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ALS patient controls Apple's Vision Pro headset with Synchron's BCI and just his thoughts

Mark (64), was able to play Solitaire using his thoughts, Synchron's BCI and the Apple Vision Pro headset. (Image source: Business Wire)
Mark (64), was able to play Solitaire using his thoughts, Synchron's BCI and the Apple Vision Pro headset. (Image source: Business Wire)
Synchron announced the successful use of its brain-computer interface (BCI) by an ALS patient to control the Apple Vision Pro using thoughts. This breakthrough will allow individuals who have lost mobility in their hands and voice to interact with the device hands-free. Synchron's CEO stated that this new approach will address a critical unmet need for millions of people with paralysis.

On July 30, 2024, the Brooklyn-based brain-computer interface (BCI) company Synchron announced a huge achievement. Mark, a 64-year-old ALS patient, became the first person to control the Apple Vision Pro using his thoughts, thanks to Synchron’s BCI technology. He lost the use of his upper limbs due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but he was able to play Solitaire, watch Apple TV, and send text messages hands-free using the BCI. “This is pretty cool, I've been wanting to try this for a while now,” Mark said.

Apple's Vision Pro was launched in February 2024. The headset typically relies on hand gestures, voice, and eye movements for interaction. However, Synchron’s BCI bypasses the need for these inputs by transmitting control signals directly from the brain. Tom Oxley, CEO and Founder of Synchron, explained, “BCI is a platform to re-connect people with injury or disease back to the fast-moving consumer technology landscape. Vision Pro is a powerful system, but it relies on the use of hand gestures to exert control over the UI. We are sending control signals directly from the brain to replace the need for hand gestures.” He emphasized that this new approach addresses a critical unmet need for millions of people with paralysis.

The BCI is implanted through a minimally invasive procedure via the jugular vein, placing it on the surface of the motor cortex. Once in place, it detects and wirelessly transmits motor intent from the brain, allowing users to control devices with thoughts alone. Nano-MIND is also another Neuralink-like BCI that uses magnets to target specific brain regions, hopefully leading to new neurological treatments.

The Stentrode Endovascular Electrode Array is implanted in the blood vessel on the surface of the motor cortex of the brain via the jugular vein. (Image source: Synchron)
The Stentrode Endovascular Electrode Array is implanted in the blood vessel on the surface of the motor cortex of the brain via the jugular vein. (Image source: Synchron)

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2024 07 > ALS patient controls Apple's Vision Pro headset with Synchron's BCI and just his thoughts
Anubhav Sharma, 2024-07-31 (Update: 2024-07-31)