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A neural brain implant provides near instantaneous speech

10 months ago
  • #Speech Prosthesis
  • #Brain-Computer Interface
  • #Neuroscience
  • Stephen Hawking communicated using a sensor in his glasses that detected cheek muscle movements to select characters, synthesized into speech by a DECtalk TC01.
  • Recent brain-computer-interface (BCI) devices translate neural activity into text and speech but had latency and limited vocabulary issues.
  • A UC Davis team developed a neural prosthesis translating brain signals into phonemes and words, aiming for a fully digital vocal tract.
  • The goal is a flexible speech neuroprosthesis allowing paralyzed patients to speak fluently, control cadence, and modulate intonation.
  • Previous neural prostheses converted brain signals to text with a 25% error rate, insufficient for daily communication.