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What I find most interesting is that as the test subject is talking it appears that he is unconsciously gesturing with his robotic arm. Apparently then its use

What I find most interesting is that as the test subject is talking it appears that he is unconsciously gesturing with his robotic arm. Apparently then its use is relatively intuitive and natural such that he can use it express himself as well as pick things up.

ars 17y ago
The brain is very interesting - it doesn't have a fixed set of input/output "ports". Instead it can use whatever is connected to it. For example someone attached a vibrating belt that always vibrated on the north side of his body. After a while the person wearing it does not consciously notice it vibrating, instead they basically have a new sense - they just always "know" where north is. Output works the same way - after playing a game for a while you don't need to think: press this finger or that one - you just want the character to do move, and your fingers do it automatically. If you use a tool for a long time, it essentially becomes (to the brain) an extension of your body. So same with this device - it doesn't have to be intuitive - after a while it simply becomes a part of his body. The brain does not see it as "else" it's simply another limb.
- dkokelley 17y ago
  A fun experiment relating to the brain's ability to rewire itself: Put your hand under one of these toys like the image: http://ubuyonline.com.au/images/toys/pictures%20018_0.jpg http://ubuyonline.com.au/images/toys/pictures%20018_0.jpg Now put an object or your other hand on the other side of the pins (between the pins and the plastic). Watch your transposed 'fingers' interact with the object. Eventually you will start to feel like your fingers have actually moved to the end of the pins. I think this is the brain rewiring itself to correlate spacial sensation to what the eyes are observing. No matter what causes this, it's an interesting sensation.
  - cjenkins 17y ago
    In a similar theme, virtual reality has been tested to relieve phantom limb pain from missing limbs. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/pf/29102443.html http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/pf/29102443.html It's amazing how adaptable the human body/mind is sometimes.
- NathanKP 17y ago
  That is pretty amazing. I remember reading about an experiment in which they had a man wear glasses that reflected the light such that the man saw the world upside down. Within about two weeks his brain has adjusted and he saw things as he had before wearing the glasses. When he took the glasses off he saw things upside down. It is incredible how flexible the brain is in adapting.

ars 17y ago

The brain is very interesting - it doesn't have a fixed set of input/output "ports". Instead it can use whatever is connected to it. For example someone attached a vibrating belt that always vibrated on the north side of his body. After a while the person wearing it does not consciously notice it vibrating, instead they basically have a new sense - they just always "know" where north is. Output works the same way - after playing a game for a while you don't need to think: press this finger or that one - you just want the character to do move, and your fingers do it automatically. If you use a tool for a long time, it essentially becomes (to the brain) an extension of your body. So same with this device - it doesn't have to be intuitive - after a while it simply becomes a part of his body. The brain does not see it as "else" it's simply another limb.

dkokelley 17y ago
A fun experiment relating to the brain's ability to rewire itself: Put your hand under one of these toys like the image: http://ubuyonline.com.au/images/toys/pictures%20018_0.jpg http://ubuyonline.com.au/images/toys/pictures%20018_0.jpg Now put an object or your other hand on the other side of the pins (between the pins and the plastic). Watch your transposed 'fingers' interact with the object. Eventually you will start to feel like your fingers have actually moved to the end of the pins. I think this is the brain rewiring itself to correlate spacial sensation to what the eyes are observing. No matter what causes this, it's an interesting sensation.
- cjenkins 17y ago
  In a similar theme, virtual reality has been tested to relieve phantom limb pain from missing limbs. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/pf/29102443.html http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/pf/29102443.html It's amazing how adaptable the human body/mind is sometimes.
NathanKP 17y ago
That is pretty amazing. I remember reading about an experiment in which they had a man wear glasses that reflected the light such that the man saw the world upside down. Within about two weeks his brain has adjusted and he saw things as he had before wearing the glasses. When he took the glasses off he saw things upside down. It is incredible how flexible the brain is in adapting.