A 62-year-old man with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was able to use a device implanted in his brain to turn his thoughts into a 140-character message on the social networking website, microfiche.
The company claims that it is the first time someone has been able to write a message on social media directly through a BCI.
Philip O'Keefe, who is suffering from progressive paralysis caused by the disorder, sent a message from the account of Synchron CEO Thomas Oxley. Short message. It was monumental progress.
He said that he hopes that he is paving the way for people to use social media.
The 62-year-old O'Keefe has been left unable to work because of the disease. He received the BCI in April 2020 and it was a small device that was placed in the brain.
O'Keefe said he knew how much independence it could give him when he first heard about it. The system is like learning to ride a bike, it takes practice, but once you are rolling, it becomes natural.
He said that he can now email, bank, shop, and send a message to the world from his computer.
The FDA granted regulatory approval for the startup to begin testing the device on volunteers.
Oxley said that the holidays are an important moment for the field of brain computer interface. BCIs give hope and freedom to people like Phil who have had so much of their independence taken away due to paralysis.
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