There are various machines in clinics and laboratories that can read our brain waves. They help with medical diagnosis.

 

The technology that led to the cavity magnetron was invented around 1920. Later, in 1940, British scientists found the magnetron design that could pump out microwave energy. In 1947, they discovered that the magnetron was also useful in microwaves to warm up food in the kitchen.

 

Now, technology takes different phases. With the help of non-invasive tools, like functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), medical experts can now measure changes to the brain without splitting the skull open. However, the accessibility of these machines is starting to pose a problem. It will be unsafe for everyone to want to carry out a brain scan.

 

 

A technological revolution

A brain-machine invented in Toronto called InteraXon is revolutionising things. It produced an easy to use electroencephalogram (EEG) device and software that can measure brain waves. They later built thought-controlled games in 2010. Users could control their games with headbands.

 

Then in 2014, they produced a headband that can pair with a mobile phone app to help users meditate. The device uses brain waves to determine the state of a person’s mind. It then gets calls their attention back to the meditation once it detects the user’s mind starting to drift.

 

But now, it looks like the EEG technology may leave the hospitals and be sold by retailers for somewhat trivial reasons. It is supposedly being diverted from its use for serious medical issues like detection of epilepsy and other sleep disorders.

 

 

Founded now in the United States is the Centre for Responsible Brainwave Technology. This is in a bid to create standards that will ensure the safe use of the technology. It also ensures proper documentation of the user’s data to avoid it going public.

 

Silicon Valley engineer Mary Lou Jepsen recently founded Openwater. The start-up is building a device that will use skull-penetrating infrared light to measure blood flow. She intends for the technology to be an affordable substitute for fMRI. The device will diagnose brain injuries and neuro diseases.