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CYBORG ODYSSEY 159

device had been connected wrong. Finally, the array was successfully
implanted. Warwick’s arm was sewed up.

Cyborg Experiments

Warwick had to wait nearly two weeks until they would know
whether the implant was properly connected to the nerve. When
the researchers checked each channel for nerve signals, they found
to their relief that 20 of the electrodes were picking up Warwick’s
nerve signals. During the following two weeks, they painstakingly
had Warwick perform various finger movements in order to deter-
mine which muscles were associated with particular nerve signals.
This work was difficult because often one muscle turned out to
involve several overlapping signals. Warwick now had at least the
capability to become a sort of cyborg. But what could he actually
do? Meanwhile, the media had picked up the story, both in Britain
and the United States, though reporters were not sure what the story
was all about.
The next logical step was to see whether particular nerve signals
from Warwick could be interfaced with devices in the external
world. Researchers created an interface unit that translated nerve
signals to data signals that could be interpreted by computerized
devices. Warwick was eventually able to control computer displays
with simple finger movements. More significantly, he demonstrated
that he could drive and steer an electric wheelchair with tiny move-
ments, a feat that could have very practical implications for severely
paralyzed persons.
Another interesting demonstration involved Warwick controlling
an articulated robotic hand, built by Peter Kyberd, using only hand
movements. When Warwick made a fist, the signals traveled over
the Internet to the hand, which also made a fist. This direct neural
remote control opened many exciting possibilities. For example,
someday a surgeon might be able to perform operations remotely
by connecting his or her hand to a robotic hand. Perhaps even more
usefully, nerve signals arriving at an amputee’s stump could be
directly related to a prosthetic robotic arm or leg, which would truly
respond and feel like the real thing!