A patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has become the first person in the world to control an iPad entirely by thought, according to neurotech company Synchron.
This means Mark Jackson, 65, from western Pennsylvania, can control the product without using his hands or voice commands. Instead, an implantable brain-computer interface (BCI) translates his thoughts into actions.
Jackson was diagnosed with ALS in 2021. Over time, he said he developed paralysis in both of his arms along with some weakness in his neck.
Years ago, this may have meant a loss of independence due to the lack of motor function. Now, Jackson said he is able to watch TV shows, listen to audiobooks, use social media and send text messages to his children.
The BCI that Jackson is using was developed by the company Synchron, which involves a device implanted into one of the veins within the brain in a minimally invasive procedure.
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Dr. Leah Croll, a neurologist at Maimonides Hospital, in Brooklyn, New York … told ABC News that research into BCIs is not new but that artificial intelligence (AI) has helped it grow rapidly.
