Control with the mind

The idea is old, the advances are new.

The idea of ​​controlling machines with thought has already been around the imagination of many, but you should know that this is already happening and in real time, because researchers at Saint's University in China are developing systems capable of translating brain signals directly into commands for computers and physical devices without touches, without voice, without movement, just neural activity converted into action.

The technology behind this is known as brain-computer interface and in this case it works non-invasively, instead of implants, researchers use portable devices such as electroencephalogram bands that capture electrical signals from the brain from the surface of the head, those signals are interpreted by artificial intelligence algorithms that identify patterns associated with specific intentions.

The results are already concrete, during a demonstration, a user managed to control a wheelchair solely with mental commands, moving forward and turning without any physical interaction, but that is only part of the system, the same devices can also monitor mental states in real time such as attention levels.

In one of the tests, the technology instantly detected when the user lost focus, showing that it is not only about controlling machines, but also about continuously interpreting the mind. This opens up a huge field of possibilities, mainly in the area of ​​health, patients with physical limitations could regain autonomy, controlling devices, moving or interacting with the environment without depending on the body, but the objective is not only to compensate for limitations, it is to expand the way in which the mind interacts with the world.

That is the most important point, because this technology does not seek to replace human skills, but rather to create a new interface, a new form of communication between brain and machine, of course, there are still challenges. It is basically the beginning of this technology, bringing this type of laboratory system to everyday use requires precision, security and reliability and much higher levels, but the direction is already defined. The mind stopped being just the source of thoughts and began to become a direct channel of control.

I just can't assure you if we will be the ones controlling the machines or if they will be the ones controlling us, if they no longer do so through algorithms that influence everything we do, but leaving aside my paranoias, it is clear that it is not only about connecting the brain to the machines, but about starting to use the brain itself as a machine.