Stephen Hawking’s Brain Hacking

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Stephen Hawking has been considered as highly reputed and remarkable scientist of the world. Not only because of the theories he has presented on physics, but because of the motor neuron disorder he suffers from. Hawking lost his ability to communicate nearly 30 years ago and since then has been dependent on a computer as a means to communicate.

However, as his condition worsens he might lose that ability. Therefore, Hawking along with other scientists has been working at Stanford University to develop a new device known as the iBrain. The tool will actually help in picking up brain waves directly from the mind of modern scientific genius and will communicate them via a computer.

Professor Phillip Low who is the inventor of iBrain said: "We'd like to find a way to bypass his body, pretty much hack his brain." The latest technology and its use will be unveiled at a conference in Cambridge next month. It is anticipated that with greater innovation in the technology the device will be able to recognize more sophisticated brain activity and translate it into words.

Scientists also believe that iBrain will prove beneficial in the process of mind reading which will undoubtedly be a medical breakthrough. According to Dr Low, "The emergence of such biomarkers opens the possibility to link intended movements to a library of words and convert them into speech, thus providing motor neurons sufferers with communication tools more dependent on the brain than on the body."

With the field of medical science taking its first step towards personalized medicine, it is expected that iBrain will also have numerous potential medical applications, such as helping doctors in prescribing correct levels of medication and could also be applied to the treatment of sleep disorders, autism and depression.