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Mind over Machine
02 June 2013

Mind over Machine

Right now you are reading from a computer screen. How did you control your computer to browse the internet – click on a link, scroll the page? Perhaps you used a mouse, a keyboard, a stylus or even your finger. Without hands how could you accomplish the same tasks? Human-machine interfaces (HMIs) are often designed to help patients with severe difficulties in mobility or communication. They use novel ways to turn actions or even thoughts into signals – anything from imagining a specific pattern of movement to voice control – to control a machine. The HMI pictured uses surface electromyography to sense muscle activity produced from specific vowel sounds. Used to perhaps move a wheelchair or click a mouse, this system is less invasive than other HMIs and is easy to learn. It could also enable users to multitask in ways many of us take for granted everyday.

Written by Mary-Clare Hallsworth

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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