This technology allows paralyzed people to control the tablet with their thoughts

In recent years, the brain-computer interface (BCI) developed by the BrainGate consortium has allowed humans to control a robotic arm using only their thoughts. Now a group of paralyzed volunteers have used this technology to perform various tasks on the tablet.

The heart of the BrainGate system is a silicon chip that is implanted into the user’s cerebral cortex. Using 100 integrated electrodes, this chip detects the electrical activity of individual nerve cells. These electrical signals are sent to the computer, which uses pre-trained algorithms to identify specific patterns of activity related to the thought of performing certain tasks. The computer then sends commands to the device.

Recently, BrainGate BCI was implanted in three study subjects who had complete or partial paralysis. Their decoded neural signals were sent to an interface configured to act as a wireless mouse. This in turn communicated commands to the unmodified Google Nexus 9 tablet. Using this configuration, participants could perform activities such as online shopping, searching YouTube videos, viewing news, streaming music, and composing emails. it with thought. One woman even played a part on the digital piano interface Odes to joy by Beethoven.

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In terms of actual performance, participants were able to make up to 22 point-and-click selections per minute through various applications. They were also able to type up to 30 characters per minute on a standard text interface. All three people found the system pleasant and easy to use.

[Źródło: newatlas.com; grafika: BrainGate Collaboration]

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