There was a time when NASA Tech Briefs was required reading in every cube farm. Subjects from agriculture to zoology where covered and some times in a light hearted way.

Well now NASA sponsors the “Create the Future Design Contest”. Not only does every entrant get a tee shirt, they can also earn $250 if their entry is one of the most viewed. One of my favorite entries is the WIG (Wireless Impact Guardian).

True it’s a little short on details about the technology but the marketing is solid.

Oh Boy, This is getting really scary. I have not given this much thought, but as I read this article I was hit with a ton of bricks. Pretty soon we will be able to hack ourselves!!!

Liquid polymer neural interface

Here is another one. Guess who could be the rat?

Datajack implant for Rats

Digital processing of rat brain neurons

Are Wiimote hacks a joke compared to what is around the corner? NeuroSky is developing some consumer technology that might lead the way to some intense game control in the near future!

Video after the jump.

“NeuroSky has developed a cost effective bio sensor and signal processing system for the consumer market. Our wearable technology unlocks worlds of new applications such as consumer electronics, health, wellness, education and training.

The neurons that comprise the brain work on electrical impulses. The last century of neurological research has shown us that brainwaves of different wavelengths indicate different emotional states, like a focused awareness, a meditative state, or drowsiness. Brainwaves have been used in medical research and therapy for years. We’re bringing it to the consumer world. ”

Via: Neatorama

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Well I guess I am old fashioned but I don’t want magnets or anything else implanted in my hands right now.

“Body-mod artists Jesse Jarrell and Steve Haworth’s original idea was to implant a magnet to carry metal gadgets. It turns out that doesn’t work: If you try to carry something magnetic on your implant regularly, the pinched skin between the magnets dies and your body rejects the implant. But they came up with a new application when a mutual friend suffered an accident that left a shard of iron in his finger. He worked with audio equipment, and found that he could tell which speakers were magnetized from the sensation that passed through his finger at close range.”

If you are into piercing these new glasses might be for you. Might not be the best for playing sports though, getting hit in the face may open a new world of hurt… “Here’s the step-by-step: * Get pierced - an internally-threaded barbell that goes through the skin above the bridge of your nose * Use a tabletop mill to cut the L-shaped metal pieces that screw onto the barbell * Attach rare earth magnets to the glasses; these hold the glasses on. * Don’t get rid of the bridge pieces; they let the lenses sit on your nose and take the actual weight of the lenses. ”

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Soon the blind will be able to see thanks to bionic eyes!

“A camera on the tip of Robertson’s glasses sends signals to a computer that’s strapped around her waist. The computer then stimulates electrodes in the brain through a cord that attaches to the head. Patients see flashes of light and outlines of objects.”

Jesse Sullivan lost both of his arms in a work related accident. He is now the worlds first real bionic man.

How does it work? “NECAL uses nerve-muscle grafts in amputees to gain added control signals for an artificial arm. Doctors take nerves that used to go to the arm and move those nerves onto chest muscles. The nerves grow into the chest muscles, so when the patient thinks “close hand,” a portion of his chest muscle contracts and electrodes that detect this muscle activity tell the computerized arm when to close the hand. Thus, the patient thinks “close hand” and his artificial hand closes. ”

Take a look at a picture gallery and a video of the arm working.