Controlling a computer mouse with your mind is done with Neuralink

AFP/Archives – JIM WATSON

Wednesday March 20, Neuralink published a video in which a quadriplegic patient plays chess by controlling a computer mouse by thought, thanks to his brain implant. Innovation is catching up with science fiction.

Last January, Elon Musk was pleased that his neurotechnology company equipped the very first human with a brain implant: Noland Arbaugh is 29 years old and he was rendered quadriplegic due to a car accident. At the end of February, he assured that the young man could control a computer mouse by thought. Today he proves it.

In the nine-minute video, Noland Arbaugh explains playing chess, the video game “Civilization”, or taking Japanese and French lessons thanks to the implant. “It’s crazy”, “it’s so cool”, he says, all smiles. During an exchange with a Neuralink engineer, he talks about how this new technology has given him simplified access to many of his hobbies. He also described the way in which he manages to move the cursor on the screen, the implant translating his intention.

“There are still a lot of things to do, but it has already changed my life,” he summarizes. And added:  “I wanted to participate in something which, I think, will change the world”. For his part, the Neuralink engineer promised to keep Internet users informed of the patient's progress.

In the longer term, Elon Musk aims to offer his implant to everyone, in particular to make patients walk again paralyzed people, restore sight to the blind or even cure people suffering from psychiatric illnesses such as depression. For this, Neuralink recently raised some $323 million from investors.

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