The technology that can turn thoughts into writing finally comes into reality. It is now possible to write with brain waves with the technological development that will both carry communication to a higher level and facilitate the lives of people with disabilities. Scientists state that the data obtained from the brain waves with the artificial intelligence algorithm developed at Stanford University predicts texts with more than 90 percent accuracy.
According to a new study published by scientists at Stanford, a brain implant that can convert thoughts into writing has been developed and has worked successfully. A paralyzed man could write up to 90 characters per minute just by thinking with the developed implant. The experiment was performed on a man who was paralyzed from a spinal cord injury in 2007.
The 65-year-old man dreamed that he was writing a word with his hand. The artificial intelligence-supported device called BrainGate interpreted the thoughts of the man and reflected the words on the screen, thanks to the electrodes placed in the motor cortex of the brain.
Older implant systems often rely on patients moving the cursor with their mind to certain characters on the digital keyboard. However, the new Stanford neural implant allowed a patient to write by imagining writing a word with their hand. An AI then decoded the neural signals and displayed the word on a screen. The team combined the neural implant system with an auto-correction function that resulted in 99 percent accuracy over SCMP, which would be impressive even on a normal keyboard. Now, they claim the man is now the fastest mind typist in the world.
"This is just the tip of the iceberg," said neuroscientist Krishna Shenoy of Stanford University. "As we understand the brain through neuroscience, we will be able to achieve much more diverse and good things in the coming years." The biggest challenge neural implant researchers face is commercialization, Shenoy said, and aligning it with companies like Elon Musk's Neuralink, which are trying to bring brain implants from medicine to consumer electronics.
According to the statements, it is a crucial problem to convince people to have a brain implant and to find money for the development of technology. The most important question in the implementation of the study; how to convince people that it is safe to implant electrode sensors in their brains. Also, making the incredibly expensive neural implant surgery affordable seems to be the biggest challenge in bringing this technology to life. Therefore, the researchers want private companies to provide more resources to the development and research of such technologies.
Experts say that this research is only the beginning, and there is still a lot of work to be done. However, if the necessary investments are made and such technologies continue to develop, it would not be wrong to say that great progress can be made in brain implants. This technology will both increase the level of communication and will undoubtedly make the life of people with disabilities easier.