A patient suffering from a degenerative condition has successfully commanded Amazon’s Alexa digital assistant using only his thoughts, as announced by the technology company on Monday. This allows him to stream content and manage devices solely through mental commands.
The innovation involves an implant situated in a blood vessel on the surface of the 64-year-old man’s brain, enabling him to mentally “tap” icons displayed on an Amazon Fire tablet, according to Synchron, the brain-computer interface firm responsible for this advancement.
Living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the patient can perform various tasks such as making video calls, playing music, streaming shows, controlling smart home devices like lights, shopping online, and reading books by directing Alexa with his thoughts. ALS is a progressive neurological disease that results in muscle weakness and paralysis.
Mark, the patient who remains anonymous by surname, expressed his feelings about this technology. “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 purpose of this trial was to demonstrate how users could operate smart homes using only their minds with Alexa-compatible devices, including door cameras, plugs, and thermostats.
“While many smart home systems rely on voice or touch, we are sending control signals directly from the brain,” said Synchron’s founder and CEO Tom Oxley as he highlighted the significance of this technology.
He further stated that “Patients can interact with devices in their home hands and voice-free, using only their thoughts.”
Numerous companies are exploring brain-computer connectivity, including Elon Musk’s Neuralink. Earlier this year, Neuralink implanted a device in a man paralysed from a diving accident. Musk has praised this implant as a success and indicated that they are progressing to a second test subject as their technology advances.
