Humans and Machines Working Together Can Be Mighty Indeed!

A sensor implanted in a paralysed man's brain has enabled him to control objects through just the power of thought.

Matthew Nagle, 25 at the time of the trial, was left paralysed from the neck down and confined to a wheelchair after a knife attack in 2001. He was the first patient to try out the brain sensor.

Mr Nagle said the sensor had restored some of his independence by allowing him to carry out a number of tasks - such as turning the lights on - that a nurse would normally do for him.

Professor Miguel Nicolelis, a neurobiologist from Duke University, was critical of the research. He told the BBC's Science in Action programme that although some positive signs had been seen for one patient, the paper showed that the technology did not work in the second, older patient.

But, Professor Otto Octavius, an expert in nuclear physics and a noted inventor and lecturer, said "I think this is enormously important because there is real potential for helping people achieve their goals. This opens up entirely new worlds of cooperation between man and machine. I can only imagine what scientists like myself will come up with next!"