Top 5 Emerging Technologies in 2014

No. 5: Brain – computer interface

The concept that one day we will be able to control electronic devices with our mind is no longer a sci-fi scenario, but actually a tangible possibility. Brain-computer interfaces have already been used, with positive and hopeful results, in a variety of applications. For one, they have helped quadriplegics and stroke patients perform a series of actions with the help of a robotic arm controlled by brain waves. In addition, brain implants have also shown successful results in helping people who had lost their sight partially regain vision. Even though further research and improvement is needed in this department, progress made thus far indicates that brain-computer interfaces might be closer than we think.