By A patient with a degenerative disease has successfully used his mind to control Amazon’s Alexa digital assistant, according to an announcement by the company on Monday. This breakthrough allows the 64-year-old man, who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), to stream shows, make video calls, control smart home devices, and more, all through thought alone.
The innovation involves an implant placed in a blood vessel on the surface of his brain, which enables him to mentally “tap” icons on an Amazon Fire tablet. Using this brain-computer interface developed by Synchron, the patient can manage various tasks, such as playing music, streaming content, and controlling lights and other smart home devices.
ALS is a progressive nerve disease that causes muscle weakness and paralysis. The patient, identified only as Mark, expressed that this technology has restored a significant degree of independence by allowing him to manage his environment and access entertainment.
The test aims to demonstrate the potential for using brain signals to control smart home devices without relying on voice commands or touch. Synchron’s founder and CEO, Tom Oxley, highlighted that this technology allows patients to interact with their environment using only their thoughts.
Other companies, including Elon Musk’s Neuralink, are also exploring brain-computer interface technologies.
