A man with ALS is "the first power user" of a brain implant that lets him sp
5 hours ago
- #ALS communication
- #brain-computer interface
- #neurotechnology
- Casey Harrell, with ALS, uses a brain-computer interface (BCI) to communicate independently for thousands of hours at home after three years of implantation.
- The implant decodes neural activity from the speech motor cortex into phonemes and words, achieving up to 125,000-word vocabulary with 99% accuracy, and allows web browsing and job tasks.
- Harrell's care partner can now connect him to the device autonomously, enhancing usability without constant researcher involvement, marking a step toward practical BCI adoption.
- The system includes personalized features like a privacy mode and profanity filter, though experts caution that success may vary due to factors like brain degeneration in ALS.
- Harrell describes the BCI as revolutionary for maintaining work, family connections, and parenting, while researchers aim to develop a natural-sounding 'brain-to-voice' system in the future.