Raphael ThysElon Musk's Neuralink has been making big promises for a while now. Now, it appears that a startup has beaten Neuralink at implanting its first device in a patient. Just like Neuralink, Synchron is a brain-computer interface startup. According to Bloomberg, Synchron implanted a 1.5-inch device into an ALS patient's brain in New York on July 6.
The implant, if effective and safe, could help many people around the world communicate if they've lost their mobility and/or speech. How does it work? Simply use your thoughts to complete tasks like sending texts and emails.
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Synchron beats Neuralink
It appears that Synchron was already miles ahead of Neuralink. The company has reportedly implanted the implant in four patients in Australia, and guess what? Those patients have been able to use the implant to send messages on WhatsApp and even shop online.
The first patient received Synchron's implant in Melbourne, Australia in 2019. Synchron has received a nod from US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin human trials on six American patients who are severely paralysed.
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On the other hand, Elon Musk's Neuralink has failed to deliver, even though Musk said that the company would begin human trials by 2020 - a window long missed. We did see a monkey that had received the Neuralink implant and appeared to playing a video game by simply using its mind.
The implants work by converting human thoughts into computer commands. It has use value for people with neurological diseases like Parkinson's or ALS. But Elon Musk wants more with Neuralink. Once, the billionaire had said how the implant is like "a Fitbit in your skull."
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What do you think about brain-computer interface implants? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.
References
Kay, G. (2022, July 19). A brain-computer startup beat Elon Musk’s Neuralink to implanting its first device in a US patient. Business Insider.