Synchron, a leading brain-computer interface (BCI) company, has achieved a notable milestone with the first use of Amazon’s Alexa by a patient implanted with Synchron’s BCI technology.

Mark, a 64-year-old man with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), has successfully controlled his smart home through the Tap to Alexa feature on his Amazon Fire tablet.

This advancement enables him to manage various functions, including controlling lights, making video calls, playing music and shows, operating smart home devices, reading Kindle books, and shopping on Amazon, all without using voice or physical touch.

The integration of Synchron’s BCI with Alexa represents a significant development in smart home automation. It provides users with severe paralysis the ability to control their environments both inside and outside their homes using only their thoughts.

This capability extends to a variety of Alexa-compatible devices, such as lights, plugs, thermostats, and cameras, enhancing daily living and independence for individuals with severe mobility impairments.

Synchron’s CEO and Founder, Tom Oxley, highlighted the impact of this technology on bridging neurotechnology and consumer technology. Unlike traditional smart home systems that rely on voice or touch, Synchron’s BCI sends control signals directly from the brain.

The BCI is implanted via a minimally invasive endovascular procedure into a blood vessel on the motor cortex of the brain, where it detects and wirelessly transmits motor intent. This allows individuals with severe paralysis to control personal devices through a hands-free, point-and-click approach.





Source: businesswire.com

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