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Page 2 of 5 Two years ago, a quadriplegic man started playing video games only using his brain as a controller. Matthew Nagle, 26, has been the subject of study by scientists at Brown University and three other institutions, in collaboration with Cyberkinetics Neurotechnology Systems. As much as it just sounds like fun, it may mean the beginning of a new wave of technology for television, radio, and the Internet. And this includes Internet search. He was hooked up to a computer by way of a tiny implant, smaller than a dime, that sits on top of the brain to read the electrical signals and patterns there. Then a computer program translates the brain waves it reads into computer movement. According to the research, which was published in the British science journal Nature, Nagle learned to use the technology to literally control a computer with his mind. This technology is improving rapidly, and is being tried by many companies for various reasons. In 2005, Sony raced to patent a game system that transmits data directly into the brain wirelessly and without implants. It uses an ultrasonic pulse to create such sensory experiences as images, sounds, and even smells. Currently, Google is already combining satellite maps and 3-D software with its Google Earth program. Without a good graphics card, you can forget about experiencing the real Google Earth. Currently, virtual worlds may only be viewed socially as a gamer’s experience, but virtual technology isn’t just for gaming. There are global real estate agencies that offer virtual tours, security systems, and even some forms of exploratory surgery that fall into the real of virtual reality.
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