US-based startup Synchron, which is backed by high-profile investors including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, is making significant strides in the field of mind-controlled computing. The company has developed a device called the Stentrode, which is implanted in a patient’s blood vessels to enable them to control computers and other devices using their thoughts.
The Stentrode device is inserted into the blood vessels using a minimally invasive surgical procedure. Once implanted, the device can pick up signals from the brain and transmit them to a computer, which can then be used to control external devices such as prosthetic limbs or even household appliances. The device is designed to be completely wireless, meaning that it can be used in a range of different environments and applications.
The potential applications of this technology are vast, from helping people with disabilities to control their environment to enabling soldiers to operate complex machinery using their thoughts. Synchron is currently working with several leading medical centers in the US to conduct clinical trials of the Stentrode device, with the aim of gaining approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in humans.
While technology is still in the early stages of development, the potential benefits are enormous. For people with disabilities, the ability to control their environment using their thoughts could be life changing. For example, a person with a spinal cord injury may be able to control a prosthetic limb or wheelchair using the Stentrode device, giving them greater mobility and independence.
Synchron’s work in this area is an exciting development in the field of brain-computer interfaces, and the backing of high-profile investors like Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates is a testament to the potential of this technology. As research continues and the technology is refined, it is likely that we will see even more innovative applications of mind-controlled computing in the years to come.