We are delighted to welcome Professor Paul Curson at this years Coventry Christmas Lecture, supported by BCS, IET and the IMA. It takes place on the 7th of December at 7pm, at Coventry University. Refreshments from 6.30pm, buffet afterwards. Places are free, but booking is essential: https://coventrychristmas2016.eventbrite.co.uk
Abstract:
One of the worst medical conditions imaginable is locked-in syndrome. It leaves you totally paralyzed except perhaps for the blink of an eye. Your intelligent mind is locked inside a useless body, able to sense everything but unable to communicate. It could happen to anyone, out of the blue, as a result of a stroke. If you wanted to help people with locked-in syndrome, the obvious thing might be to become a doctor or nurse, but how could a computer scientist help?
‘The Diving Bell and the Butterfly’ is an incredibly uplifting book. It’s the autobiography of Jean-Dominique Bauby, written after he woke up in a hospital bed totally paralysed. In the book, he describes life with locked-in syndrome. He did have a way to communicate not only to write the book but also with medics, friends and family. He did it without any technology at all. How?