Brain-Computer Interfaces: A Gentle Introduction

Stardate 3012.4: The U.S.S. Enterprise has been diverted from its original course to meet its former captain Christopher Pike on Starbase 11. When Captain Jim Kirk and his crew arrive, they find out that Captain Pike has been severely crippled by a radiation accident. As a consequence of this accident Captain Pike is completely paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair controlled by his brain waves. He can only communicate through a light integrated into his wheelchair to signal the answers “yes” or “no”. Commodore Mendez, the commander of Starbase 11, describes the condition of Captain Pike as follows: “He is totally unable to move, Jim. His wheelchair is constructed to respond to his brain waves. He can turn it, move it forwards, backwards slightly. Through a flashing light he can say ‘yes’ or ‘no’. But that’s it, Jim. That is as much as the poor ever can do. His mind is as active as yours and mine, but it’s trapped in a useless vegetating body. He’s kept alive mechanically. A battery driven heart. …”

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