64-year-old ALS patient controls Alexa with just his thoughts after an implant in brain
A 64-year-old ALS patient successfully controlled Alexa using his thoughts through a brain implant, allowing him to perform tasks like making video calls, playing music, and operating smart home devices.
Amazon announced on Monday that a patient suffering from a degenerative disease has successfully controlled Alexa, a digital assistant, allowing him to watch shows and move equipment using just his thoughts.
According to Synchron, the 64-year-old man used an implant in a blood vessel in his brain to mentally "tap" symbols on an Amazon Fire tablet.
What can the man do with his thoughts?
According to the New York-based business, the patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was able to use his mind to direct Alexa to make video calls, play music, stream shows, operate smart home equipment such as lighting, shop online, and read books. ALS is a degenerative neurological illness that causes muscular weakening and paralysis.
"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 patient, named only as Mark, said in a release, as per online reports.
According to the firm, the demonstration was designed to demonstrate how users may control smart homes using only their brains and Alexa-compatible gadgets such as door cameras, plugs, and thermostats.
"Patients can interact with devices in their home hands and voice-free, using only their thoughts."
How are some other businesses also working on the same thing?
Several businesses, like Elon Musk's Neuralink, are striving to connect brains and computers.
In January, Neuralink implanted a brain implant in a man who was paralyzed following a diving accident. Musk, who also owns Tesla and X, described the implant as a success. In July, he said that his business is "moving on" to a second test patient as its technology advances.
The first human received an implant from @Neuralink yesterday and is recovering well.
¡ª Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 29, 2024
Initial results show promising neuron spike detection.
What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.
To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
I'm a writer with a zest for life and a knack for turning everyday moments into captivating stories. Whether you're a haute couture enthusiast or a thrift shop aficionado, I've got style tips that'll make heads turn. But what truly sets my heart on fire is writing about queer issues. I'm here to amplify diverse voices and stories.
Read More
