Synchron’s brain implant used with Apple Vision Pro for voice-free, hands-free experience
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Key takeaways:
- Synchron’s brain-computer interface is implanted in a blood vessel on the surface of the motor cortex of the brain.
- The implant detects and wirelessly transmits motor intent to the Apple Vision Pro.
Neurotechnology company Synchron announced the first use of Apple Vision Pro with a patient implanted with its brain-computer interface, which allows users to make commands without using their hands or voice.
“BCI is a platform to reconnect people with injury or disease back to the fast-moving consumer technology landscape,” Tom Oxley, Synchron’s CEO and founder, said in a company press release. “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.”
According to the release, the company’s brain-computer interface (BCI) is implanted in a blood vessel on the surface of the motor cortex via the jugular vein in a minimally invasive procedure. The BCI can then detect motor intent from the brain and wirelessly transmit it, allowing the user to engage with Apple Vision Pro without using their hands or voice, as most users do.
Mark, a 64-year-old man with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is the first to use Apple Vision Pro via Synchron’s BCI, the release stated. He was able to play Solitaire, watch Apple TV and send text messages.
“It’s like watching it in the theater; it really comes to life,” Mark said in the release. “Using this type of enhanced reality is so impactful, and I can imagine it would be for others in my position or others who have lost the ability to engage in their day-to-day life.”
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