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Video: Woman controls robotic arm with her mind

After being diagnosed with a degenerative brain disorder and becoming paralyzed, she was able to feed herself with the arm

By Chris Wickham
Stuff.co.nz

PITTSBURGH — A paralysed woman has been able to feed herself chocolate and move everyday items using a robotic arm directly controlled by thought, showing a level of agility and control approaching that of a human limb.

Jan Scheuermann, 53, from Pittsburgh, was diagnosed with a degenerative brain disorder 13 years ago and is paralysed from the neck down.

“It’s so cool,” said Scheuermann during a news conference. “I’m moving things. I have not moved things for about 10 years... It’s not a matter of thinking which direction anymore it’s just a matter of thinking ‘I want to do that’.”

Full story: Robotic arm controlled by the mind