With the help of a brain implant, a patient with a degenerative disease was able to control Amazon’s Alexa digital assistant with his mind. The company behind this technological innovation announced the news on Monday and allowed him to watch programs and control devices only with his thoughts.
Brain-computer interface company Synchron said an implant placed in a blood vessel on the surface of a 64-year-old man’s brain allowed him to mentally “tap” icons on an Amazon Fire tablet.
According to the New York-based company, the patient suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a degenerative nerve disease that causes muscle weakness and paralysis.
With the implant, however, the company said, he was able to make video calls, play music, stream shows, control smart home devices like lights, shop online and read books by directing Alexa with his mind.
“Being able to manage important aspects of my environment and control access to entertainment gives me back the independence I’m losing,” the patient, identified only as Mark, said in a statement.
The demonstration was intended to illustrate how customers could use just their thoughts to operate smart homes equipped with Alexa-compatible devices, including door cameras, plugs and thermostats, the company said.
In the statement, Synchron founder and CEO Tom Oxley said: “While many smart home systems rely on voice or touch, we send control signals directly from the brain.”
“Patients can interact with devices in their home without using their hands or voice, using only their thoughts,” he added.
Elon Musk’s Neuralink
Several companies, including Elon Musk‘s Neuralink, they are working to connect brains with computers.
In January, Neuralink installed a brain implant in a man paralyzed after a diving accident. Musk, who also owns Tesla and X, promoted the implant as a success.
In July he said his startup is “moving forward” toward a second trial patient as its technology improves.
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this post is for general information purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the post for any purpose.
We respect the intellectual property rights of content creators. If you are the owner of any material featured on our website and have concerns about its use, please contact us. We are committed to addressing any copyright issues promptly and will remove any material within 2 days of receiving a request from the rightful owner.