Now, think-dial to make phone calls

Friday, 15 April 2011, 06:22 IST
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London: Many find the act of dialing a mobile number too tedious and time consuming. US researchers have now figured out a way that relies on thought power alone to make such calls without lifting a finger. Users wear a specially designed headband hooked up to a Bluetooth device that wirelessly sends commands to a Nokia N73 mobile phone. The technology works by responding to cues from the brain and experts believe anyone with training will be able to master the technique, the Daily Mail reports. Tzyy-Ping Jung at the Swartz Centre for Computational Neuroscience at the University of California, San Diego, said the device relies on electroencephalogram (EEG) electrodes on the scalp to work out what the brain is trying to say. Jung believes it could be 100 percent accurate with just a bit of training. The breakthrough is likely to create safer hands-free mobile phones to help the disabled and elderly and help out professionals in high pressured working environments. Those used in the initial experiments were between 70 percent to 85 percent accurate when trying to dial a 10-digit phone number. Thought powered computers have been around for a while, however this is the first time it has been adapted for mobile phones.
Source: IANS