http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/25/12401493-scientists-set-to-show-how-they-hacked-into-stephen-hawkings-brain?lite
This will defiantly be a boon to the handicapped.However there are some aspects of direct brain to speech applications that leave me with some concerns. Mostly these concerns deal with the right to privacy with your own thoughts.
I think the whole thing is cool, though a Inception-like future where there's big money in corporate espionage can be a very real possibility.