Apple launches less invasive brain control 🔥
Apple is preparing native device control using brain signals
Apple is revolutionizing technology with a project that will allow users to control iPhones, iPads, and other devices using brain signals, scheduled for release later this year, according to The Wall Street JournalThis innovation will mark a turning point in the accessibility and usability of Apple products, bringing the brain-computer interface to a wider audience. 🧠✨
Collaboration with Synchron and the Stentrode device
This major breakthrough is being achieved in collaboration with Synchron, a pioneering neurotechnology startup that has developed the Stentrode, an innovative implantable brain-computer interface (BCI). This technology allows people with severe motor disabilities, such as those caused by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), to control Apple devices using neural signals captured from blood vessels above the brain's motor cortex.
How does the Stentrode work?
The stentrode is implanted through the jugular vein and positioned within a blood vessel on the surface of the brain, avoiding open brain surgery. With 16 electrodes, it detects brain activity related to movement, translating it into digital commands that allow interaction with the device.
Success stories and clinical trials
Since 2019, Synchron has implanted the Stentrode in ten patients under FDA approval for investigational devices. Among them is an ALS patient in Pennsylvania who has been able to control the Apple Vision Pro and other Apple devices simply by thinking, albeit at a slower speed than conventional methods.
Apple's precedent in accessibility: "Made for iPhone"
Apple has experience connecting external devices via Bluetooth, such as its "Made for iPhone" protocol launched in 2014 for headphones. This standard facilitates seamless wireless communication between headphones and Apple devices. Now, the company seeks to replicate that success with brain-computer interfaces, developing its own industry standard in conjunction with Synchron.
Integration within the Switch Control accessibility framework
Apple plans to add support for BCIs within its system of Accessibility Switch ControlThis system allows users to control Apple devices with non-standard adaptive hardware, such as joysticks. The new standard is expected to be released in 2025, expanding options for users with various disabilities.
Differences with other technologies: Neuralink and its invasive approach
Synchron's approach, based on the Stentrode, is far less invasive than that of other companies like Neuralink, which is developing the N1, a brain implant with over 1,000 electrodes embedded directly into brain tissue. This allows for higher neural resolution and more complex control, such as moving cursors and typing with the mind, although the surgery is much more intrusive.
Technological comparison and future of BCI
While Neuralink works with highly invasive solutions, Synchron and Apple are betting on a less risky but effective alternative, which could be adopted more quickly due to its less complex surgery and great potential for accessibility and mind control. The evolution of these technologies promises to transform the way we interact with the digital world.
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