“Being able to control important aspects of my environment and access to entertainment gives me back the independence I’ve lost,” Mark, who did not give his last name, said in the statement.
He said he was “delighted” with “the integration of smart technology with (his) BCI”, for brain-computer interface or brain-machine communication device.
He was able to control Alexa’s smart home automation system with his mind through a feature on his Amazon Fire tablet, Synchron explained, adding that he was able to select pre-programmed options such as turning lights on or off, making video calls, playing music, reading books on a Kindle (Amazon’s e-reader) and even making purchases on the retail giant’s website.
“Without using his hands or his voice,” Synchron insisted.
Tom Oxley, Synchron’s founding CEO, said the BCI formed “a bridge between neurotechnology and consumer technology, giving paralysed people the ability to regain control of their environment”.
The device is implanted into a blood vessel on the surface of the motor cortex through the jugular vein in a minimally invasive endovascular procedure, Synchron explained.
The field of brain implants is booming. Companies in the sector are working to enable paralyzed patients to control computers with their thoughts, for example, giving them back the ability to write.
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