Monkeys can rewrite Shakespeare plays on typewriters thanks to the new 'brain induction' technology

Just using memory reading technology, monkeys were able to rewrite Shakespear 's immortal works.

People do not believe that a monkey can use a typewriter to type a few lines, let alone beat the entire poet's classic work - playwright William Shakespeare. That seemingly never possible story was realized by a strange experiment using a device called " brain touch interface ".

Currently, scientists can combine monkeys, humans and typewriters together to conduct research. This is not a randomized study, but pioneering steps in translating the thoughts of others and writing the text - with signals that read the brain and transforming them into motions through the click of the table. key.

This technology is researched by scientists at Stanford University, which mainly studies reading the minds of others. The team tested experiments with a group of monkeys - monkeys that could type typewriters at a rate of 12 words per minute.

" Our results demonstrate that this interface promises great success for human use. This technology helps monkeys to type enough of the meaning of the conversation " - Paul Nuyujukian - a member of the research team said.

The monkeys participating in this study did not " learn " anything about English but could still create the selected words. Monkeys are trained to retype words that correspond to what they see on the screen. In addition to retyping a piece in Shakespeare's Hamlet , they also copied a part on The New York Times .

Meanwhile, using similar proven technologies, Stanford University researchers say the new system will operate faster and more accurately than any existing system. Now, that's why typing speed is so important.

The increase in speed is mainly from the advancements in thinking switching algorithms to action. To accomplish this task, monkeys were implanted electrodes into the brain to record nerve signals. But this search system is not entirely just letters or words - it also replaces the part of the brain that controls movements by hand like moving a computer mouse.

By thinking about the requirements to move the mouse in front of a computer screen, direct technology translates thoughts into the gesture of the mouse pointer on the screen, so it will click each letter one by one.

In addition to some auto-correction features, like on smartphones, scientists say even the system can perform operations faster.

The brain sensor has a number of advantages over the technology of eye movement: it does not cause fatigue to the user and will be more realistic when they cannot regularly control the movements of the face. and eyes.

This technology system can also work for a long time. The monkeys involved in this test have been transplanted to control the brain created in the last few years and researchers say there are noticeable differences in brain activity and side effects. desire.

" Our system is exactly what people will use. It is never possible to calculate how fast the typewriting speed has fallen into the past, " Nuyujukian said.

In 2011, a group of monkeys completed rewriting Shakespeare's Hamlet. Although they are only virtual monkeys, they have been programmed using algorithms to work as hard as a real typist. These monkey software can type the text randomly.

This interface system can greatly assist people who are having difficulty typing or speaking. We will not have to wait for the feasibility of this system for too long, because a participatory clinical trial is underway.

These findings are published on the Proceedings of the IEEE page.