A patient with a degenerative disease can control Amazon’s Alexa digital assistant with his thoughts, the company behind the technology initiative announced Monday, allowing him to stream shows and control devices with just his thoughts.
An implant implanted in a blood vessel on the surface of the 64-year-old man’s brain allows him to “type” symbols on a Amazon Fire tablet, says brain-computer interface company Synchron.
Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have been able to make video calls, play music, stream shows, control smart home devices like lights, shop online, and read books using their thoughts to control Alexa, according to the New York-based company.
ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that leads to muscle weakness and paralysis.
“Being able to manage important aspects of my environment and control access to leisure activities has helped me regain the independence I was losing,” the patient, who was only named Mark, said in a statement.
The test is intended to show customers how they can use just their thoughts to control their smart home with Alexa-compatible devices like doorbell cameras, plugs, and thermostats, the company said.
“While many smart home systems rely on voice or touch, we are sending control signals directly from the brain,” said Tom Oxley, founder and CEO of Synchron, in the release.
“Patients can interact with devices right at home using their hands and no voice, just their thoughts.”
Several companies, including Elon Musk’s Neuralink, are working on connecting brains to computers.
In January, Neuralink installed a brain implant in a man who was paralyzed after a diving accident. Musk, who also owns Tesla And Xhailed the transplant surgery as a success.
In July, he said his startup was “progressing” to a second test patient as the technology improves.
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