interface is not really fast, it gives people who are paralyzed a great deal of
accessibility to speak, express, and communicate freely. On an average, it takes a person around 20
seconds to enter in a letter. Such a device is very helpful and encouraging to paralyzed people
because it can give such people a sense of hope and make them independent again, as opposed to
being on a ventilator for the rest of their lives.
The other half of the video focusses on a University of Pittsburgh study that is trying to implant
these electrodes inside the brain so that a cap with electrodes is not required. On the tests tried on
monkeys, the results have been mostly encouraging. Researchers at University of Pittsburg are
trying to figure out the relationship between how fast the neuron fires and the way the animal
moves its hand. Once this is done, the animal's brain can be directly wired to a robotic arm. This
technology called Braingate has been fitted into some people who are locked-in and can figure
out basic commands from brains like directions. The video demonstrates the subject being able to
operate the mouse pointer on a computer effectively by directly having their brain wired into the
computer.
Scientists believe that with humans wired in to the computer, either through the skullcap interface
or Braingate, holds key to getting disabled people to get their life control back.