Understanding Mind-Controlled Computer Interfaces

Neuralink’s second volunteer, Alex, is now able to play rock‑paper‑scissors simply by thinking the moves. Earlier this year, the first participant used the same implanted device to play virtual chess. BCIs began as a path to help people regain lost movement. Today they’re quickly becoming a test bed for a new kind of human‑machine dialogue - one that skips keyboards, touchscreens and even voice commands. Instead, the “input” is the user’s intention, detected directly from neural signals. What’s technically happening? Electrodes in the chip record patterns of electrical activity from specific brain regions. Machine learning models translate those patterns into commands that drive a digital hand in real time. Think “rock,” and the system recognizes the neural signature for a closed fist. The implants are experimental, the algorithms are data‑hungry and long‑term safety is still under study. Yet each successful demonstration refines both the hardware and the decoding models. If intent becomes a mainstream interface, designers and engineers will need to rethink everything from accessibility features to workplace tools. What does a “user experience” look like when the click is replaced by a thought? #innovation #technology #future #management #startups

Ever wished you could wield the Force like a Jedi in 'Star Wars'? The Wisear (Techstars 2020) team is working on bringing this sci-fi scenario to life. They are building the next generation human-machine interface, which will use neural-based technology (AKA brain signals) to enable people to get seamless, voiceless & touchless controls over their everyday devices. And, as is often the case with companies working on technological leaps, there is a pretty good origin story. In 2018, post a soccer upset, Yacine ACHIAKH & Alain Sirois, nursing their bruised egos over beers, find themselves rubbing elbows with Neuralink's brainiacs. They're the ones wiring up ultra-high bandwidth brain-computer interfaces. Amidst the soccer chitchat, boom – a Eureka moment. If Neuralink is digging deep into the brain's vault with invasive tech, why not flip the script? Create a non-invasive version for Joe Public, mesh it with something as everyday as earphones. Fast forward and the team has already drawn global interest, with a showcase at Slush '22 & AWE '23 and winning two prestigious Innovation Awards at CES 2023: the Innovation Award and the AccessABILITY award. Over the past 30 years, tech has evolved from a computer with keyboard and mouse as an input, to a smartphone with touchscreen. As the next-generation of platform arrives and AR/VR/XR start to go mainstream, there’s a growing need for a new mix of human-computer interfaces to enable widespread adoption. Current controllers aren’t fit for purpose:   - Voice is limited and slow when operating in public environment  - Eye-tracking is good at detecting what the user pays attention to but bad at performing any object selection - Hand tracking will cover some ground, but will lead to user fatigue Instead, Wisear’s tech works through:  - Tiny electrodes embedded in a device that record the user's bioelectrical activity coming from their brain, eyes & facial muscles - The user's bioelectrical signals are then strengthened to readable levels, thus enabling Wisear’s AI algorithms to analyze them - This neural-activity is analyzed in real-time to recognize the right gestures and allows the user to take actions on their devices hands-free and silently Wisear will be at CES in Las Vegas from January 9 to 12 and will showcase exclusive demos around their Neural Interface tech in their suites at The Venetian. If you are interested to meet them, please contact asvin@wisear.io The team is also looking for 20+ Neural Interface Earphones Pioneers. After 4 years in the lab, they are now gearing up to release their very first product. If you’re interested in hearing more, fill out this form: http://bit.ly/411oPj6 Alain, Yacine and the team are not your average startup crew – they're more like Jedi, trailblazing through the cosmos of human-computer interfaces. Their ambition? Galactic in scale. #startups #startups #Entrepreneurs #virtualreality #VR #augmentedreality #AR #frenchtech

Mind-reading Microchip Could Help a Man with Quadriplegia Move Again No longer a Sci-Fi concept: the BCI technology could help this man walk again. After breaking his neck six years ago in a paramotoring crash, James Johnson became quadriplegic. Today, using brain-computer interface (BCI) and microchips implanted in his skull, he can make art and play video games. The Times' interview featuring Ian Burkhart, who pioneered BCI limb movement restoration, Nathan Copeland, and James Johnson, BCI Pioneers Coalition, highlights the BCI developments and personalized neurotech application. "The technology gives a power akin to telepathy and telekinesis..." - writes Fortson. Through implanted "sockets" in his scull, researchers jack him into cables that - send his brain activity to computers, - enabling him to make art, write emails, and even play video games, - with the power of thought alone. “We’re not talking about playing simple games either... I’m talking about first-person shooter games like Call of Duty,” - says Johnson. “We have billions of neurons firing in our brains. Imagine trying to pinpoint the neurons responsible for twitching your index finger, so you push the right button. And then imagining your thumb hitting fire, your left thumb zooming in on the scope. Imagine the science going on behind that. It blows me away.” Danny Fortson | July 30, 2023 | The Sunday Times May require a subscription #neuroscience #innovation #technology #future #healthcare #medicine #health #management #startups #motivation #artificialintelligence #engineering #machinelearning #inspiration #scienceandtechnology #publichealth #research #ai #science #digitaltransformation #biotech #startup #robotics #clinicalresearch #clinicaltrials #medtech #business #collaboration #healthtech #neuralnetwork #neuromodulation #personalizedmedicine #disability #brain Mr. Johnson, a father of four, with the BCI ports in his scull. Credit: Matthew Busch.

In a groundbreaking livestream hosted on the social media platform X, Neuralink introduced its first human subject, Noland Arbaugh, a 29-year-old paralyzed man who, thanks to the company's pioneering brain implant, demonstrated his ability to control a computer cursor using only his thoughts. Having suffered paralysis from a diving accident eight years prior, Arbaugh's ability to play online chess and the video game Civilization marks a significant milestone in the development of brain-computer interfaces. Neuralink, co-founded by Elon Musk, aims to enable individuals with paralysis to interact with digital devices through thought alone, offering a new level of independence and interaction. Arbaugh's successful manipulation of a digital chess piece, as shared during the livestream, underscores the intuitive nature of the device's control mechanism, which he adapted to by imagining movements he would physically make. Beyond the technological marvel, this development represents a beacon of hope for many, promising to redefine the boundaries of human-machine interaction. As Neuralink continues to refine and test their device, it invites a broader conversation on the implications and potential of such technology. What are your thoughts on this technological advance? #technology #innovation #elonmusk