Thanks to Synchron’s implantable Stentrode device, users with motor issues can now control an iPad with their brain.
Apple’s Partnership with Synchron to Create a Brain-Controlled Interface for Devices Shown in Action for the First Time
Back in May, we came across a report that talked about how Apple was partnering with Synchron to create a brain-computer interface, or BCI.
Using the interface, users with motor loss can control a device like iPad using their brain only. This is made possible using an implantable, FDA-approved device called Stentrode.
Today, we are seeing the first ever demo of BCI, courtesy of Mark Jackson who has been diagnosed with ALS, but thanks to the Stentrode implant he can easily control his iPad, completely hands-free:
The video shows how the Stentrode is implanted, and the procedure to get it in place is not that invasive since open-brain surgery is not required at all. The implant is put in place using a catheter through the jugular vein.
Currently, the work is ongoing, and the technology will be widely available to more people moving forward. Given that we have a real demo of how the whole thing works, I’m sure the next step will be even more promising, and hopefully goes beyond basic control.
