By now, you’re probably tired of seeing yet another entry devoted to brain-machine interfaces and all the fun things you can do with them. But this is my blog and I can post whatever I bloody well please, so here’s a story about a kid who was able to play Space Invaders with his brain. The article doesn’t mention whether this technology is compatible with Asteroids or Centipede.
I actually have a fond association with Space Invaders. Way back in 1981, I had just had spinal fusion surgery and was experiencing some painful post-op sciatica; painful enough to make it difficult to sit up in my wheelchair. In an effort to distract me from the pain, I was brought to rec room that had one of those newfangled Atari systems. My dad and I started playing Space Invaders and before I knew it, I had been sitting up in my chair for two or three hours straight.
I find it a little disquieting to realize I haven’t changed much since then.
small world. I had spinal fusion in ’82. which reminds me of my “I met a famous football player, and didn’t even know he was a famous football player”story.
I had my spinal surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery.It’s in Manhattan. It’s where all the famous athletes and movie stars go. (that didn’t sound too snobbish, did it?)
so, the day before the surgery , I was in the solarium and there sitting, is a curly-haired ,sexy momma.
so, he’s talking, I’m talking, basically we are talking.
I’m telling him about my upcoming spinal surgery. and he’s telling me he had knee surgery.
(flash to 2 days later, after spinal surgery).
I’m in bed , doped out on morphine. and in walks the same curly-haired, sexy momma holding 20 beautiful balloons attached to a 20 lb. bag of jelly beans. ( I was eating jellybeans for a year. and loving everyone of them.)
so, it turns out to be famous, football player, Rob Carpenter , (the one from the ’80’s, not to be confused with the one from the ’90s.) boy, he was a hottie.
the thing I remember most about the surgery is :
1) the traction before the surgery (had to be in traction for a week.)
2) and the body cast I had to wear for 6 months afterwards.
I’m lucky though, I’m 36 and (knock on wood) I have never ran into problems with my back.
oh, and who didn’t have an Atari 2600 back in ’81? It was better than Ovaltine, for it’s time.