Using a specially designed skull cap fitted with electrodes, scientists are now able to control a computer, and write characters onto the screen.
As Dr. Brunner concentrates on the "B" of "bonjour" in a keyboard-like grid of letters and symbols taking up half the screen, a computer randomly highlights lines of characters in rapid succession.
Each time the row -- vertical or horizontal -- containing the letter "B" is illuminated, Brunner"s brain emits a slightly stronger signal. It takes the computer about 15 seconds to figure out what letter he is looking at. The system is doubly adaptive, with both the software and the person using it becoming more efficient over time.