Recently, Noland Arbaugh, a man paralyzed from the shoulders down, showcased how he played chess on a laptop using only his mind thanks to a brain implant created by Neuralink. This U.S. startup, co-founded by Elon Musk, focuses on “brain-computing interfaces” (BCI) that connect the brain to digital technology. These devices can be surgically implanted or sit outside of a person’s body, allowing neural signals to be transmitted to a phone or computer for function execution without physical interaction.
Neuralink’s technology has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration for clinical trials in May 2023, showing promise for individuals with paralysis and providing insights for researchers and medical professionals. By converting electrical signals from the brain into real-time data, users can control their devices simply by thinking about their intended movements.
This innovation not only enhances the quality of life for those with physical limitations but also helps track brain activity for medical purposes, such as detecting unusual sleep patterns or early signs of epilepsy. Medical Technology Schools have explored how this technology, bridging brains with computers, is evolving through academic research and news reports, highlighting its potential to reshape the interaction between humans and technology.
