Brain implant lets man write using thoughts


Watch:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5qozF8a-Gk

A man who cannot move his arms or hands has used his thoughts to write on a computer screen. The man has been paralyzed from the neck down for almost a decade. Scientists from Stanford University in the USA implanted two tiny sensors into the man's brain. The scientists gave this method two names - "brain-to-text" and "mindwriting". The man wanted to remain anonymous, so scientists called him T5.He became paralyzed after suffering a spinal cord injury ten years ago. The implants have allowed T5 to use his mind to write. He can write 90 characters (about 18 words) per minute. This is five words slower than the average person writing a text message on a smartphone.

The mindwriting system is very simple, but it involved a lot of advanced technology. Scientists asked T5 to imagine holding a pen and then writing a sentence on a paper. The sensors in T5's brain detected the activity in his brain as he imagined writing. A computer decoded this activity into text on a screen. The scientists used a special algorithm to do this. Professor Jaimie Henderson, a Stanford University researcher, hopes this research could help millions of paralyzed people, and those who have lost the ability to speak, to write again. He said: "The goal is to restore their ability to communicate by text." This technology may one day help anyone to write at the speed of thought.


3. BRAIN IMPLANTS: Students A strongly believe brain implants will help us download whole languages in the future; Students B strongly believe this is impossible. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. IMPLANTS: How could brain implants help us? What do you think? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How Implants Could Help

Your Thoughts?

Learning English

 

 

Walking disabilities

 

 

Music

 

 

Mental Health

 

 

Peacemaking

 

 

Business

 

 

5. SCREEN: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "screen". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. COMMUNICATION: Rank these with your partner. Put the best ways to communicate at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Face-to-face speech
  • Writing
  • Body language
  • SMS
  • Social media posts
  • Letters
  • Phone calls
  • Mind reading

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1.

paralyzed

a.

Anything about the spine (backbone).

      2.

decade

b.

Very, very small.

      3.

tiny

c.

A period of ten years.

      4.

anonymous

d.

Normal; usual.

      5.

spinal

e.

Of a part of the body that the person cannot move.

      6.

injury

f.

Of a person not identified by name; of unknown name.

      7.

average

g.

An instance of being harmed or damaged.

    Paragraph 2

      8.

involved

h.

A computer program that can calculate things or solve problems.

      9.

sensor

i.

Share or exchange information, news, or ideas.

      10.

detect

j.

Bring something back to the way it was before.

      11.

algorithm

k.

A small machine or device that can measure and record something.

      12.

restore

l.

How fast or slow something is.

      13.

communicate

m.

Having something as a necessary part or result.

      14.

speed

n.

Find whether or not something is there.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The man in the article cannot move his body below his neck.     T / F
  2. Scientists from Yale University in the USA helped the paralyzed man.     T / F
  3. The scientists called their system "mindwriting" and "brain-to-text".     T / F
  4. The man can write about 18 words per minute using his mind.     T / F
  5. The man was able to hold a pen after scientists asked him to.     T / F
  6. A special algorithm was used to translate the man's thoughts into text.    T / F
  7. A scientist hopes the technology will help people who cannot speak.     T / F
  8. The technology might allow us to write at the speed of thought.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. decade
  2. implanted
  3. method
  4. suffering
  5. average
  6. simple
  7. detected
  8. text
  9. ability
  10. help
  1. noticed
  2. procedure
  3. ordinary
  4. assist
  5. 10 years
  6. words
  7. experiencing
  8. capacity
  9. inserted
  10. straightforward

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. A man who cannot
  2. The man has been paralyzed from
  3. The man wants to remain
  4. paralyzed after suffering a
  5. five words slower than the
  6. it involved a lot of advanced
  7. A computer decoded this activity into
  8. scientists used a special
  9. restore their ability to communicate
  10. help anyone to write at the speed
  1. spinal cord injury
  2. average person
  3. by text
  4. text on a screen
  5. the neck down
  6. of thought
  7. move his arms or hands
  8. technology
  9. anonymous
  10. algorithm to do this

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

method
injury
thoughts
message
tiny
characters
neck
remain

A man who cannot move his arms or hands has used his (1) _____________________ to write on a computer screen. The man has been paralyzed from the (2) _____________________ down for almost a decade. Scientists from Stanford University in the USA implanted two (3) _____________________ sensors into the man's brain. The scientists gave this (4) _____________________ two names - "brain-to-text" and "mindwriting". The man wants to (5) _____________________ anonymous, so scientists have called him T5. He became paralyzed after suffering a spinal cord (6) _____________________ ten years ago. The implants have allowed T5 to use his mind to write. He can write 90 (7) _____________________ (about 18 words) per minute. This is five words slower than the average person writing a text (8) _____________________ on a smartphone.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

this
millions
simple
speed
detected
goal
imagine
algorithm

The mindwriting system is very (9) _____________________, but it involved a lot of advanced technology. Scientists asked T5 to (10) _____________________ holding a pen and then writing a sentence on a paper. The sensors in T5's brain (11) _____________________ the activity in his brain as he imagined writing. A computer decoded (12) _____________________ activity into text on a screen. The scientists used a special (13) _____________________ to do this. Professor Jaimie Henderson, a Stanford University researcher, hopes this research could help (14) _____________________ of paralyzed people, and those who have lost the ability to speak, to write again. He said: "The (15) _____________________ is to restore their ability to communicate by text." This technology may one day help anyone to write at the (16) _____________________ of thought.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) A man who cannot move his arms or hands has used his ______
     a.  thoughts too write
     b.  thoughts to writhe
     c.  thoughts too writhe
     d.  thoughts to write
2)  The man has been paralyzed from ______
     a.  the neck dawn
     b.  the neck down
     c.  the neck drown
     d.  the neck drone
3)  and "mindwriting". The man wants to remain ______
     a.  anonymously, sew
     b.  anonymous, sow
     c.  anonymous, so
     d.  anonymously, saw
4)  The implants have allowed T5 to use his ______
     a.  mound to write
     b.  remind to write
     c.  minder to write
     d.  mind to write
5)  about 18 words) per minute. This is five words slower than ______
     a.  the averaged person
     b.  the average person
     c.  the averages person
     d.  the averaging person

6)  The mindwriting system is very simple, but it involved a lot ______
     a.  of advantage technology
     b.  of advances technology
     c.  of advance technology
     d.  of advanced technology
7)  The sensors in T5's brain detected the activity in his brain as ______
     a.  he imagine it writing
     b.  he imagines writing
     c.  he imagine writing
     d.  he imagined writing
8)  researcher, hopes this research could help millions ______
     a.  of paralegal people
     b.  of paralysis people
     c.  of paralyze people
     d.  of paralyzed people
9)  He said: "The goal is to restore their ability to ______
     a.  communicate by text
     b.  communicate by test
     c.  communicate by tux
     d.  communicate by texture
10)  This technology may one day help anyone to write at the ______
     a.  sped of thought
     b.  speed of thought
     c.  speedy of thought
     d.  spud of thought

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A man who cannot move (1) ____________________ hands has used his thoughts to write on a computer screen. The man has (2) ____________________ the neck down for almost a decade. Scientists from Stanford University in the USA implanted (3) ____________________ into the man's brain. The scientists gave this method two names - "brain-to-text" and "mindwriting". The man wants (4) ____________________, so scientists have called him T5. He became paralyzed after suffering a spinal cord injury ten years ago. The implants have allowed T5 to use his (5) ____________________. He can write 90 characters (about 18 words) per minute. This is five words slower than (6) ____________________ writing a text message on a smartphone.

The mindwriting system (7) ____________________, but it involved a lot of advanced technology. Scientists asked T5 to imagine holding a pen and then (8) ____________________ on a paper. The sensors in T5's brain detected the activity in his brain as he imagined writing. A computer decoded this activity into (9) ____________________ screen. The scientists used a special algorithm to do this. Professor Jaimie Henderson, a Stanford University researcher, (10) ____________________ could help millions of paralyzed people, and those who have lost the (11) ____________________, to write again. He said: "The goal is to restore their ability to communicate by text." This technology may one day help anyone to write at the (12) ____________________.

Comprehension questions

  1. For how long has the man been paralyzed?
  2. How many sensors did scientists implant into the man's brain?
  3. What did scientists call their method besides "brain-to-text"?
  4. What did scientists nickname the man?
  5. How many words per minute can the man write with his mind?
  6. What does the article say the mindwriting system involves a lot of?
  7. What detected activity in the man's brain?
  8. What special thing did the scientists use to decode the man's thoughts?
  9. Who else could the technology help besides paralyzed people?
  10. How fast could we be able to write in the future?

Multiple choice quiz

1) For how long has the man been paralyzed?
a) over 10 years
b) almost a decade
c) exactly a decade
d) just fewer than 10 years
2) How many sensors did scientists implant into the man's brain?
a) 5
b) 4
c) 3
d) 2
3) What did scientists call their method besides "brain-to-text"?
a) mindwriting
b) writingmind
c) brainwriting
d) writingbrain
4) What did scientists nickname the man?
a) S5
b) T4
c) T5
d) P4
5) How many words per minute can the man write with his mind?
a) about 90
b) about 18
c) about 5
d) millions

6) What does the article say the mindwriting system involves a lot of?
a) hard work
b) sentences
c) advanced technology
d) paragraphs
7) What detected activity in the man's brain?
a) a dictionary
b) brain cells
c) a scanner
d) sensors
8) What special thing did the scientists use to decode the man's thoughts?
a) an algorithm
b) a smartphone
c) a pen
d) a dictionary
9) Who else could the technology help besides paralyzed people?
a) people who cannot speak
b) doctors
c) scientists
d) researchers
10) How fast could we be able to write in the future?
a) pretty fast
b) the speed of thought
c) as slow as a snail
d) as fast as a cheetah

Role play

Role  A – Body Language
You think body language is the best form of communication. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): phone calls, writing letters or SMS texts.

Role  B – Phone Calls
You think phone calls are the best form of communication. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): body language, writing letters or SMS texts.

Role  C – Writing Letters
You think writing letters is the best form of communication. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): phone calls, body language or SMS texts.

Role  D – SMS Texts
You think SMS texts are the best form of communication. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): phone calls, writing letters or body language.

Discussion - Brain Implants

  1. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'brain'?
  2. What do you think of the brain?
  3. What do you know about brain implants?
  4. What do you think of putting sensors in the brain?
  5. How will technology be able to help people who are paralyzed?
  6. What do you think of brain-to-text technology?
  7. What do you think of writing messages on smartphones?
  8. Are there any dangers with brain implants?
  9. What advice do you have for T5?
  1. What do you think of when you hear the word 'implant'?
  2. What do you think about what you read?
  3. What do you think of the idea of 'mindwriting'?
  4. What advanced technology do you like?
  5. What do you think of brain implants allowing us to learn languages?
  6. Might brain implants mean governments could control us?
  7. What would change if we could write at the speed of thought?
  8. What do you think of never needing to use a pen again?
  9. What questions would you like to ask the scientists?

Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

A man who cannot (1) ____ his arms or hands has used his thoughts to write on a computer screen. The man has been paralyzed from the neck (2) ____ for almost a decade. Scientists from Stanford University in the USA implanted two (3) ____ sensors into the man's brain. The scientists gave this method two names - "brain-to-text" and "mindwriting". The man wants to (4) ____ anonymous, so scientists have called him T5. He became paralyzed after (5) ____ a spinal cord injury ten years ago. The implants have allowed T5 to use his mind to write. He can write 90 characters (about 18 words) per minute. This is five words slower than the (6) ____ person writing a text message on a smartphone.

The mindwriting system is very simple, but it involved a lot of advanced technology. Scientists asked T5 to imagine (7) ____ a pen and then writing a sentence on a paper. The sensors in T5's brain detected the activity in his brain (8) ____ he imagined writing. A computer decoded this activity into text on a screen. The scientists used a special algorithm to do (9) ____. Professor Jaimie Henderson, a Stanford University researcher, hopes this research could help millions of paralyzed people, and those who have (10) ____ the ability to speak, to write again. He said: "The goal is to restore their ability to communicate (11) ____ text." This technology may one day help anyone to write at the (12) ____ of thought.

Which of these words go in the above text?

  1. (a)     move     (b)     movement     (c)     moves     (d)     moving    
  2. (a)     previous     (b)     below     (c)     down     (d)     before    
  3. (a)     tinny     (b)     tinted     (c)     tiny     (d)     tainted    
  4. (a)     lively     (b)     still     (c)     exist     (d)     remain    
  5. (a)     suffering     (b)     surfing     (c)     sufficing     (d)     sifting    
  6. (a)     usually     (b)     average     (c)     mean     (d)     median    
  7. (a)     penning     (b)     imagining     (c)     writing     (d)     holding    
  8. (a)     was     (b)     as     (c)     'twas     (d)     has    
  9. (a)     them     (b)     those     (c)     this     (d)     these    
  10. (a)     strayed     (b)     failed     (c)     mislaid     (d)     lost    
  11. (a)     on     (b)     as     (c)     of     (d)     by    
  12. (a)     momentum     (b)     speed     (c)     fast     (d)     briskness

Spelling

Paragraph 1

  1. aeplydrza from the neck down
  2. for almost a ecdead
  3. The man wants to remain onauoynsm
  4. after suffering a spinal cord uirynj
  5. slower than the vareega person
  6. writing a text ssaemeg

Paragraph 2

  1. it ivnlvdeo a lot of advanced technology
  2. writing a cneetens on a paper
  3. sensors in T5's brain tedcedet the activity
  4. The scientists used a special holrgitam
  5. The goal is to seerrot their ability
  6. cntuecmaimo by text

 

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