Since the 1970s, scientists have been searching for ways to connect the brain with computers. Braincomputer interface(BCI) technology could help people with disabilities send commands to machines. Recently, two scientists, Jose Millan and Michele Tavella from the Federal Polytehnic School in Lausanne, Switzerland, show a small robotic wheelchair directed by a person's thoughts. In the laboratory, Tavella operated the wheelchair just by thinking about moving his left or right hand. He could even talk as he watched the vehicle and guided it with his thoughts. "Our brain has billions of body cells . These send signals through the spinal cord to the body part to give us the ability to move. But spinal cord injuries or other conditions can prevent these weak electrical signals from reaching the body part." Tavella says. "Our system allows disabled people to communicate with outer world and also to control machines." The scientists designed a special cap for the user. This head cover picks up the signals from the scalp and sends them to a computer. The computer finds meanings of the signals and commands the wheelchair with an engine. The wheelchair also has two cameras that tell objects in its path. They help the computer react to commands from the brain. Prof. Millan , the team leader, says scientists keep improving the computer software that finds meanings of brain signals and turns them into simple commands." The practical possibilities that BCI technology offers to disabled people can be grouped in two kinds: communication, and controlling objects. One example is this wheelchair." He says his team has set two goals. One is testing with real patients, so as to prove that this is a technology they can get advantages from. And the other is sure that they can use the technology for long.
Scientists have been searching since what year?
To find what?
Which technology could help people with disabilities?
Jose Milan and Michele Tavella are from what school?
Located in?
A small robotic what can be directed by a person's thoughts?
Where did Tavella test it?
He could even do what as he watched the vehicle?
Our brain has billions of what?
That send signals through what?
To give the ability to what?
What can prevent electrical signals?
Scientists designed a special what?
Which picks up what?
Then sends them to?
Which finds meanings of what?
The wheelchair also has how many cameras?
Which do what?
What two groups of technology  can BCI technology offer?
How many goals have been set?
The first goal is?
The second goal is?
the 1970s
 the 1970s
how to connect brain to computers
connect the brain with computers
Braincomputer interface
Braincomputer interface(BCI) technology
Federal Polytehnic School
 Federal Polytehnic School in Lausanne, Switzerland
Lausanne, Switzerland
Lausanne, Switzerland
wheelchair
 wheelchair
with real patients
with real patients
talk
 talk
body cells
body cells
the spinal cord
the spinal cord
move
 move
spinal cord injuries
spinal cord injuries
cap
cap
signals from the scalp
ignals from the scalp
a computer
a computer
the signals
 the signals
two
two
help the computer
help the compute
communication, and controlling objects
communication, and controlling objects
two
two
testing with real patients
testing with real patients
ensure that they can use the technology for long periods of time
sure that they can use the technology for long