Neuralink is now testing something that could completely change life for people with paralysis:
Controlling a powered wheelchair using only their thoughts
The implant uses more than 1,000 electrodes across over 100 ultra-thin threads placed in the motor cortex
These electrodes detect the neural activity produced when a participant intends to move
A machine-learning system then translates those signals into cursor movements, allowing the participant to drive forward, reverse, steer and even adjust the wheelchair’s seating position.....without moving their hands
Participants can also use a live video feed from a wheelchair-mounted camera to navigate real-world environments
There is still more testing ahead, and the device remains investigational, but the direction is extraordinary
Neuralink is not just simply helping people control a computer
It is working toward restoring independence, mobility and freedom to people who lost them