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Brain Power

November 4, 2008 3:31 PM

People who are completely paralyzed due to illness or trauma are getting help communicating with a new technology that connects their brains to a computer. Scott Pelley reports.

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by WaveEq August 10, 2009 7:51 PM EDT
Excellent news story - thanks!
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by ChandraParker August 9, 2009 7:54 PM EDT
Fantastic story! I just happened to be thinking this morning about something my typing teacher at Cabool High School, Miss Elliot repeated over and over to the class and I think her words may hold some insight for applying this amazing new technology! She told us to "think the whole word not the letters" so that we could type more quickly. Seriously, if we can type more quickly because our brains already know which letters make up each word, it could work with this technology too. It really worked for me.
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by cmonfixinternetvidstream April 11, 2009 7:47 PM EDT
I even downloaded the adobe flash that the site recommends. CBS did a better job 7 years ago, even two years ago. I really want to see this 12 minute story that has already taken me 45 minutes to get through 8 minutes of it.
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by cmonfixinternetvidstream April 11, 2009 7:45 PM EDT
why doesn't the freaking web video streaming work?! I have a relatively new computer with pretty quick software! We can make wheel chairs with our mind, but we can't web video streaming without stopping every 10 seconds. i would rather have poor video quality in the picture than it stopping intermittently.
Comon! CBS is the worst!
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by November 3, 2008 11:33 PM EST
POWERFUL! So many stories about this and here we are. I have experienced this very lightly -- losing speech briefly after a stroke.

Blessingly, I adapted and recovered much capacity. This shows the best in science -- letting Scott, for example and Cathy to be able to release the lock.

When science is good, people are greatest. Thanks for your (scientists) focus on uplifting people.

And the joy and hope that the other commenters speak to -- and the shear PROMISE for so many people is AWESOME.
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by emiliek-2009 November 3, 2008 9:26 PM EST
For anyone interested in this research, you need to check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQLsjbQy7NI

Researchers monitor brain signals sent to your vocal cords (rather than montioring actual nodes in your brain) to control mechanisms like a wheelchair.
If you think the word "forward," the chair moves forward. If you think the word "backwards," the chair moves backwards. No brain surgery required to control!

For more info on how it''s done, check this out: http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/6130
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by voice4josh November 3, 2008 7:59 PM EST
I stood, clapped, yelled and cried. I saw people communicating with their brain power. Cathy had the same abilities as my son. There is hope Josh!
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by aleksandra_s November 3, 2008 7:49 PM EST
Hello,
My Mother is suffering from ALS. She cannot speak at all. She is so helpless. When she was still healthy she was working as a nurse and she helped lots of people. Nowadays, she suffers from ALS and I''m looking for help for her. Is there any possibility to get this kind of facility for her?

ola@siebor.com

Best regards,
Aleksandra Siebor
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by fali5 November 3, 2008 6:05 PM EST
This means that thoughts equal energy. What does this mean to Einstein''s E=mc2? Can thoughts be harnessed to create a world of peace? I''d like to think so.
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by metermanbge November 3, 2008 3:49 PM EST
Our daughter, Rachel suffered a brain injury and is lock in she is able to communicate with head nods and eye blinks,this is the best thing,how do we get one! its4electric@comcast.net
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by marytw November 3, 2008 3:02 PM EST
I have a have a son that''s 9 years old today if anyone
has any helpful info where i can get some help please e-mail me at nardmika@yahoo.com, when i saw this story it made my heart melt and gave new hope. This is great.
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by kara1984 November 3, 2008 2:55 PM EST
I am a student, studying to be a Speech-Language Pathologist at Marshall University. Many of the professors are interested in ordering the Brain Power segment to use for educational purposes; however no one is sure if that is possible? If anyone knows if we can order it somehow, please let me know!! The segment was very good and touching!!
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by energycheck November 3, 2008 2:52 PM EST
Amazing technology and so many possibilities in the large world of handicapped individuals. Beyond that let some out-of-the-box thinkers get their hands around what this is all about and who knows how many will benefit.
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by robert9981 November 3, 2008 10:24 AM EST
This is an AMAZING story. As a severely disabled person who uses a vent to breathe 24/7 and a motorized wheelchair for mobility, this 60-Minute segment brought tears to my eyes. I know how technology has helped me and so many others like me with severe disabilities. These inventors, these geniuses, who come up with these great new things to help people with disabilities are fantastic. We must always support research! There is a great new world out there coming for us who need these great new inventions. Already we men and women with disabilities are out in the world working and contributing to society and our world, thanks to technology. I give workshops on art and I have published a number of books. Technology has helped me do that and even drive my adapted van. Without technology, I would have been dead at age 5 in 1951 from polio. But technology has kept me going and at 62, I am still moving ahead, writing, teaching, and creating. Check out my website at www.geocities.com/ram9872002. We must all support technology and those great men and women who have not only put us on the Moon, but will give us people with disabilities the ability to move forward and contribute to society and our world.
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by robert9981 November 3, 2008 10:23 AM EST
This is an AMAZING story. As a severely disabled person who uses a vent to breathe 24/7 and a motorized wheelchair for mobility, this 60-Minute segment brought tears to my eyes. I know how technology has helped me and so many others like me with severe disabilities. These inventors, these geniuses, who come up with these great new things to help people with disabilities are fantastic. We must always support research! There is a great new world out there coming for us who need these great new inventions. Already we men and women with disabilities are out in the world working and contributing to society and our world, thanks to technology. I give workshops on art and I have published a number of books. Technology has helped me do that and even drive my adapted van. Without technology, I would have been dead at age 5 in 1951 from polio. But technology has kept me going and at 62, I am still moving ahead, writing, teaching, and creating. Check out my website at www.geocities.com/ram9872002. We must all support technology and those great men and women who have not only put us on the Moon, but will give us people with disabilities the ability to move forward and contribute to society and our world.
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by margaretferr November 3, 2008 6:15 AM EST
Beautiful! How encouraging for all of us who have motor problems -- especially veterans and stroke or ALS patients. Thank you CBS and researchers!
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by bam501 November 3, 2008 4:01 AM EST
It is obvious that some of those who have left negative comments have never had a loved on afflicted by something that takes their lively hood away. My boyfriend had 2 strokes in may 2008 and although he is unable to move or speak his mind is as sharp as it was before the strokes. This technology could help so many get part of their lives back. Shame on those who see it as negative & I pray nothing ever affects their lives in the way it would be needed.
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by hope4you1 November 3, 2008 2:54 AM EST
This is for Brian....and Holly, your Mom is my hero. Tears are still streaming down my face as I try to type this. I am so proud of her. I was so shocked to see her on 60 minutes. So sorry I lost touch, I am living back in Mass. and I want to see her and let her know how proud I am of her. Geri kept me up to date for awhile, I would love to talk with her again soon too.
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by hutchoo0 November 3, 2008 1:18 AM EST
I%u2019ve been talking about this for 20+ years, except my vision had the plug at the brain stem, back of your neck. Of course I liked The Matrix except for the fact that Neo was in a chair laying down as if at the dentist. The Brain Computer Interface I envisioned though was for realizing the music that was playing in my head. The Singularity Is Near and this device, though dedicated to neuro-muscular apps, will
play a big role at achieving A.I. This path needs a neuroscientist with a big grant to study apps with FMRIs - Functional Magnetic Resonance Imagers and other such gear.
Two serendipitous realities in this piece: Kathy Hutchinson (my surname) and comment two about patients with MS. My wife and I are both stricken with MS.
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by jheistad November 3, 2008 12:47 AM EST
if anyone has heard of a computer doing this to you, please call 1-262-896-1763 so that we can start a support group for how to deal with this computer. this is a nationwide problem, and i need some assistance.
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