THE ICT AND THE DISABILITY: Microsoft patents a system to control the computer with the muscles

Microsoft patents a system to control the computer with the muscles

Monday, January 4, 2010

Microsoft has taken another step in the evolution of electronic control devices through the human body itself. The Redmond company has registered with the Patent and Trademark Office U.S. two new projects based on technology used in the electromyography (EMG), through sensors attached to the body, to convert the muscle bioelectrical activity in instructions for the computer.

Technological advances in the detection and prosecution of muscle activity makes it possible for humans to control the interface of electronic devices with body movement, in this case the EMG measures electrical impulses generated by the muscles to move.

To capture these movements use sensors that are placed in the body. One document from Microsoft suggests that the sensors can be placed in either arm or even head and chest of the user. The activity of the muscles are attached where the sensors are measured and immediately transferred to computer information and movements have been made consciously or not.

The Microsoft research team has already managed to give practical application to this project. Users of the popular game from Activision, 'Guitar Hero', will play his favorite topics without the need for a physical instrument, just moving his fingers, 'imitating' the plucking of a guitar, the system finds itself what fret and how intensely it is playing.

This project is still under development, and Microsoft has given no date for its next release or direct application to any of their products though these patents appear to be related to 'Project Natal', the system next Bill Gates' company to control XBOX through the body.