Hitachi-led group develops communication device for paralyzed
Saturday, November 25, 2006 at 06:52 EST



TOKYO — A group led by a Hitachi Ltd researcher said Saturday it has developed a communication device for people suffering from severe paralysis due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The device named "Kokoro gatari" (mind talk) allows ALS sufferers to communicate "yes" and "no" by measuring changes in their cerebral blood flow, the group said.

Hitachi researcher Kuniaki Ozawa, 59, said he focused on the fact that cerebral blood flow increases when people intentionally think about something. He asked patients to do calculations, for example, when they want to express "yes," and relax their thoughts when they want to express "no," to measure the blood flow through a headband sensor.

http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/391488

9/26/2005
Brain with a bang — Japanese “mind-teller” machine

Kokoro-gatari (心 がたり) could be read in Japanese to mean “brain with a bang.”
Judging from the face of Mr. Happy below, it looks like the Japanese thought police may have a new toy with this “mind-teller”.


TOKYO, JAPAN: …an optical sensor on his forehead to measure the blood flow rate in the brain as Hitachi developped an input device “Kokoro-gatari”, means “mind-teller” ….
….The device has been developed for ALS patients to express their intentions as the PC displays “yes” or “no” on the screen, when a patient is asked a question of “yes” or “no”, relaying what’s on the patient’s mind.

It turns out that Kokoro-gatari is just a renamed version of “Den-no-Shin” which used to sell for 500,000 yen ($4,700). The PR department must be getting desperate trying to sell this overpriced product with just a new-n-crappier name.

UPDATE:
Hitachi Begins Shipping Latest User-Friendly ALS Communications Device

Tokyo (JCN) Nov 8, 2005—-Hitachi announced on November 7 that its Ubiquitous Platform Systems Group has commercialized an improved version of Den-no-Shin, its proprietary device to facilitate communications for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients.
Improvements have been made to the screen and e-mail functionality, and the laptop device also delivers improved usability.
The latest model will be available from Hitachi Keiyo Engineering & Systems on November 8. One system sells for 2,500,000 yen ($21,500). Hitachi has to date shipped 3,000 ALS communications devices.

By Aki Tsukioka, JCN Staff Writer

========
contact Hitachi directly about the “Kokoro gatari” device at:

Hitachi Keiyo Engineering & Systems, Ltd.
Headquarters 7-1-1 Higashi Narashino, Narashino City, Chiba 275-0001, JAPAN
Telephone +81-47-477-3111
Homepage www.hke.co.jp/

Communication aid for paralysed
BBC NEWS Saturday, 1 October 2005, 23:06 GMT 00:06 UK

Headband allows severely paralysed patients to communicate by controlling blood flow through the brain
Category: Neurology/Neuroscience News
Article Date: 02 Oct 2005


HITACHI TECHNOLOGY 2002-2003
… ALS Patient— Communication
Equipment Patient-communication equipment and change in blood volume External …
http://news.3yen.com/2005-09-26/japa...eller-machine/

It would be better than being completely locked in. But yes and no is very limited.Hoping the brain implant would work better for people who lose the capacity to type.still for those with no eye movement or ability to use a switch it has to be better than no communication.
Wonder what the improved functions are the article said e-mail capacity. But is it still limited to yes and no? Lisa