US Army Invests in 'Thought Helmet' Technology for Voiceless Communication

US Army Invests in 'Thought Helmet' Technology for Voiceless Communication:

The US Army has recently awarded a five-year $4 million contract to researchers from the University of California at Irvine (led by UCI's Mike D'Zmura), Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of Maryland to study the concept. It will likely be a decade or two before the thought helmet becomes a reality, but the rough technology is already under investigation. Researchers have been working on other brain-computer interfaces, such as Emotiv Systems' brain-wave headset for video games, which is expected to be available commercially next summer.

The Army's version would of course be more sophisticated and reliable than the gaming headset. To make the thought helmet a feasible piece of equipment for soldiers, scientists need to combine advances in computing power together with our understanding of the human brain.

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