Japan eyes 'mind-reading' devices, robots by 2020: report

Nikkei said the initiative to develop these devices would be a partnership between the government and the private sector
An engineer uses a device that detects brain activity patterns to communicate with a computer at the CeBIT trade fair in Hanover in 2008. Japan plans to develop "mind-reading" robots and consumer electronics that can be controlled by thought alone and hopes to market them within a decade, the Nikkei daily has reported.

Japan plans to develop "mind-reading" robots and consumer electronics that can be controlled by thought alone and hopes to market them within a decade, the Nikkei daily reported Thursday.

The sci-fi like devices would employ so-called brain-machine interface technology, which analyses users' and brain blood-flow patterns detected through sensor-mounted headsets.

The envisaged devices would include television sets that can be operated without lifting a finger and mobile phones that send text messages composed purely through thought, the business daily said.

The initiative, to be launched this fiscal year, is a partnership between the government and the private sector, the report said, citing unnamed communications ministry sources.

Other applications could include a that searches for restaurants when the driver thinks of having a meal, and air-conditioners that adjust the temperature when people in the room feel too warm or cold.

They could also include robots that know when an elderly or physically disabled person needs help carrying a heavy load, the Nikkei said.

The project would likely include corporate giants including Toyota, Honda and Hitachi as well as the National Institute of Information and , Osaka University and the Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International, the report said.

(c) 2010 AFP

Citation: Japan eyes 'mind-reading' devices, robots by 2020: report (2010, April 22) retrieved 19 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2010-04-japan-eyes-mind-reading-devices-robots.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Japan, China may jointly develop mobile network

0 shares

Feedback to editors