New Scientist describes a new kind of of neural interface that enables people with disabilities to steer a wheelchair via a vibrating belt. The user determines the direction to steer by mentally responding to the location of the vibration. From the article:
The researchers placed 12 phone vibrators, positioned like the numbers on a clock, on a belt worn around the wheelchair user’s waist. These vibrate sequentially for 3 seconds each. If they wearer wants to go, say, in a 4 o’clock direction, they wait until the appropriate “tactor” vibrates and then think “that one”.
It’s an innovative way of providing more precise steering that goes beyond the cardinal directions of forward, backward, left, and right. And the belt’s location could be adjusted for those who lack sensation in their waist or abdomen. It could also make the task of driving a wheelchair a lot more, er, pleasurable.
And possibly embarrassing for men…