BRAIN COMPUTERS

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Since(1) the nineteen seventies, scientists have been searching(2) for ways to link(3) thebrain(4) with computers. Brain-computer interface, or BCI, technology could(5) help people with disabilities(6)send(7) commands to machines. Recently, scientists demonstrated a small roboticvehicle(8) directed by a person's thoughts(9). The demonstration took place(10) at the Swiss embassy(11) in Washington. Jose Millan and Michele Tavella developed(12) the system. Mr. Tavella can even talk(13) as(14) hewatches(15) the vehicle and guides(16) it with his thoughts. Mr. Tavella is a researcher(17)at the Federal Polytechnic School in Lausanne, Switzerland(18). In the laboratory, he can operate a wheelchair(19) just by thinking about moving his left or right hand. Professor Millan is the team leader(20). He says systems like those(21)being(22) developed in Lausanne and other places may be available(23) in less than(24)ten years. The aim(25) is to give people with physical disabilities new ways to communicate and control devices(26) through (27) brain-machine interfaces.  Our brain has billions of nerve cells(28). These send signals through the spinal cord(29) to the muscles(30) to give us the ability to move. But spinal cord injuries(31) or other conditions can prevent(32) these weak(33) electrical signals from reaching the muscles. The researchers designed(34) a special cap(35) for the user(36). It captures the signals from the scalp(37) and redirect them to a computer. The computer interprets the signals and commands the motorized wheelchair. The wheelchair also(38) has two cameras that identify(39) objects in its path(40). They help the computer react to commands from the brain. Professor Millan says scientists keep improving(41) the computer software that identifies brain signals and turns them into(42) simple commands. He says: "The practical possibilities that brain-machine interfaces offer(43) to disabled people(44) can be grouped in two categories: Communication, and controlling physical devices and virtual devices." One example is the wheelchair. He says his team has set(45) two goals. "First is testing with real patients, so as to(46) demonstrate that this is a feasible(47)technology they can benefit from. And the second aspect of that is to guarantee(48) that they can use the technology over(49) long periods of time. "For VOA Special English, I'm Alex Villareal. You can learn more about the world everyday and learn English at the same time at voaspecialenglish.com. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Twitter at VOA Learning English. Vocabulário 1. Since = desde 2. have been searching = Vêm procurando 3. ways to link = formas de ligar 4. brain = cérebro 5. could = poderia 6. disabilities = incapacidades 7. send = enviar 8. vehicle = veículo 9. thoughts = pensamentos 10. took place = aconteceu 11. Swiss embassy = Embaixada suíça 12. Developed = desenvolveram 13. can even talk = pode até mesmo converser 14. as = enquanto 15. watches = observa 16. guides = guia 17. researcher = pesquisador 18. Switzerland = Suíça (País) 19, Wheelchair = cadeira de rodas 20. team leader = líder de equipe 21. like those = como estes 22. being = sendo 23. may be available = podem estar disponivel 24. less than = menos de 25. aim= objetivo 26. devices = dispositivos 27. through = através de 28. nerve cells = células nervosas 29. spinal cord = medulla espinhal 30. muscles = músculos 31. injuries = ferimentos, lesões 32. prevent = prevenir 33. weak = fraco 34. designed = desenvolveram, projetaram 35. cap = gorro 36. user = usuário 37. scalp = couro cabeludo 38. also = também 39. identify = identifica 40. path = caminho 41. keep improving = continuam melhorando 42. turns them into = transforma-os 43. offer = oferecem 44. disabled people  = pessoas deficientes fisicas 45. has set = tem estabelecido 46. so as to = de forma a 47. feasible = viável, realizável 48. guarantee = garantir 49. over = durante