Brain-Chip Enhanced Individual Plays Video Games: Masked Message Shares ‘Neural Link Telepathy Displayed
Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla, has achieved a new success with his startup Neuralink. Musk shared a video of a paralyzed person playing video games with his mind. He shared a video by quadriplegic patient Noland Abogan, who can now play video games and chess solely with his mind.
What’s shown in the video?
Musk has shared this video on social media. It features 29-year-old Noland Abog using his hands without the use of his brain to play chess and Civilization VI game.
In the video shared on social media by Musk, Noland Abog said, “I shut off playing the game. But now I am capable of playing it again.” Musk wrote while sharing the video, “Neuralink demonstrated telepathy.”
In January, a surgery was performed to implant a chip in the human brain.
Previously in January, Neuralink successfully implanted a chip in the human brain through surgery. This device’s size is as small as a coin, creating a direct communication channel between the human brain and computers.
If its human trials are completely successful, blind people can see through the chip. Paralyzed patients can move and operate computers. The company has named this chip ‘Link’.
Approval was given in September 2023
In September 2023, Neuralink, Musk’s brain-chip company, received recruitment approval from the Independent Institutional Review Board for its first human trial. This means that after approval, Neuralink will recruit people for human trials and test its devices on them.
Time Required for Completion of Study
It will take approximately 6 years to complete the study. According to Neuralink’s disclosures, trials are underway on individuals with quadriplegia due to spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Participants in these trials should be at least 22 years old. The study will take about 6 years to complete. Participants will receive compensation for their participation and travel expenses.
FDA Approval for Trials
The company is seeking approval to see how this device works on patients. In May, the company received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for trials.
What is the Neuralink Device?
- Direct Connection to the Brain with a Phone
Neuralink has developed a device called “Link,” which is the size of a coin. This device is capable of controlling a computer, mobile phone, or any other device directly through brain activity (neural impulses). For example, a person with paralysis who has a chip implanted in their brain can control a mouse cursor just by thinking about it.
- Cosmetically Invisible Chip
Neuralink has announced that they are designing a completely implantable, cosmetically invisible brain-computer interface, allowing you to control a computer or mobile device wherever you go. It will involve threads of micro-scale electrodes that control movement. Many electrodes in each thread are attached to the implant, called “Links.”
- Robotic System Design
The company has stated that the threads of Links are so thin and delicate that they cannot be inserted into the brain by human hands. Therefore, the company has developed a robotic system that can effectively implant the threads.
Additionally, Neuralink is also designing an app that allows you to control your keyboard and mouse directly through brain activity.
The device will also need to be charged. For this purpose, a compact inductive charger has also been designed to wirelessly charge the battery implanted with the device.
Chip Developed with Brain-Computer Interface Technology
What Elon Musk is developing with this technology is called a brain-computer interface or BCIs in short. Many other companies have also been working on these for years.
This system uses tiny electrodes inserted into the brain to “read” signals from nearby neurons. Software then decodes these signals into commands or actions, such as moving a cursor or a robotic hand.
