Mind control

Ulster University scientists are teaming up with partners across Europe to help develop technology to enable people impaired through illnesses, brain and spinal injuries to communicate using the power of thought.
 
Called the BRAIN project, the research consortium includes Philips, Spanish telecommunications operator Telefónica, Twente Medical Systems International from the Netherlands, the University of Warsaw and the University of Bremen in Germany.
 
'BRAIN stands for Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) with Rapid Automated Interfaces for Non-experts,' explained Dr Paul McCullagh from the Computer Science Research Institute.

'At Ulster, we will create an intuitive interface that uses brain activity to communicate via a computer and to also control a number of domestic appliances such as television, doors and lights. The design of the interface and the applications chosen will be influenced by the potential users of the equipment.
 
'There are some very debilitating diseases such as Lou Gehrig’s disease where people are "locked in" -  the patient is aware and awake, but cannot move or communicate due to complete paralysis of nearly all voluntary muscles in the body.