A 64-year-old man is in the news for being the first man to be able to use Amazon Alexa only with his mind!
Yes, you heard it right! As per a brain-computer interface company Synchron, the man is able to tap icons on Amazon Fire tablet. In a statement, company says that “A patient with ALS in the United States is the first person in the world to use Amazon Alexa via an implantable brain computer interface to interact with and control his environment”.
ALS Patient Controls Smart Home with Thought Using Synchron’s BCI
As per the New York-based company, the man who suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is now able to do several activities like making video calls, play movies, control devices like lights, shop online and read books by using his mind to direct Alexa.
This was made possible by the patient using the Synchron brain computer interface to select customized tiles that perform pre-set Alexa actions, like turning on and off lights, making video calls, playing music and shows, controlling smart home devices, reading books on Kindle or purchasing items hands and voice-free.
The patient said that “To be able to manage important aspects of my environment and control access to entertainment gives me back the independence that I’m losing”.
The system is simple and easy to learn which makes it people living with severe paralysis to make things more accessible, hence improving independence.
Revolutionizing Independence with Synchron’s Brain-Computer Interface
Tom Oxley, CEO & Founder, Synchron said that “Synchron’s BCI is bridging the gap between neurotechnology and consumer tech, making it possible for people with paralysis to regain control of their environment. While many smart home systems rely on voice or touch, we are sending control signals directly from the brain, bypassing the need for these inputs”.
It is in the blood vessel on the surface of the motor cortex of the brain through the jugular vein that this brain computer interface is implanted. It is via a minimally invasive endovascular process that the implantation is done. The company said that “Once implanted, it is designed to detect and wirelessly transmit motor intent out of the brain, intended to restore the capability for severely paralyzed people to control personal devices with hands-free point-and-click”.
