Brain implant allows ALS patient to control Amazons Alexa with thought: Gives me back the independence that Im losing
A man afflicted with ALS has become the first person in the world to control an Amazon Alexa digital assistant through his thoughts — thanks to a brain implant created by a New York-based neurotech startup.Synchron — a company specializing in medical technology solutions — has implanted its brain-computer interface (BCI) in a blood vessel on the brain of Mark, a 64-year-old man living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
ALS (formerly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease) is a neurological disorder that affects motor neurons, the nerve cells in the brain, and the spinal cord, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Since implanting the device — which did not require open brain surgery — Mark has become the first human to use his thoughts to control an Amazon Fire tablet.Mark can stream shows, make video calls, play music, control smart home devices, shop online, and even read books by mentally tapping on icons on the tablet, the Brooklyn-based company said in a press release to Business Wire.Synchron’s BCI was implanted in a blood vessel on the “surface of the motor cortex of the brain via the jugular vein,” which the company said was a “minimally-invasive endovascular procedure.”The implant allows Mark to “wirelessly transmit motor intent” from his brain to “personal devices with hands-free point-and-click.”“The integration with smart technology and my BCI is something I’m really excited about.
It’s hard to imagine living in our modern world without the ability to access or control connected devices like Amazon’s Alexa and Echo products that are so prevalent in my daily life,” 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.”By trialing this integration with Alexa, the company hopes to expand the possibilities for smart home automation for people with severe paralysis.“Synchron’s BCI is b...