Synchrom has moved to its human trial phase.
Mark, who is the patient in this human trial, is gradually losing independence due to ALS.
During the trial, a patient who was suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was able to control Amazon's Alexa.
I am sure you must have heard about Elon Musk’s Neuralink. Under this project, he is working along with his team to build a chip that helps with brain-computer connection to help those who are suffering from some sort of paralysis. Another company that is working on something similar, Synchron has been able to achieve a breakthrough with this technology.
Synchrom has moved to its human trial phase. During the trial, a patient who was suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which is a degenerative disease, was able to control Amazon’s Alexa digital assistant with his mind. He used an implant in a blood vessel on the surface of his brain to mentally interact with an Amazon Fire tablet. He was able to perform tasks such as streaming shows and controlling smart devices.
Let’s see what tech was behind this. Mark, who is the patient in this human trial, is gradually losing independence due to ALS. So the brain-computer interface (BCI) allowed Mark to navigate through various smart home features and entertainment options, including making video calls, playing music, streaming content, and controlling devices like lights and thermostats.
For those unaware, ALD weakens the muscles, which leads to paralysis. The test results were pretty important as they showed how individuals with disabilities can manage their surroundings without the need for voice commands or physical interaction.
In a statement, Mark said, “To be able to manage important aspects of my environment and control access to entertainment gives me back the independence that I’m losing.”
Speaking about the same Synchron CEO Tom Oxley said, “Patients can interact with devices in their home hands and voice-free, using only their thoughts.”
All of these technologies are in a pretty initial stage. It will take some time for them to be fully reliable and trustworthy. But it seems like it is a move in the right direction.
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Mustafa Khan
Mustafa is new on the block and is a tech geek who is currently working with Digit as a News Writer. He tests the new gadgets that come on board and writes for the news desk. He has found his way with words and you can count on him when in need of tech advice. No judgement. He is based out of Delhi, he’s your person for good photos, good food recommendations, and to know about anything GenZ. View Full Profile
