I noticed you mentioned "thought based interfaces", and I thought I'd just post this:
Its not 100 years off, its actually probably more like 20 (if the field gets attention). I have old sci fi magazines from *1970* that advertise mini EEG (or is it EKG, i can't remember) machines for $10.
You might think monitoring electrical brain activity and actual thoughts are miles apart - well, yes and no. You'd probably never be able to dictate to your PC from your mind. The most you could probably get is something like a 3D mouse (i think its possible coz you can learn to move an arm in 3D space, and yes, nasa did research on controlling stuff with nerve impulses too)
Two articles slightly related:
http://mentalhealth.about.com/library/weekly/aa101600a.htmhttp://mentalhealth.about.com/library/weekly/aa070300a.htmPeople are being treated for ADD via their TV - how wonderful. The way its applied here is kinda a lil off tilt, for what you'd need to control a PC with your mind. But, its possible. There's also proven research into giving blind people sight via sending electrical impulses on the optic nerve - if these two get combined, you'd have a damn scary VR world. If you want articles about the seeing thing, use google, i saw it on tv. TV tells me everything!
Learning to think your way around a computer is no harder than learning to walk. Trouble is, after 18 years of life i still fall over
PS
Why a statusbar? Why oh why a status bar? I think we should include one, rename it, and put a marketing spin on it - "The Ritz Bar" or something
